Embroidery Backing 20″ Wide Medium Weight | 1.5 oz | Soft Tearaway Rolls – For Light Stitch Counts

Dime

Embroidery with Peel ‘N Stick Adhesive Tearaway Stabilizer cutaway

The 1.5 oz Soft Tearaway is the lighter-touch alternative to firm tearaway — engineered with less body for easier removal and gentler fabric impact. Best for light stitch count designs, monogram work, delicate fabrics, and any embroidery where the firm 1.8 oz tearaway would be overkill. The soft construction tears cleanly with less force, which means faster post-embroidery finishing and less risk of fabric distortion on delicate goods. Not for high stitch counts or stretch fabrics — those need cutaway backing instead.

1.5 oz Soft/Medium

Temporary tearaway stabilizer — tears cleanly after stitching, no backing left in garment.

White Color

Standard color for most garments — works on light to medium colors.

20″ Roll

4 length options — choose at checkout.

Best For

Light stitch counts and delicate fabrics where firm tearaway would be excessive

Not sure which tearaway you need? See our full tearaway lineup — 7 options for every fabric, weight, and production volume.

🚚 Same-day shipping before 3:30 PM CT | 🎁 Free shipping over $200 | ✂️ 20″ Continuous Roll

Price range: $16.42 through $94.72

Length

20" X 25 Yards
20" X 50 Yards
20" X 100 Yards
20" X 250 Yards

Clear

Description

SOFT — LIGHT STITCH COUNTS

Soft Tearaway 1.5 oz — White 20″ Roll

Soft 1.5 oz tearaway — easier tear-off for light designs and delicate fabrics.

⚖️ 1.5 oz Soft/Medium

🎨 White

📦 20″ Roll

✂️ Temporary Tearaway

🏷️ Code: B41520TS

What Is Tearaway Backing — And When Do You Need It?

Tearaway backing is a temporary embroidery stabilizer that holds your fabric still during stitching, then tears away cleanly from around the design when you’re done. Unlike cutaway backing (which stays in the garment permanently), tearaway leaves no backing in the finished piece — just clean stitches and a finished look that feels exactly like the original fabric.

Use tearaway (not cutaway) when:

The fabric is stable woven — twill, denim, canvas, oxford, button-up shirts
The design has a light-to-medium stitch count (under about 8,000 stitches)
You want a clean finish with no permanent backing in the garment
You’re embroidering jackets, caps, dress shirts, tote bags, or other woven goods
Production speed matters — tearaway is faster to finish than cutaway

Do NOT use tearaway on knits, jerseys, polos, performance wear, or any stretch fabric — those need permanent cutaway support to prevent the design from distorting over time. For cap embroidery specifically, see our cap backing lineup engineered for finished cap work.

✂️ Tears Away Cleanly

Engineered to tear cleanly around the design with no fiber residue, no fabric distortion, and no backing remaining in the finished garment — leaving a professional look that feels exactly like the original fabric.

💪 Holds Fabric Steady

Provides full stability during stitching — eliminates the shifting, puckering, and registration problems that ruin embroidery on woven garments without backing.

⚡ Fast Production Finish

No cutting step required — just tear the backing away from around your finished design. Significantly faster than cutaway for finishing high-volume production runs.

🏭 Commercial Machine Ready

Works with all major commercial embroidery machines — Tajima, Brother, Baby Lock, Melco, Barudan, Ricoma, SWF, Happy, Janome MB, and more.

Why Choose This Soft/Medium White Tearaway?

The 1.5 oz Soft Tearaway is the lighter-touch alternative to firm tearaway — engineered with less body for easier removal and gentler fabric impact. Best for light stitch count designs, monogram work, delicate fabrics, and any embroidery where the firm 1.8 oz tearaway would be overkill. The soft construction tears cleanly with less force, which means faster post-embroidery finishing and less risk of fabric distortion on delicate goods. Not for high stitch counts or stretch fabrics — those need cutaway backing instead.

