Tear-Away Backing
A type of stabilizer that tears cleanly away from the embroidery after stitching, used on woven fabrics that do not stretch.
Tear-away backing is the most common stabilizer for woven fabrics. It is a non-woven paper-like material that holds the fabric steady during embroidery, then tears off cleanly along the perforated edge of the stitches once the job is done. The result is a clean back of garment with no excess backing left behind.
Tear-away comes in weights from light (1.5 ounce per square yard) to heavy (3 ounce). Lighter weights are used on thin wovens and lightweight jackets. Heavier weights are used on denser fabrics and larger designs that need more stability. Some tear-aways are treated to be water-resistant or to release more cleanly without fraying.
The key rule with tear-away is that it should only be used on non-stretch wovens. Knits, polos, performance fabrics, and any garment with spandex will pull the embroidery out of shape if backed only with tear-away, because there is nothing holding the knit stable after the backing is removed. Cut-away is the correct choice for those.
In caps and hats, tear-away is the standard because the structured crown does not stretch. On jackets, oxford shirts, denim, canvas bags, and patches, tear-away is also standard. Operators stack multiple layers of tear-away (often two or three) for dense designs or for stability under fine detail work.
Related Terms
- Stabilizer →
- A backing or topping material placed against the fabric during embroidery to hold the stitches and prevent distortion, puckering, or stretching.
- Cut-Away Backing →
- A type of stabilizer that remains permanently behind the embroidery after stitching, used on knit and stretch fabrics for long-term stability.
- Poly-Mesh Backing →
- A lightweight, soft, transparent cut-away stabilizer used on thin or light-colored garments where conventional backing would show through.
- Water-Soluble Stabilizer →
- A stabilizer that dissolves completely in water, used as a topping on plush fabrics or as a backing on freestanding lace and sheer fabrics.
- Cap Frame →
- A specialized curved hooping system designed to hold hats and caps on an embroidery machine for stitching on the curved front panel.