Panduan Memilih Stabilizer untuk Sulaman Mesin

Ada pelbagai jenis dan kegunaan stabilizer. Article dari Lydia Morgan di bawah boleh di jadikan panduan bagi yang ingin membeli stabilizer untuk membuat sulaman mesin.

Selecting the Right Stabilizer

by Lydia Morgan

There are many backings sold today for use in machine embroidery to stabilize your fabric while sewing designs. Whether doing free motion embroidery or programmed stitching, the end product can be improved when stabilizers are used. These stabilizers often will give embroidery a better finished look and prevent puckering and bunching of stitches. 

Backings can be permanent or temporary. Permanent backings are normally cut around after sewing the design and are made to be washied with the garment. Temporary backings are removed after the design is done.

Temporary Stabilizers

Tear-Away Stabilizers

Tear-Away is available in several weights and can be used in single or double layers. It is recommended for use with medium to heavyweight fabrics and densely stitched embroidery designs. After completing the design, it can be torn away in either the horizontal or vertical direction. It should be removed carefully in order to not disturb the stitches in your design. It is not recommended for delicate fabrics or sweaters. It is available in Black and White.

Iron-On Tear-Away

This stabilizer is excellent for medium to heavyweight knit fabric. For best results when ironing on, be sure to avoid stretching the knit.

Adhesive-Backed Tear-Away

Place Adhesive-Backed Tear-Away in your hoop. Peel away protective paper, then lay the fabric to be embroidered over the hoop and smooth in place. Great for small collar areas, velvets, napped fabrics and embroidering on patch blanks and baby bibs.

Soluble Stabilizer

Use this stabilizer for delicate, washable fabric and high pile fabric such as terry. It is a gelatin sheet that dissolves in warm water. For a terry fabric, place stabilizer top and bottom and place in hoop. For a finished design, use embroidery thread as the bobbin thread.

Heat-Away® Stabilizer

Use this stabilizer for fabrics that can tolerate heat but can not be washed. Also good for designs not dense enough for Tear-Away.

Tear-Away/Wash-Away Embroidery Stabilizer

This Tear-Away has unique Wash-Away characteristics that leaves the embroidery soft and free of stabilizer after the garment has been washed and yet the stitches remain firmly locked.

Stitch & Ditch Stabilizer

Lightweight Tear-Away stabilizer perfect for machine embroidery, paper quilt piecing and transferring quilt designs. Because of its light weight, removal is easy after sewing; and stitching is undisturbed. Can be used in multiple layers. Narrow width is perfect for heirloom sewing.

Permanent Stabilizers

Cut-Away Stabilizers

Cut-Away is used by professionals and is meant to remain with the garment. It washes well and is excellent for jobs where the stabilizer comes in contact with the skin, such as golf shirts or sweaters.

Poly-Mesh Cutaway

Woven stabilizer especially designed for extra stability on lightweight fabrics and knits. Unlike regular Cut-Aways This semitransparent poly-mesh will not show through white garments.

Lofty

Use this extra puffy permanent stabilizer for a raised or quilted look under an applique design.

Fusible Cut-Away

This iron-on Cut-Away stabilizer is soft, lightweight and launders well. Used when designs on knits and unstable stretchy fabrics call for a permanent stabilizer. 

To decide which backing to use, you need to evaluate the following:

• The type of fabric
• The density of the stitches
• The weight of the fabric
• The embroidery design itself.

The following are suggestions, if you are unfamiliar with stabilizers or are just beginning with machine embroidery or embellishment:

1. Collect several fabrics that you enjoy using.
2. Purchase the Stabilizer Special. See Embroidery Stabilizers 
3. Select a closed or close stitched design and an open design to be used with each fabric and stabilizer. 
4. Use the stabilizer as directed on each sample piece (be sure to permanently mark the type of stabilizer used on each design).
5. Make both designs on each fabric piece with each type stabilizer. 
6. Now launder the different types of fabrics and usual. If washing and drying will be included, launder the items several times. 

After using the various stabilizers, you willl have a better idea, based on fabric type, which stabilizer to use or at least give you a starting point when selecting the best stabilizer for a project. 

For example, if you enjoy working with knits and have limited time, purchase an inexpensive knit top and embellish it with several items from your machiens embroidery card using different stabilizers on each design. On one design, use one layer of TearAway, the next two layers, then one with heavy Tear Away and one with temporary adhesive backed Tear Away and the last with CutAway. Keep a diagram of what was used and where; then wear the garment. 

After a number of washings you will determine which stabilizer works best on your knit garment. If any puckering occurs when washed, a quick press on the remaining designs will alleviate this.