Is there any way you can tell....
 

What kind of stabilizer is what? I dear friend being very kind and helpful gave me a 12"x12" box of stabilizer to use with both quilting and embroidering. Unfortunately none of it is labeled. I don't know much about stabilizers so I was wondering if there is a way to be able to tell what stabilizer is what? I want to use it more for practicing with my embroidery machine but if I have some that could be used for quilting, that would be helpful. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

If you could show a good clear pic of each type I'm sure some of us can tell you what you have.

Cari

Does your friend know?

There are cut-away and tear-away stabilisers. Try pulling a bit of the corner off by hand, if it doesn't tear easily, it's a cut-away. If it feels like thin plastic, it's likely to be wash-away.
Check both sides of each, if one side is a bit shiny, it's probably iron on.
You can also get iron-ons double-sided ,not technically a stabiliser, great for applique. Draw a design on the paper side, iron to back of fabric and cut out design, then peel the back paper off and press onto background fabric
Generally, lighter stabilisers are used for embroidering on finer and sheer fabrics, and stiffer stabilisers used for heavier fabrics and embroideries - denims, caps, bags ets.
I've not used them in ages, preferring the sticky-back wash-away ones, as others are difficult to remove.
Also I find if quilting a sandwich with the embroidery machine, one doesn't need stabiliser, the batting is enough.
Experiment and Have FUN

Thanks for replying in depth to this member's question. I have been trying to figure out stabilizers for a long time. I saved your answer.

Gay's answer was excellent about trying to tear. I think the wash away has that thin plastic feel to it unlike anything else we use in quilting.

Why would you use it for quilting? T-shirt quilt is the only one I know when it is used.

The person that gave it to me lives several hours away so it's not like I could run by her house to have her differentiat what's there. I'll make an attempt from the suggestions to see if I can figure it out.

One more question. What is a tell tell sign of not ironing on a particular side. I have a rowenta iron, that doesn't leak, and don''t want to goo it up.

Thanks for all the responses! I LOVE this board!!!

Usually you can tell by feel which is the "sticky" side. It will be either slick or slightly bumpy.
As a precaution I use a scrap of fabric between the iron and what I'm stabilizing and underneath next to the ironing board as well.
Saves both the iron and the ironing board from sticky buildup.

I'll bet if you go to your LQS they will help you determine what you have.