Embroidery Blog

A Detailed Guide To Embroidery Backing & Toppings (stabilisers)

Quick Guide To Embroidery Backing & Toppings

We have provided you with a detailed description of each of the backings (stabilizers) available to use when embroidering, as well as the type of fabric that it works best with. Take your time and go through each of the descriptions, it really should help a lot. Please read the ‘general rules’ prior to your selection.

GENERAL RULES WHEN CHOOSING A BACKING
1. Determine the type of fabric: Woven or Knitted
2. The size of Embroidery – the larger the embroidery the more support is required (higher gsm required) and vice versa
3. The weaker the fabric being embroidered, the more support is required and vice versa

NON-WOVEN EMBROIDERY BACKINGS

Stitch & Tear Embroidery Backing
An affordable 100% cotton, non-woven backing used mainly with good quality, firm, woven fabrics for example: cotton shirts, bush shirts, overalls, blazers, denim etc. Lighter weight Stitch and Tear can also be used on Towelling.
Available at Embroidery Warehouse in 50, 70 and 100 gsm (white) / 85 gsm (black)

Tear-Away Embroidery Backing
An affordable cotton / polyester mix, non-woven backing for general purpose industrial embroidery. This is a much stronger backing. Suitable for knitted fabrics, caps, leather products etc. Remember to support the Embroidery well while removing the backing during the cleaning process!

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in 65,80 and 95 gsm (white)

Hard Tear-away
A high quality, starched, stiff, non-woven backing, especially popular for cap embroidery.Remember to support the Embroidery well while removing the backing during the cleaning process!

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in 76 gsm (white) – small size roll only

Cut Away 
A high quality non-woven backing, which is strictly cut away (no tear), used on stretchy knitted and woven fabrics. Also recommended for the support of lower quality fabrics and with larger embroideries. Extremely soft to touch, ensuring comfort while wearing the garment i.e. babywear and jerseys.

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in 50, 75 and 90 gsm (white) / 80 gsm (black)

SPECIALITY BACKINGS

This range of products provides solutions for the more challenging embroidery applications.

Avalon (water soluble topping)
Cold water soluble film, used as a topping during the embroidery of soft, rough or uneven fabrics e.g. towelling, jerseys and fleece. The topping is placed on top of the fabric to flatten the pile of towelling during the embroidery process. Avalon also prevents the raised fibres of the fabric from pushing through the embroidery. The topping is ‘wiped’ away with a damp cloth to remove excess.
Available at Embroidery Warehouse in 35 micron.

Avalon Plus (water-soluble backing)
A watersoluble backing, used in the process of “free standing lace” or for the support of extremely delicate fabrics; e.g silk. The garment has to be soaked to remove this type of backing.

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in 40 gsm

Heat Film
A double sided film (backing), used in the application of embroidered badges to articles which cannot be framed for direct embroidery. Applied by means of heat and pressure using an iron, or similar object. To learn how to use heat film follow this link.
Available at Embroidery Warehouse in 120 micron

Perforated Tear Away & Cut away
Used in all types of embroidery or in addition to normal backing for appearance. Soft to the touch. Very useful when appearance of back of embroidery is very important.

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in Perforated Tear Away – 60 gsm / Cut Away – 50 gsm

Eva Foam (3mm thickness)
Used in the process of 3 dimensional embroidery (Puff Embroidery) The foam is specially designed to cut away during the stitching process leaving only covered pieces. To learn how to use Eva Foam follow this link. Most often used on Caps.

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in pieces of 300 mm x 400 mm (3mm thick)

Fusible / Iron-on Backing
Fusible non-woven backing, available in tear away or cut away. Used in situations where additional stability is required but not extra weight. Backing is ironed onto fabric prior to embroidering e.g. high quality Golf Shirts or high quality cotton shirt application.

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in Tear Away – 38 gsm / Cut Away – 80 gsm

Fusible Interlining
Designed to cover and seal off the rear of a completed embroidery ensuring comfort while wearing the garment. This is especially relevant on sporting garments and baby clothes.

Available at Embroidery Warehouse in TM 50 (White)

Browse our Non-woven Backing

Browse our Speciality Backing