Best for these jobs:

Fine monogram and lettering work
Light woven fashion garments
Low-density designs (under 4,000 stitches)
Delicate fabrics where firm backing could leave imprints
Single-color simple logos on lightweight wovens
Embroidery where easy tearing matters more than rigidity

Available Lengths

Choose your roll length at checkout. Longer rolls give the best cost-per-yard for volume production.

Length Option
20″ × 25 yards
20″ × 50 yards
20″ × 100 yards
20″ × 200 yards

How to Use Tearaway Backing

1️⃣ Hoop the Backing & Fabric

Place the tearaway backing under your woven fabric in the hoop. The backing should fully cover the embroidery area plus extend at least 1 inch past the design on all sides.

2️⃣ Optional Spray Adhesive

For tricky-to-hoop pieces, a light coat of temporary spray adhesive can help hold the backing against the fabric during stitching.

3️⃣ Embroider Your Design

Run your embroidery. The tearaway holds the woven fabric stable and prevents the shifting and puckering that would ruin the design.

4️⃣ Tear Away the Backing

After embroidery, gently tear the backing away from around the design. The backing separates cleanly, leaving just clean stitches in the finished garment.

Compare All 7 Tearaway Backings

Different tearaway weights, formats, and specialty types serve different production needs. Use this table to find the tearaway backing that matches your fabric, design, and shop setup:

Product	Weight	Color	Format	Best For
Firm Tearaway 1.8 oz — White Sheets	1.8 oz Firm/Medium	White	Sheets	Everyday production embroidery on stable woven fabrics — twill caps, denim, canvas
Firm Tearaway 1.8 oz — White 20″ Roll	1.8 oz Firm/Medium	White	20″ Roll	High-volume tearaway production needing custom-size cutting for varied hoops
Firm Tearaway 1.8 oz — White 60″ Roll	1.8 oz Firm/Medium	White	60″ Roll	Maximum-width tearaway for the largest designs and the biggest production volumes
Soft Tearaway 1.5 oz — White 20″ Roll ← you are here	1.5 oz Soft/Medium	White	20″ Roll	Light stitch counts and delicate fabrics where firm tearaway would be excessive
Firm Tearaway 1.5 oz — Black Sheets	1.5 oz Firm/Medium	Black	Sheets	Tearaway embroidery on dark/black woven garments — invisible backing through fabric
Firm Tearaway 1.5 oz — Black 23″ Roll	1.5 oz Firm/Medium	Black	23″ Roll	Extra-wide tearaway for dark jacket backs, large designs, and oversized dark garments
Peel ‘N Stick Tearaway 2.5 oz — 19.5″ Roll	2.5 oz Peel ‘N Stick Adhesive	White	Adhesive Roll	Hard-to-hoop items, oddly-shaped pieces, and embroidery where standard hooping isn’t possible

💡 Quick decision guide: For everyday production on woven garments, start with Firm 1.8 oz Sheets (or 20″ Rolls for volume). For dark garments, choose the black version. For light stitch counts, use Soft 1.5 oz. For hard-to-hoop items, use Peel ‘N Stick. For maximum-width production, use 60″ rolls.

Browse All Tearaway Backings →

Compatible With All Major Commercial Machines

Works with every commercial embroidery machine that uses a standard hooping system. We carry products for many of the top brands in the embroidery industry:

Tajima

Industrial & commercial

Brother

PR & commercial

Baby Lock

Multi-needle & single

Melco

Multi-head commercial

Barudan

BEKS & BEKY

Ricoma

EM & MT series

SWF

Korean commercial

Happy

HCH & HCS

Janome MB

MB-4 & MB-7

Toyota

Commercial systems

Complete Your Embroidery Setup

Tearaway backing is one piece of a complete embroidery setup. Stock the rest from one vendor:

🪡 Embroidery Needles

DBxK5 Triumph chrome — sharp point for woven garments (the tearaway sweet spot).

