Tips for Storing Stabilizers

Stabilizers are the foundation for perfect embroidery. Here is how you should store them!

Just like thread, light, environment, and dust are not good for your stabilizers. These tips will help you protect your investment.

Identify Stabilizer Types

Keep your stabilizers identified as to the type, weight, and even the manufacturer. That way, you can easily order more stabilizer when supplies run low.

Unless they are packaged inside tubes or come on a bolt, it may be hard to keep the stabilizer label with the stabilizer. I like to tuck the labels inside the stabilizer rolls for safekeeping.

Keep Water-Soluble Stabilizers Dry

I store all of my water-soluble stabilizers in a plastic bag, toppers included. Air conditioning and heat can actually dry out the stabilizer and make it brittle.

If you have a lot of humidity and moisture, water-soluble stabilizers can actually stick together, which we certainly don't want. I do the same with my melt-away topper. It's kind of expensive so I didn't want to risk any damage.

Bag Up Your Scraps

Stabilizer scraps can come in handy. Sometimes, you can use small pieces of stabilizer when adding decorative stitching or button holes to a project. Depending on the size, stabilizer scraps can even be used to patch stabilizer windows.

Sometimes, stabilizer pieces can be floated under the hoop, if needed, for better stitch support. They also come in handy for patching holes or tears that can inadvertently happen during embroidery.  Since they tear or wash away, topper scraps can be overlapped for use.

Store stabilizer scraps in plastic zip bags and be sure to label them according to their contents. Heat away toppers can easily be mistaken for wash-away and some mesh cutaway stabilizers look an awful lot like wash-away stabilizers. Having everything properly labeled can help you avoid an embroidery disaster.

Have a day blessed with perfect stitches and GlitterFlex!!