Frequently Asked Questions
What stabilizer should be used when embroidering knit fabrics?
The OESD "cut-away" stabilizers work well with knits and should be available through your BERNINA® store or at www.embroideryonline.com. They are used by commercial embroiderers and give very good results.
Try using one or two layers of OESD's Heavy Weight Cut-Away Stabilizer hooped very tightly on the underside of your knit fabric. It will give you professional stitch quality without unwieldy bulk and prevent your knit fabric from stretching.
PolyMesh Cut-Away is another stabilizer used with knits. The weave of the PolyMesh provides excellent stability and is soft to the skin as the garment is worn.
Ask your BERNINA® store about 101 Quilt Basting Spray or 505 Temporary Spray Adhesive to adhere the stabilizer to the back of the fabric. Both sprays disappear in 24 - 48 hours and are very effective in keeping the fabric from stretching and shifting as you sew.
You may choose to hoop the stabilizer, spray with 101Quilt Basting Spray or 505 Temporary Spray Adhesive and lay knit fabric on the stabilizer so as not to stretch the knit when hooping. Although is always best to hoop stabilizer and fabric, this is not always possible with very stretchy or very bulky fabrics.