Why I Use a Water-Soluble Topper for Jumper (Sweatshirt) Embroidery

If I’m being completely honest, owning a multi-needle embroidery machine hasn’t been the instant upgrade I thought it would be. I came into machine embroidery with zero experience—no background in hooping, stabilisers, or threading—so every step has been a learning curve.

Thankfully, my machine from Echidna Sewing came with pre-threaded samples, which saved time and gave me a starting point. But even with that, adjusting the tension between the upper threads and bobbin has been a journey—one I’m still figuring out (oops!). At least now it’s more manageable.

Then came another issue: some of my stitches were sinking into the jumper (sweatshirt) fabric. At first, I thought I could ignore it, but as I embroidered more designs, I couldn’t unsee it. As someone aiming to turn this craft into a small business, I knew the finish had to meet a higher standard. Even as a hobbyist, I wasn’t satisfied.

After a bit of research (okay, maybe a rabbit hole), I learned about water-soluble toppers—a material placed on top of your fabric before stitching. They’re especially helpful when embroidering textured or plush fabrics like fleece or jumper (sweatshirt), as they prevent stitches from sinking into the weave and help achieve a cleaner finish.

My Experience with Water-Soluble Toppers

When I used a topper for the first time, the difference was instantly noticeable. The stitches sat neatly on top of the fabric, the design appeared sharper, and the overall finish looked far more polished. I’ve also read that toppers add an extra layer of support, helping to improve stitch quality—especially on textured fabrics like jumpers (sweatshirts).

Paper vs. Film: What’s the Difference?

Water-Soluble Paper Topper

• Setup: Has a textured or lightly tacky side, which helps it stick to the fabric easily—great for quick placement.
• Dissolving: Takes longer to wash away and may leave residue if not fully rinsed (or submerged in water).
• Embroidery Quality: Offers decent stitch support. Some embroiderers mention that the finish can feel a bit thick or stiff, but in my own test, I didn’t really notice that on the design I embroidered—it still looked clean and sat well on the fabric.
  

Water-Soluble Film Topper

• Setup: Smooth and clear. I place it directly over the hoop or secure it with low-tack tape.
• Dissolving: Melts away easily and cleanly with just a little water.
• Embroidery Quality: For jumpers, Excellent for jumpers—gives a clean finish, allows the stitches to sit on top of the fabric, and doesn’t leave residue.

Bonus Tip: This video from Ashley Aycoth make washing away water soluble film extra easy:
How to Remove Water Soluble Stabilizer in Seconds! New embroidery trick that will save you time!

So... Do I Use a Topper on Every Sweatshirt?

Not always. But after testing and seeing the difference, I’ve started making it part of my standard process when embroidering on fleece-lined or textured jumpers. It’s now part of my embroidery “sandwich”: stabiliser + fabric + topper.

This simple step helps:

• Prevent sunken stitches
• Create a cleaner finish
• Elevate the final quality of the piece
  

If you’re stitching on cosy jumpers and your threads keep sinking into the fabric, a water-soluble topper—especially film—might just be the fix you didn’t know you needed. *winks*