Backing FAQ

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Backing FAQ

How important is backing? What does it do?

Backing stabilizes the material, when a material needs stabilization to support the embroidery the backing is very important. Backing stabilizes both while the sewing is taking place and after the goods are released from the frame, it continues to stabilize during laundering and wearing. There are some cases when no backing is needed. If the material is stable enough both during and after the embroidery no backing may be necessary. Examples would be heavy denim or some quilted jackets. Sometimes backing is used to stabilize the thread tension by bulking up the fabric and creating a little more resistance on the thread resulting in a more stable thread tension. It is most important to remember that the backing will stabilize both during and after the embroidery process.

Generally speaking backing should be non directional, meaning it has no stretch in any direction. Use 1 layer because of the economics and try to use a softer backing whenever possible. Often heavy backings are used because there are too many stitches and too much tension being used.

What is backing made of?

It is made of many things but predominately polyester, rayon, wood pulp or cellulose. Filler materials are normally made of wood pulp.

What are the basic types of backing? What is each used for?

Tearaway is usually used for woven or stable materials that do not stretch. Cutaway is normally used for non-woven or unstable fabrics such as knits.

What can happen if the wrong backing is used?

Distortion during or after embroidery.

What components are considered when choosing a backing? Is it the type of fabric, thread, stitch or needle?

Predominately the type of fabric. Thread is not a big factor and the needle has little effect, except that you could say a ball point needle may not cut a tearaway as much as a sharp point would. Stitch type can have considerable effect, but most important is the stitch density and tensions, both on the thread and on the hooped goods.

How does an embroiderer decide they should have pre-cut backing or bulk backing (roll)?

It would be determined by the amount of production of a given size of backing.

What are some tips you have on reducing backing waste and making the most of what an embroiderer has in stock?

Look at the yield you are going to get out of a given width of backing, something as simple as cutting the backing a ½ inch smaller may give you more pieces but yet give you cut sizes that are plenty big enough to hoop comfortably. Keep the larger pieces of the trimmed backing to use in smaller size hoops.

What are the best ways embroiderers can educate themselves on the correct backing for a job?

Do lots of samples, most companies will send sample backings to you. Try them on various types of fabrics with designs of varying stitch densities. Wash test your samples. Consider using different combinations of backings, 1 heavy and 1 light together on a single embroidery may give you a better effect. I recommend you try to use 1 piece when ever possible though, it is usually more economical, 1 piece is less expensive than 3 pieces of a different type/weight. It is also usually easier to handle 1 piece instead of 3 pieces, and less time consuming to cut 1 than 3.

Backing Types Pros & Cons

Water Soluble Backing

Pro: Creates a clean look on the back because the edges are washed away.

Con: May not have enough stability after continuous washings.

Adhesive Backings:

Pro: Can stabilize unstable material with fairly loose frame tension or can be used without a hoop in what is called hoopless embroidery

Con: Expense

Fusible Backing:

Pro: Stabilize an unstable material with fairly low frame tension.

Con: Time consuming to apply and sometimes difficult to remove

Heat Disintegrating Backing:

Pro: Primarily used for creating bulk within the embroidery to make the embroidery stand out, creates dimension. Commonly used for free standing embroidery.

Con: Time consuming to remove. Expense.

Plastic Film:

Pro: Good stability and appearance of no backing commonly used in all over embroidery.

Con: Time consuming to remove, usually removed with a hot iron.

Using Woven Fabrics as backing:

Pro: Fairly good stability although once laundered some may lose the sizing and become too soft. Often gives a soft hand to the embroidery.

Con: Loss of sizing after laundering may cause distortion with repeated launderings. Must be cut away. Expense.

Heat Cut Nylon Gauze:

Pro: Good stability both during and after embroidery, often used for free standing embroidery.

Con: Expense and time consuming to heat cut.

Water Soluble Gauze:

Pro: Good stability often used for free standing embroidery and lace work.

Con: Must be boiled in hot water to remove, time consuming and not applicable for all types of embroidery. No stability after washed. Expense.

Paper (phone books, newsprint, paper bags, cap dividers, etc):

Pro: Inexpensive paper has been used for years by many embroiderers.

Con: Very little durability in washing, printed paper inks may run in cleaning process.

Wax Paper:

Pro: Excellent for lubricating the needle on some fabrics, particularly coated fabrics.

Con: Not good for stabilizing during embroidery or after.

Toppings:

Water Soluble:

Pro: Used for stabilizing and clarifying the embroidery to create clear, sharp embroidery.

Con: Relative expense and time consuming to remove.

Dry Cleaning Bags:

Pro: Inexpensive method of holding down the nap on certain fabrics.

Con: Difficult to remove for detailed work, may show through the stitching after washing.

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