Sulky® FAQ - Tear-Away Stabilizers

Tear-Away Stabilizers

Q: What are Tear-Easy and Stiffy Stabilizers?
A: Both are made of non-woven materials so they don't stretch in any direction, providing excellent stability through the stitching process, and they tear away easily in both directions once the stitching is complete.
Q: When would I use a Tear-Easy or Stiffy Stabilizer?
A: With few exceptions, even the most stunning design embellishment won't work properly unless it is stitched over the right stabilizer backing that provides the stability needed to keep every stitch in place. Tear-aways are used under fabrics to prevent tunneling, distorting of stitches and puckering in techniques where removing the stabilizer by tearing will neither disturb the hand of the stitching, nor pull, distort or loosen the stitches on the edge of the design.
Tear-Easy is a soft, lightweight temporary stabilizer that provides great stability as a backing, combined with effortless removal, and can be used in as many layers as necessary. It is used as a topping in quilting and as a foundation in paper-piecing.
Stiffy is a crisp, firm, medium weight temporary stabilizer that is used when a heavier tear-away is preferred.
Q: Where would I use Sulky Tear-Easy or Stiffy Stabilizer?
A: Use Tear-Easy or Stiffy as a backing for all types of applique, programmed and free-motion embroidery, edge stitching, monogramming, buttonhole and decorative stitching. Tear-Easy can be used as a quilting stitching pattern.
Q: Why would I use Sulky Tear-Easy or Stiffy Stabilizer instead of another kind of stabilizer?
Although thicker stabilizers may cost a little more, they can be more economical if you only need to use one piece versus several pieces of a thinner one. On the other hand, you can tie up a lot of money and spend a great deal of time experimenting with 5 or 6 weights each of 5 different types of stabilizers when virtually all of your stabilizer needs can be met by using the nine Sulky Stabilizers. Ultra stiffness in a tear-away may provide the support you need, but if it pulls out stitches when torn away, it could ruin the project. That's when layering the softer, easier-to-tear Tear-Easy can be the right choice because you can easily tear away one layer at a time. When doing computerized embroidery, crisp, mid-weight Sulky Stiffy is well-suited to low stitch count patterns with fine detail. Clarity of column (satin) stitches is enhanced with Stiffy, and it is often used as a bottom backing under the hoop combined with Cut-Away Soft 'n Sheer in the hoop.
Q: How would I use Tear-Easy or Stiffy Stabilizers?
One layer under the fabric in a hoop with 1-2 layers under the hoop if needed for computerized machine embroidery, applique and monogramming. Always tear away one layer at a time. Spray them with Sulky KK 2000 Temporary Spray Adhesive to make either into a "sticky-type" backing stabilizer for embroidering small areas like collars, cuffs, pockets, etc., that aren't large enough to fit in a hoop. Use Tear-Easy as a topper for stitching quilting designs and as a foundation replacement for paper piecing. Use Tear-Easy for supporting edges of garments for embellishing, topstitching and buttonholes.
Q: What is Sulky Totally Stable Iron-On Stabilizer?
A: Totally Stable is a non-woven, medium weight, iron-on, temporary tear-away stabilizer. It is coated on one side so that it can be temporarily fused to a fabric to eliminate shifting, sliding, puckering and stretching of that fabric while it is being stitched. It is perfect for stretchy fabrics like knits.
Q: When would I use Totally Stable Iron-On Stabilizer?
A: You would use Totally Stable for stabilizing stretch fabrics as well as light-weight wovens when the fabric is suitable for ironing. Not preferred for nylon or lycra. It can be re-ironed and used over and over until the fusible no longer adheres. It is perfect to make iron-on, reusable design stitching templates.
Q: Where would I use Totally Stable Iron-On Stabilizer?
A: Use it on knits like t-shirts, golf shirts, and sweatshirts when machine embroidering, monogramming and appliqueing if a temporary tear-away stabilizer is preferred over a permanent one. It is perfect for supporting charted needlework by machine. Stencil painters find Totally Stable ideal because you can see through it for easy tracing; it can be fan folded, and border stencils can be cut easily from it. It can be ironed onto fabric or a garment and act as the perfect stencil while applying stencil paint and it can be carefully removed and reapplied if a pressing sheet is used. It can also be used as a blocking agent when double stamping. It makes a great iron-on template for quilting and applique as well.
