Comparison
What's the best stick and stitch paper? How to choose a sheet
The best stick and stitch paper is one that clearly says water-soluble, printable and self-adhesive on the pack, prints cleanly on your printer, and rinses out completely. We haven't tested brands head to head, so there's no ranking here. Print a test, stitch a scrap and rinse it before your real piece.
What to check on the pack
Choosing stick and stitch paper: what to look for and why
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| It says water-soluble (or wash-away) | Ordinary sticker paper won't dissolve, and its glue stays in your fabric |
| It says printable, and for which printers | We print ours on a home inkjet printer; some packs list laser printers too |
| Self-adhesive, with a backing sheet | The sticky back holds the design in place while you hoop |
| Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) | It fits a home printer, and one sheet holds a portrait for a 6-inch hoop |
| Clear removal instructions | The water temperature and soak time to use |
Which side do you print on? The soft, slightly rough side, not the shiny backing paper. Printing on the wrong side is the most common mix-up, so check how your printer feeds paper before you load a sheet.
Stick and stitch vs other water-soluble sheets
Stick and stitch is one kind of water-soluble stabilizer. Sulky, for example, makes several: a sticky printable sheet, a printable paper-like sheet, a fabric-like sheet, and clear films. They all come out with water, but only the sticky kind presses onto the fabric by itself.
For a detailed design like a dog's face, the sticky printable kind is the easiest, because you print the pattern instead of tracing it. More in stick and stitch vs water-soluble stabilizer.
Printing on it
- Print on plain paper first. Print at 100% ("Actual size"), and measure the 1-inch check square, so you don't waste a sheet.
- Load it the right way. Feed the sheet so the print lands on the soft side.
- Use the plain-paper setting. Not photo paper, and your printer's lightest or draft ink. Heavy ink can mark the fabric.
- Let the ink dry. Give it a few minutes before you peel the backing.
- Keep it dry and cool. Handle it with dry hands, and never put an iron on it. It starts to dissolve the moment it's wet.
Test before your real piece
A few minutes of testing tells you more than any brand list. Print a small piece of your design, stick it on a scrap of the linen you'll use, stitch a few lines, then rinse it.
- Soak it in lukewarm water for 5 to 10 minutes, swishing gently, then finish under the running tap.
- Check for marks. If a gray line won't go, soak it again. A tiny dab of soap, rubbed very gently, can help.
- Check when it's dry. If the fabric feels stiff or tacky, some sheet is left: wet it and rinse again.
- Notice the needle. If it gets gummy as you stitch, wipe it with a little rubbing alcohol.
The full walkthrough is in how to use stick and stitch and how to remove stick and stitch.
Questions people ask
Which stick and stitch brand dissolves cleanest?
We haven't run a fair test of brands against each other, so we won't name a winner. Any sheet that says water-soluble should rinse out. Test yours on a scrap first, and rinse again if the fabric feels stiff once dry.
Can you print on stick and stitch with an inkjet?
Yes. That's how we print ours. Use the plain-paper setting and the lightest ink, and print on the soft side. Some packs list laser printers too, so check yours.
How do you use stick and stitch paper?
Print the design on the soft side, peel off the backing, press the sheet onto your fabric, hoop it and stitch right through it. When you're done, trim the extra and rinse the sheet away.
How do you remove Sulky stick and stitch?
Like any water-soluble sheet: trim close to the stitches, soak in lukewarm water for 5 to 10 minutes, swish gently and finish under the running tap. Rinse again if any marks or stiffness are left.
How do you use Sulky water-soluble stabilizer?
It depends on the kind. The sticky printable kind is printed and pressed on. The film and paper kinds are traced on or printed, then hooped with the fabric. All of them come out with water at the end.
Sources: Wandering Threads: How to use stick & stitch transfer paper · Sulky: Water-soluble stabilizer · Sulky: Getting marks off fabric after soaking