A guide to stabilizers

Do you need help when it comes to deciding what stabilizing product is right for your project?

Stabilizers come in many different varieties:

• Iron on - Cool & hot fuse. Comes in a range of thicknesses
• Tear away
• Sew in
• Wash away
• Spray on
• Heat away
• Thin & transparent
• Pin on & cut away
• Some have a slight crossways stretch such as Fusible tricot knit interfacing.  It still gives soft shaping.

The reason we generally add a stabilizer in the first place is to give shape, structure or added strength to fabric.  Many sewing patterns call for interfacing to be added to cuffs, collars or buttonholes.  Adding a stabilizing product can also add stiffness to bags, assist with appliques, embroidery & make sewing seams on delicate fabrics easier.

Your fabric will help determine what product is best. 
Usually heavy fabrics such as denim & canvas don't need a heavy stabilizer as it will become hard work to sew with the added thickness. Go for a lighter option in this instance.

For medium weighted fabrics, tear away or medium sew in and iron on interfacings work well. Knit fabrics will definitely benefit from having a lightweight fusible knit product added if you intend appliqueing or embroidering.

Lighter fabrics will need a heavier product to add structure. But for delicate fabrics that are washable, you could try using a water soluble paper stabilizer or a spray on product that once the product is dry, you sew then rinse.

With any stabilizer, be sure to do a test piece to ensure the product does not show through your fabric piece.

Often we get a little confused between a product and a brand.  For example Pellon & Vilene are both brands and have a large range of products between them however they are often referred to as a product alone.