Q: Why would I use Totally Stable Iron-On Stabilizer instead of another kind of Stabilizer?
A: When you need the fabric totally stabilized, no other stabilizer irons on in a temporary, reusable manner like Sulky Totally Stable. By ironing Totally Stable onto a fabric, the fabric cannot shift or stretch on the stabilizer, making it much easier to embellish or stitch on. Totally Stable is the only stabilizer that you can make into an iron-on template.
Q: How would I use Totally Stable Iron-On Stabilizer?
A: Place the shiny, fusible side of the Totally Stable against the wrong side of the fabric and press for several seconds with a dry iron at a cotton setting using a steady, quick, ironing motion. Once the project is completed, you can remove the Totally Stable and reuse it again and again. If multiple rehooping is required, the stabilizer may loosen and need to be ironed again to readhere it. Once the stitching is completed, Totally Stable peels up and tears away, leaving no residue. Do not iron Totally Stable onto fabric that has been marked with air or water soluble markers since the heat of the iron could set the ink, making your markings permanent.
Q: What is Sulky Sticky Stabilizer?
A: Sticky is a self-adhesive, non-woven, temporary tear-away stabilizer that is super easy to use as a hooping aid and stabilizer; it saves time and provides super stability combined with effortless removal, and it doesn't gum up your needle.
Q: When would I use Sticky Self-Adhesive Stabilizer?
A: You would use Sticky for hooped computerized machine embroidery. It would also be utilized anytime an item that is too small to fit in a hoop needs to be secured in a hoop for any type of stitchery.
Q: Where would I use Sticky Self-Adhesive Stabilizer?
A: Use Sticky to secure hard-to-hoop small items for computerized machine embroidery and monogramming, i.e., pockets, edges, button rows, ribbons, cuffs, collars, socks, neckties, linen and silk handkerchiefs, doll clothes, etc., as well as for counted cross stitch, silk ribbon work, and hand embroidery in a hoop. It is also ideal for protecting edges of needlepoint and cross stitch canvas by folding a strip of Sticky over them. Use Sticky to secure hats in the Hoop-It-All Frame when embroidering.
Q: Why would I use Sulky Sticky Self-Adhesive Stabilizer instead of another kind of Sulky Stabilizer?
A: It is ideal for "hoopless embroidery" because it eliminates hoop marks when embroidering on all fabrics including sweatshirt fleece, Ultra Suede, velvet, brushed velour, brushed denim, silk, flannel, nylon, knitted fabrics and caps. Items adhered to Sticky stay put during stitching, eliminating registration problems, especially on knits.
Q: How would I use Sulky Sticky Self-Adhesive Stabilizer?
A: Hoop Sulky Sticky with the release paper side up, the way you would hoop a piece of fabric. Using a small knife or straight pin, score the paper and pull it away from the adhesive layer. Fingerpress your fabric to the Sticky. Attach the hoop to the embroidery machine. If more support is needed for flimsy or unstable fabrics, spray Sulky KK 2000 Temporary Spray Adhesive on a layer or two of Sulky Tear-Easy or Sulky Stiffy Stabilizer and slip it under the hoop; embroider. For best results, remove excess Sticky from fabric within several hours of application.
For "hoopless" embroidery, use only the outer portion of the hoop for your embroidery machine. Peel off and discard the paper release sheet from the Sticky and affix the adhesive side to the bottom of the outer portion of your hoop. Place your fabric on the hoop and finger press to adhere it to the Sticky. Put the hoop on your embroidery machine. If more support is needed, place a layer or two of Sulky Tear-Easy or Stiffy Stabilizer under the hoop, and embroider. To remove any adhesive buildup on the hoop, use Goo-Gone, which is available at most fabric and hardware stores. Hint: For even more stability, wrap the Sticky up the side of the outer hoop as well.
For hand work projects like counted cross stitch, silk ribbon embroidery, etc., when the fabric isn't large enough to fit in the hoop, affix Sulky Sticky to outer edges of fabric to make them larger.