What is the best stabilizer to use on tshirts? I have been using tear away but I'm not sure that is the best choice. Any preferences out there?

I love to use the stick on stabilizer too. But, I also like to use a little cut away floated underneath. I have found it helpful to iron the stabilizer first as it can shrink a bit. Ironing it keeps it from messing up my design... Good luck!

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by eyeztodiefor10 23 Feb 2012

Thank you. I have never used cut away, isn't it sctatchy underneath?
Meri

I use fusible mesh..

I also use a cut-away. A piece of fabric called 'poplin' is also good but will fray so cut away with pinking shears.

I use iron on stabiliser double underneath and wws on top and it always successful.

Wow! I'm glad I asked as now I have several methods to choose from. Thank you all! I will try the iron on first as that is what I have. Thanks again,
Meri

I personally prefer Sulky soft and sheer cutaway.I have excellant luck with this on both tshirts and cotton shirts and dresser scarves. I have a barudan elite and don't have to baste anything. I don't pull it tight tight in the hoop and they come out beautiful.

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by jennlenore 23 Feb 2012

Forgot to add that I do large orders of tshirts all the time and have never gotten a complaint since I started using the lightweight soft and sheer from Joann's.

You want a medium weight cut away stabilizer for t-shirts. Then baste the shirt to the stabilizer. the basting keeps the shirt from pulling away.

I use fusible no show mesh on my t-shirts (and I do a bunch of them). I put a "patch" of it on the shirt then I hoop sticky washaway (vilene) and stick the shirt with the patch to the stabilizer. Then I baste stitch it all down. Then I embroider. I have had much success this way.

After years of trial and error in stitching on t-shirt knit, I have found that using a small piece of iron fusiblle stablilizer placed on the back of the area where the design is to be stitched (iron on gently taking care not to stretch the fabric)keeps the knit from stretching while being stitched. I hoop a light weight cut-away, spray the area where I ironed on the fusible with K2000, then align the shirt onto the hooped cut-away. I do not hoop knits because of its stretchiness. After stitching, I trim any fusible and cut-away to 1/8 inch around the design. This method has proven to be the best, IMHO, to keep dense designs from curling into t-shirts, and still look good after being washed again and again. Hope this helps.
Angel

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by anangel 23 Feb 2012

.....I forgot to say I always place a small piece of wws on top of the t-shirt to keep the stitches from sinking into the fabric.
Hugs,
Angel

I wouldn't use tear away, Both times I've used it on a tee shirt when I tore it off it also broke a few stitches, very disheartening, as they where supposted to be gifts for my grandchildren. Now I use cut away.
Diane

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by jennlenore 23 Feb 2012

I have found this too and the other thing I find with tearaway is that when you wash and dry it the tshirt "puckers" all up and I have never had this happen with the cutaway.

I use stick on stabilizer. You pull off the backing and you than have a fully sticky stabilizer. Stick that on back of shirt where wanted and hoop. Use this for soooo many things and would not know what to do without it lol

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by basketkase 23 Feb 2012

Edith, I too am a huge fan of the sticky, I should own stock in it..LOL!! I may use another type of stab. with it, but I rarely hoop anymore...99% of the time I use sticky and don't hoop.....

by devon 23 Feb 2012

Same here that is all I use too.

I've learn to use cutaway because then the material cant stretch, when it stretch with tear away the stabilizer(tear away) sometimes got tear and the lines is not right. I hope this help. Hugs Louise

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by airyfairy 23 Feb 2012

Louise please tell me where you buy your stabilizer in SA. I just cannot get anything decent here in Knysna. Thanks Sarah.