Embroidery stabilizers, also sometimes referred to as embroidery backings or embroidery interfacing, are materials used in hand embroidery to provide support and structure to your fabric while stitching. Some of them can do double duty by transferring a design or pattern onto your fabric before stitching and are occasionally referred to as embroidery transfer sheets.

Embroidery stabilizers and embroidery transfer sheets, although distinct in their roles, share the common purpose of enhancing the embroidery process and ensuring the quality of the finished piece. They help prevent distortion, puckering, and stretching of the fabric, ensuring that the finished embroidery piece looks neat and professional. Hand embroidery stabilizers also make it easier to work with certain fabrics and intricate designs.

Common Types of Embroidery Stabilizers

Iron on embroidery stabilizers have an adhesive side that can be ironed onto your fabric. Some of these embroidery stabilizers also include a design to guide your stitching or are printable so that you can transfer a pattern to your fabric at the same time.

Self-adhesive embroidery stabilizers have a sticky surface on one side without needing heat to adhere to your embroidery fabric. These types of embroidery stabilizer sheets are quick and easy to apply and can be repositioned before stitching. Similar to iron-on stabilizer options, some adhesive embroidery stabilizers are preprinted with a design or can be used with your printer such as fan favorite, Sulky Stick N Stitch.

Wash away embroidery stabilizers dissolve in water, leaving behind only the finished embroidery stitches. Similarly, you may also encounter embroidery stabilizers that are designed to be torn or cut away after the embroidery is complete.

Your choice of hand embroidery stabilizer will depend on your personal preference as well as the fabric you're working with, the complexity of your design, and whether the stabilizer needs to remain on the finished piece or be removed. Experimenting with different embroidery stabilizers will help you determine which one works best for your specific project.

Embroidery Transfer Paper

As previously mentioned, there is a lot of overlap between hand embroidery stabilizers and transfer paper for embroidery patterns. If you are still wondering how to draw embroidery designs on cloth, you’re in luck! We’ve got some of the best embroidery transfer paper to ensure the overall success of your embroidery project. Whether you prefer freehand tracing designs for embroidery or would like printable iron on transfer paper for embroidery, embroidery transfers are easier than you might think!

You have a few options for how to transfer an image for embroidery. Embroidery transfer pens or pencils allow you to draw or trace a design directly onto the fabric, then stitch over the ink of pencil marks. This is a great option if you want to freehand your own original design, but you will still need to use some sort of embroidery stabilizer to keep your fabric from shifting as you stitch.

For the best of both worlds, iron on embroidery transfer paper can’t be beat! Not only can you freehand your own design if you so choose, but you can also use your printer or purchase preprinted embroidery transfer paper.

Embroidery transfer sheets are then applied directly to the fabric allowing you to transfer your chosen design onto your material. Especially for beginners, embroidery transfer paper can make it easy to transfer embroidery patterns, serving as a visual reference for the stitching process. DMC embroidery transfer paper is a fan favorite, but we also carry other types of iron on transfer paper for embroidery from brands like Sulky, Aunt Martha’s, and C&T Publishing.

The choice of your embroidery transfer method depends on the complexity of the design, the type of fabric used, and personal preferences. Each method has its advantages and may be more suitable for specific projects, so give each one a try to see which you like best!