This is the supplies chat: a week where we’ll talk about supplies you can use in creative projects. When I was first starting to seriously embroider, I didn’t know about a lot of the tools I now use. I had to ask friends or, more often, see supplies on social media and then google the right terms to find them. Well, no gatekeeping here! I’ll be sharing supplies that help me in my work—and eventually, I’ll ask others to share, too.

When I first thought of this series, the material that immediately came to mind was stick and stitch stabilizer. It sounds hyperbolic, but I would not be where I am today without it. Learning about it has completely changed how I work; it allows me to take what I’ve drawn on my iPad and translate it exactly onto fabric. I can create more detailed embroideries because of the stabilizer.

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What is stick-and-stitch stabilizer?

Stick and stitch stabilizer is one way to transfer a design onto fabric using your home printer. I use Sulky brand Stick N Stitch stabilizer (although other brands are available).

There are different types of stabilizers, but the kind I use—and what I’m going to focus on—is a wash-away stabilizer. When you’re done stitching, it dissolves in warm water, and only your threads will remain.

The big advantage of this type of product is that you can transfer a design without having to draw it on fabric—something I find challenging and doesn't allow for the level of detail I want in my design.

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How to use a stick-and-stitch stabilizer

Think of it like a sticker. To begin, place a sheet of embroidery stabilizer into your printer. (Follow the manufacturer's instructions for printing.) Once printed, cut out your design with a standard pair of scissors and peel away the backing. Adhere it to your fabric and start stitching as normal. Once you’re done with your embroidery, run the fabric under warm water—alternatively, you can soak it—to remove the stabilizer. Let it dry as normal.

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Tips and tricks for using stick-and-stitch stabilizer

Although stick-and-stitch stabilizer is, by far, my preferred method for transferring an embroidery pattern, it does have its quirks. Here are some of the things I’ve noticed in my five years of working with it:

• Stabilizer works best with light-colored fabrics. You’ll have an easier time seeing the lines of your design. With dark or black fabrics, you’ll have to strain to see your marks. You can still use it on dark fabrics, but beware!
• Your needle might feel sticky. Because stabilizer is a stabilizing material—and it’s sticking to your fabric—your needle might feel gunky during the first few passes back and forth. In my experience, this is temporary. As the stabilizer fully adheres to the fabric, the stickiness should go away.
• The oils on your fingers can affect your printed design. The more you touch the stick and stitch stabilizer, the more you’ll degrade it. Once you’re happy with the placement of the pattern, try not to touch the design unless you’re stitching into it. Repeatedly handling a design can make it harder to see.
• Stabilizer is stiff. Once you’ve washed away the stabilizer, it will make your stitches appear a bit less “fuzzy” as the stabilizer is like a glue that locks them into place. If you’re embroidering on clothing, this is a great advantage, as it means your stitching will hold up to washings.

Ok, that all sounds tiresome. What can I use instead of stick and stitch stabilizer?

I get it! If you don’t have a printer, this method can be out of reach. In that case, I’d use a ballpoint pen to transfer my design, or a special heat erase pen if you want the lines to disappear.

One more thing to note. This isn’t the most sustainable way to transfer your embroidery fabric. If you’re cutting out the design, you’ll likely have plastic scraps that can’t be recycled. (I put mine in an ecobrick), and when you wash away the stabilizer, that plastic-y materials is going down the sink.

Talk to you next week,

Sara Barnes Embroidery illustrator and writer ​

This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn an affiliate commission.

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