i use a layer of light weight muslin behind my hand embroidery projects. that keeps any traveling threads from showing through and everything on the front looking sharp and nice.

Never thought of using a stabilizer for hand embroidery. Wouldn't the weight of the fabric being embroidered make a difference as to whether you would need to stabilize?

Does anyone use batting behind their embroidery so they don't need to use a hoop? If so, what kind.

i generally use a square of muslin behind my hand embroideries- it keeps the threads from showing through - and is easy to stitch through. does make the squares a little heavier...but that's never been a problem for me

Why would you need to if it's in the hoop?

I don't use stabilizer. I just use a hoop.

I use a backing of some sort, depending on the fabric...if it's duponi silk I use a stabilizer, if it's cottons I use a lightweight muslin.

I don't use it to hold the fabric, I use it for keeping the thread from showing through to the front.

No...it would make it too thick to lay nicely and it doesn't need any stabilizing if you put it in a hoop.

I usually embroider on linen or cotton without any backing but embroidery experts who use very fine fabrics or are doing stumpwork or other, heavier projects use a muslin or maybe lawn backing. When working with small pieces, basting the fabric to be embroidered to a larger piece that can then be mounted on a frame or in a hoop is advisable. Great Britain and Australia have a wonderful heritage of skillful, artistic embroiderers and great publications.

Embroidery should be worked so that there isn't loose, floating or carried-over thread, yarn or floss so that the back of the project is as tidy as the front. Knots on the back are no more acceptable than knots on the surface of a quilt.

I have just purchased the "sticky fabri-solvy"by Sulky and I find it VERY difficult to embroider through. I'm quite disappointed in it. It's used in a printer. The only thing it's good for is saving your pattern. Because you just put your pattern in the copier.