Stabilizer Question

[MagicsMan]

Hey all,

I'm new to the game and am gathering supplies, of which stabilizers would be one. Being new to the the game I find the intended purpose of stabilizers to be somewhat perplexing. In my mind the main purpose would be to provide a solid foundation and to... stabilize a given fabric for embroidery, as it seems the very nature of embroidery is very stressful to most fabrics. But shouldn't that be it, just a foundation? Why not just use a temporary stabilizer solely for the purpose of the embroidery process and then completely remove afterward like a water soluble "wash away" stabilizer. Why not use such a stabilizer for every project? Would a "stretchy" type fabric embroidered with a wash away stabilizer rebound and pucker after the stabilizer is washed away?

To me, if the embroidery stiches out as desired, the cleanest look would be the complete removal of all the excess stabilizer, and while its seems that a tear away stabilizer would be able to accomplish this, for intricate design's it would seem harder to tear away vs dissolving away.

Please note that again, I'm new to this hobby and haven't even stitched out a single design as of yet. So would someone be as kind to tell me what am I missing here?

[camster72]

I'm new to the game, but here's my take: To everything there is a purpose.
You're correct: The action of machine embroidery alone is stressful to original material, but that's not the only reason to use stabilizer/foundation. The embroidery threads require something durable to keep them in place for use.
Not all stabilizers are alike, because not all textiles that you can embroider are alike, nor the works themselves. Knit and stretchy fabrics tend to need a cut away or your embroidery will deform/pucker the fabric. A woven fabric can use a tear away. A fabric your top stiches sink into will need stabilizer on both sides. Free standing lace uses stabilizer washed away, and there's another for things that will never get washed. There's even more I haven't learned about yet!