What Is Embroidery Backing & Why Do You Need It?

Embroidering a fabric is not difficult if you have the right tools. The first thing you need is an embroidered backing, which helps the stitches stay firm and neat on your fabric. That quality will make your embroidery work look better, no matter what it is. The following content also has some reference value for Eagle digitizing.

What is an embroidered backing

The embroidered backing is also known as the stabilizer. It is a special fabric, which is laid on the fabric being embroidered to ensure that the embroidery stitch has a good foundation. It can be seen that the embroidery is correctly placed on the clothing or fabric.

Embroidery backing types available for embroidery

1. Tear away backing

Tearing back lining is a kind of embroidery back lining. Once the embroidery is completed, it can be easily torn from the fabric. This backing is available in heavy and light duty.

This ensures that you can get the correct backing for your fabric. The lightweight backing is suitable for lightweight fabrics, while the heavyweight backing is suitable for thicker fabrics.

As the name implies, after the embroidery is completed, the backing is torn from the fabric. You can use scissors or your hands to remove the backing without damaging the embroidery.

2. wash away backing

As the name implies, a washable backing is an embroidery backing that is removed from the fabric by washing. To use this backing, you need to fix the backing to the back of the fabric being embroidered using daubing stitches.

After embroidery, you can remove the backing by removing the smeared stitch and then running warm water on the fabric until the backing is completely washed off.

3. Cut away backing

The cut backing is an embroidered backing that needs to be cut off from the fabric after completion. As the name implies, it is easy to cut the backing from the fabric with scissors.

The cut backing where the embroidery design is located is permanently left on the fabric or garment. Then use scissors to cut off the excess.

4. Water soluble backing

Water soluble backing is a water soluble embroidery backing. This is how the embroidery process is removed from the fabric or garment.

It is most suitable for fabrics such as wool or terry cloth. Usually, during the embroidery process, the water-soluble backing is placed on the front of the fabric.

5. Fusible backing

Fusible embroidery backing is an embroidery backing, which is fixed to the fabric you want to embroider by heating. You can iron it onto the fabric to blend it into the fabric in the fastest way.

The only problem with fusible backing is that once the embroidery process is completed, it is difficult to remove it from the fabric

6. Hat backing

The hat back lining is used for embroidery hats. The hat backing ensures that the fabric of the hat does not accumulate in the embroidery machine. The hat has hard fabric. The use of embroidery backing ensures that the embroidery machine works smoothly on the fabric.

After the embroidery process is completed, the hat backing can be easily removed from the hat. It is easy to hoop and helps to maintain the proper cap structure during and after embroidery.

How to purchase the right backing

1. The type of backing you need

Before purchasing embroidery backing, the main factor you need to consider is the type of backing you need to use. Different types of fabrics require different types of backing. Using the wrong backing for a piece of fabric or clothing may cause your embroidery to go wrong. This will damage your fabric.

Check the stretch of the fabric to determine what type of backing you need. Embroidery backing is used to stabilize the fabric to ensure correct embroidery completion.

2. Fabric weight

When you need to buy embroidery backing, you need to consider the weight of the fabric to be embroidered. The lighter the embroidery fabric, the heavier the embroidery backing you need.

3. Use of fabric

If you are embroidering fabrics or clothing that will be used and washed regularly, you need to use a permanent embroidery backing. Backing that is insoluble in or affected by water.

If you have light colored fabrics, you need a backing that will not show through the fabric. Once you have finished your embroidery, if you use a permanent backing, make sure it is light enough not to be seen through the fabric.

4. Consider embroidery design

It is also important that you consider the embroidery design to be embroidered on the fabric. If your embroidery design has many stitches, you need a thick embroidery backing to ensure that your embroidery design is properly fixed to the fabric or clothing.

5. Appearance

When choosing embroidery backing, please consider the appearance of the fabric or clothing you want. If you want to have heavy embroidery on your clothes, you need a heavy embroidery backing.

If you want to have an invisible backing, you need to buy an invisible backing, which is invisible behind the embroidery on your clothes.

6. Price

Embroidery backing is relatively cheap. You can buy it in rolls or pieces for several coins. For large embroidery projects, you need to purchase backing rolls. For smaller projects, you can purchase smaller embroidery backing, which is sufficient to meet the size of your project.

7. Washable

If you are using embroidered backing for your clothes, make sure they are washable or dry cleanable. Washable embroidery ensures that you can wash as many clothes as possible without letting the embroidery backing wash, shrink or damage the clothes.

8. Anti perforation

When purchasing an embroidered backing, be sure to choose a stable embroidered backing. Embroidery backing for handling embroidery thread and needle. An embroidery backing, which is not easy to be pierced by embroidery needles.

9. Texture or feel

Most embroidery backing feels smooth. Other heavier backing may feel heavy when touched. Since most of the backing is inside the garment, it needs to be smooth.

When the backing touches a part of the body, it should be soft, not rough. Choose a smooth backing for all your embroidery items.

Benefits of using embroidered backing

Many embroiderers use embroidery backing in many of their projects. There are many advantages to using an embroidered backing.

First, the use of an embroidered backing ensures that the embroidery design does not wrinkle when stitched. Embroidery backing ensures that your embroidery process goes smoothly and the results are attractive.

Secondly, the embroidery backing allows the embroidery to be permanently fixed to the sewn fabric.

Another advantage of the embroidery backing is that it can be easily removed after the embroidery process is completed. Different types of embroidery backing can be removed in different ways, from tearing to dissolving in water.

Can you do without hoop embroidery?

Many embroiderers like to use hoop embroidery. Hoops are used to stabilize and secure fabrics or clothing for embroidery. If you are embroidering, you use a hoop to ensure that your fabric stays in place. If you can use anything else to stabilize your fabric or embroidered clothing, then you don't need hoops. This means that if you want, you can embroider without a hoop.

The most common method of hoop free embroidery is to use your hand. You can hold and pull the fabric with one hand while sewing with the other hand. Manual embroidery requires a lot of practice to be correct. You can also use rolled fabrics. It is a hands-free tool that allows you to perform embroidery correctly and perfectly without a hoop.