I see stabilizer is used when machine embroidering, can you use some kind of stabilizer in hand embroidery? And still get the needle through?

there are a lot of soft stabilizers, I've never used one for hand work but I'm sure you could.

Maybe some of the wash away stabilizers? :D:D:D

Never. When you first start you should use a hoop or scroll frame and that stabilizes the fabric. I have embroidered for years and now I can do without the frame. I just hold it in my hand, but embroidery fabric tends to be a little more stiff than regular fabric, so that is already enough stability.

I embroider a lot and never use anything.

I didn't used to then someone suggested I did for heavy sewing as I do not use a hoop, I just use what we here call muslin, it is not the same as yours, Which we call calico, this is a very fine fairly open weave, sorry I do not know what it is called over there.

One of the gals at work just tried the wash-away stabilizer and she said it was really hard to get the needle through. I have seen where someone doubled the muslin and it seemed to work. Another girl embroiders through the batting - that definitely keeps the threads from showing through.

forgot to mention that I leave the muslin in, it helps to stabilise for framing or quilting. Any fine cotton or lawn fabric should work.

I don't stabilize my hand embroidery.

I do stabilize all my hand embroidery.