<p>Joachim's answer is spot-on and describes the reason why this fabric is there. If it bothers you (I know people who cannot stand the texture or added thickness), you can cut away the backing. Leave at least 1 - 2 cm of the backing around all embroidered parts. I advice against cutting the backing from inside the ring of the chemical element, though. If the fabric stretches in that area, it'll bulge out like a salad bowl.</p>
<p>BTW very nice design ;)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-08T09:43:49.367Z
Wouldn't cutting down the margins only increase the abrasion? I suppose there will be more corners and irregularities.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-08T17:19:43.240Z
@Joachim I have a light synthetic T shirt with it. The irritation in that case isn't the edges but the overall stiffness. Mine is lines of text and I keep meaning to slit the backing between the lines and maybe between the words (letters are too close together. The edges can't really be felt, at least on the back, and that's against bare skin
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-09T17:17:16.660Z
Thank you all!!
Bastian Müller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-07T15:36:24.350Z
2024-10-08T09:44:09.610Z
2024-10-08T09:44:09.610Z
Elmy
<p>It is <strong>backing</strong> for the embroidery, also known as a stabilizer. It has two major functions:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>First, the right embroidery backing serves as the <strong>stabilizing substrate</strong> behind the embroidered design. When you strike the correct combination of backing and material, you’ll prevent the design from warping, rolling and puckering. You’ll also ensure the embroidered design keeps its shape through innumerable wash-and-wear cycles over the life of the garment.</p>
<p>Second, the stabilizer creates <strong>a smooth and level barrier</strong> between the machine and any seams, textured fabric or other parts of the item being stitched, preventing needle deflection or design registration problems.<br />
<sub><a href="https://impressionsmagazine.com/process-technique/selecting-correct-embroidery-acking-stabilizer-decorated-apparel-business/39423/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a></sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>You can just leave it</strong> in/on your sweater (it's not supposed to be removed - removing it without it changing the appearance of the embroidery will be very difficult, if not impossible).</p>
<p>The type of backing depends on the fabric used. There are three major types: water-soluble, tear-away, and cut-away. Based on its thickness, and the fact it has a large margin around the embroidery, the backing of your sweater seems to be of the cut-away kind. Its two layers will simply stabilize the embellishment and improve its durability even more (but we have users here who are much more well-versed in these matters who might correct me on this).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-07T17:54:52.987Z
I would add a note that "cut-away" is actually meant to *stay in place* (one of the lighter-weight varieties is actually called "soft and stay"), not be cut out entirely. Even after construction, leave-in/cut-away stabilizers continue to offer some structure to the embroidery area
Allison C
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-10-05T17:21:51.177Z
2024-10-08T09:41:47.207Z
2024-10-08T09:41:47.207Z
Joachim
<p>I have gotten a custom made sweater with an embroidered design. On the backside I found this (see picture below).</p>
<p>I want to know what it is and what to do with it. It feels like fleece and has two layers.<br />
Online I read about embroidery fleece, but I don't know if I should remove it and how. I don't want to damage the sweater.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wjh2RppY.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wjh2RppYm.jpg" alt="embroidery fleece" /></a><br />
<sup>(click image for larger version)</sup></p>

<material-identification><clothing><embroidery>
What is this fabric on the inside of my sweater, and what should I do with it?
Bastian Müller
# What is this fabric on the inside of my sweater, and what should I do with it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-10-05)

I have gotten a custom made sweater with an embroidered design. On the backside I found this (see picture below).

I want to know what it is and what to do with it. It feels like fleece and has two layers.  
Online I read about embroidery fleece, but I don't know if I should remove it and how. I don't want to damage the sweater.

[![embroidery fleece](https://i.sstatic.net/wjh2RppYm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/wjh2RppY.jpg)  
(click image for larger version)

**Tags:** material-identification, clothing, embroidery


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2024-10-05. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

It is **backing** for the embroidery, also known as a stabilizer. It has two major functions:

> First, the right embroidery backing serves as the **stabilizing substrate** behind the embroidered design. When you strike the correct combination of backing and material, you’ll prevent the design from warping, rolling and puckering. You’ll also ensure the embroidered design keeps its shape through innumerable wash-and-wear cycles over the life of the garment.
>
> Second, the stabilizer creates **a smooth and level barrier** between the machine and any seams, textured fabric or other parts of the item being stitched, preventing needle deflection or design registration problems.  
> [source](https://impressionsmagazine.com/process-technique/selecting-correct-embroidery-acking-stabilizer-decorated-apparel-business/39423/)

**You can just leave it** in/on your sweater (it's not supposed to be removed - removing it without it changing the appearance of the embroidery will be very difficult, if not impossible).

The type of backing depends on the fabric used. There are three major types: water-soluble, tear-away, and cut-away. Based on its thickness, and the fact it has a large margin around the embroidery, the backing of your sweater seems to be of the cut-away kind. Its two layers will simply stabilize the embellishment and improve its durability even more (but we have users here who are much more well-versed in these matters who might correct me on this).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I would add a note that "cut-away" is actually meant to *stay in place* (one of the lighter-weight varieties is actually called "soft and stay"), not be cut out entirely. Even after construction, leave-in/cut-away stabilizers continue to offer some structure to the embroidery area  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2024-10-07. Score: 4

username_2's answer is spot-on and describes the reason why this fabric is there. If it bothers you (I know people who cannot stand the texture or added thickness), you can cut away the backing. Leave at least 1 - 2 cm of the backing around all embroidered parts. I advice against cutting the backing from inside the ring of the chemical element, though. If the fabric stretches in that area, it'll bulge out like a salad bowl.

BTW very nice design ;)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Wouldn't cutting down the margins only increase the abrasion? I suppose there will be more corners and irregularities.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 I have a light synthetic T shirt with it. The irritation in that case isn't the edges but the overall stiffness. Mine is lines of text and I keep meaning to slit the backing between the lines and maybe between the words (letters are too close together. The edges can't really be felt, at least on the back, and that's against bare skin  
> **username_0**: Thank you all!!  

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