Description
StitchnSew Heavy Weight Tear-Away is a non-woven backing for machine embroidery on stable, woven fabrics: canvas, denim, twill, quilting cotton, linen and other heavier fabrics with little drape. Hoop it (or float it) behind the fabric, and it keeps dense, high-stitch-count designs and lettering from tunneling or sinking into the fabric. When the design is done, tear it away; it tears cleanly in every direction right up to the stitches, leaving nothing behind on the back. That makes it the right stabilizer for items seen from both sides, like napkins, tea towels and banners.
It is 20" wide, white, a blend of polyester and natural fibers, machine washable and dryable, and made in the USA. Buy the 2-yard cut (20" x 72") for occasional embroidery or the 25-yard bolt for regular hoop work. Because it is heavy weight, one layer usually does what two layers of a light tear-away would. For stretchy knits and fleece, or very dense designs on light fabric, a cut-away stabilizer stays in place permanently and is the better choice.
Specifications
| Type | Tear-away stabilizer, non-woven, sew-in (hoop or float) |
|---|---|
| Weight | Heavy weight |
| Fusible | No |
| Width x length | 20" wide; 2 yard cut (20" x 72") or 25 yard bolt |
| Fiber content | Polyester and natural fibers |
| Color | White |
| Care | Machine washable and dryable (project); stabilizer is removed after stitching |
| Best for | Machine embroidery and lettering on stable woven fabrics; dense, high stitch-count designs; two-sided items |
| Also available as | StitchnSew Wash Away topping · StitchnSew Sew-In Fleece |
| SKU | TWDS-Q2419.Y (2 yd cut) · TWDS-Q2419 (25 yd bolt) |
What one 2 yd cut (20" x 72") hoops
6" x 6" pieces
7" x 9" pieces
10" x 12" pieces
Pieces are cut across the 20" width and down the 72" length, with about 1" of margin beyond the hoop on each side. The 25 yd bolt gives about 12.5 times these counts. Approximate, assumes no waste.
Compare and choose
- Tear-away or cut-away: which stabilizer do I need?
- Tear-away is for stable woven fabrics and is removed after stitching, so nothing shows on the back. Cut-away stays in the garment permanently and is the one for knits, fleece, sweatshirts and anything that stretches, and for very dense designs that need support through many washes. If the fabric stretches when you tug it, use cut-away; if it does not, this heavy tear-away will do. Heavy cut-away 20" x 10 yd
- Heavy weight vs medium or light tear-away?
- Weight should match the fabric and stitch count. Heavy weight supports heavier fabrics and dense, high-count designs and lettering in a single layer. Medium and light tear-aways suit lighter fabrics and open, low-density designs where a heavy backing would be overkill and harder to tear from small lettering. When in doubt on a dense design, heavy is the safer choice. Medium tear-away 12" x 10 yd
- StitchnSew Tear-Away vs Pellon Fuse-N-Tear: what is the difference?
- Both are tear-away embroidery stabilizers. StitchnSew is a sew-in: you hoop it with the fabric or float it under the hoop. Pellon 371 Fuse-N-Tear is lightly fusible, so you iron it to the back of the fabric first, which keeps slippery or shifty fabrics from moving in the hoop. For stable wovens that hoop well, a sew-in like this one is simpler; for fabrics that shift, a fusible tear-away helps. Pellon 371 Fuse-N-Tear 20" x 10 yd
- Hoop it or float it?
- Hoop the stabilizer together with the fabric whenever the fabric can take hoop marks; that gives the firmest support. Float it (hoop only the stabilizer, then pin, baste or spray-tack the fabric on top) for items too thick or too small to hoop, like finished towels and bags. Either way, tear it away gently in all directions once the design is done, supporting the stitches with your fingers.
- How many hoopings do I get from a 2-yard cut?
- A 2-yard cut is 20" x 72". Cut 10" x 12" pieces for an 8" x 10" hoop and you get about 12; 7" x 9" pieces for a 5" x 7" hoop give about 16; 6" squares for a 4" x 4" hoop give about 36. The 25-yard bolt is twelve and a half times that.
- Can I embroider towels or knits with tear-away?
- For terry towels, use tear-away behind and a water-soluble topping on top so stitches do not sink into the loops. For knits and sweatshirts, use a cut-away instead; tear-away will not hold a stretchy fabric stable through wear and washing. StitchnSew Wash Away topping 19"