Shop Needles →

🧵 Exquisite 1000m Thread

100+ colors of 40 wt polyester embroidery thread on convenient 1000m spools.

Shop 1000m →

🧵 Exquisite 5000m Cones

Commercial 5000m cones for high-volume embroidery — fewer changeovers per shift.

Shop 5000m →

✨ KingStar Metallic Thread

15 vibrant metallic colors for high-impact decorative embroidery accents.

Shop Metallic →

🎯 Pre-Wound Bobbins

Save winding time — pre-wound bobbins in standard sizes for commercial machines.

Shop Bobbins →

✂️ Cutaway Backing

For stretch fabrics, knits, polos, and high-density designs that need permanent support.

Shop Cutaway →

🧢 Cap Backing

Tear-away stabilizer engineered specifically for finished cap embroidery — 3.0 & 3.5 oz.

Shop Cap Backing →

💨 Spray Adhesives

Temporary spray adhesive to hold backing in place while hooping tricky garments.

Shop Aerosols →

👕 Blank Apparel

Wholesale blank apparel — tees, polos, caps, jackets — ready for embroidery decoration.

Shop Apparel →

Browse All Embroidery Supplies →

Why Order from River City Supply?

🚚

Same-Day Shipping

Orders before 3:30 PM CT ship same-day from San Antonio, TX.

🧵

One Vendor for the Whole Shop

Tearaway, cutaway, cap backing, thread, needles, bobbins — one supplier.

📞

Real Embroidery Help

Not sure which backing weight or format? Call us — we work with embroidery shops daily.

⭐

17+ Years in Business

Founded 2008 — serving screen printers & embroiderers nationwide.

Technical Specifications

Soft Tearaway 1.5 oz — White 20″ Roll — Technical Specifications

Specification	Detail
Product Name	Soft Tearaway 1.5 oz — White 20″ Roll
Product Code	B41520TS
Backing Type	Tearaway stabilizer — temporary (removed after stitching)
Weight	1.5 oz (Soft/Medium)
Color	White
Format	20″ Continuous Roll
Pack/Length Options	20″ × 25 yards, 20″ × 50 yards, 20″ × 100 yards, 20″ × 200 yards
Application	Standard tearaway — hoop with fabric, tear away after stitching
Removal Method	Tear cleanly around design after stitching — no permanent backing remains
Permanence	Temporary — no backing remains in finished garment
Fabric Compatibility	Light stitch counts and delicate fabrics where firm tearaway would be excessive
NOT Recommended For	Knits, jerseys, polos, stretch fabrics — use cutaway backing instead
Hoop Compatibility	All commercial embroidery hoop systems
Machine Compatibility	Tajima, Brother, Baby Lock, Melco, Barudan, Ricoma, SWF, Happy, Janome MB, Toyota, and other commercial systems
Recommended Needle	75/11 or 80/12 sharp point chrome (woven fabrics)
Recommended Thread	40 wt polyester or rayon embroidery thread
Storage	Store flat or rolled, away from humidity and direct sunlight
Country of Origin	Imported

Properties are typical values. Confirm critical specifications with our team for demanding applications.

Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents

Documents & Specifications

Need a spec sheet or care guide for the Soft Tearaway 1.5 oz — White 20″ Roll? Request the current documentation and we’ll send the latest revision for your records.

📄

Product Code B41520TS — Spec Sheet

Technical data, fabric compatibility chart, and handling guidance

Request Spec Sheet →

ℹ️ Build a Complete Embroidery Setup

Pair this tearaway with the right embroidery needle (sharp point for wovens), embroidery thread, and pre-wound bobbins. Browse our complete embroidery supplies category.

Questions about specs or bulk pricing?

Call (512) 454-0505 or email [email protected].

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between tearaway and cutaway backing?

Tearaway is temporary — it’s torn off entirely after embroidery, leaving a clean finish with no backing in the garment. Best for stable woven fabrics (caps, twill, denim, canvas, oxford) with light-to-medium stitch counts. Cutaway is permanent — it stays in the garment and is cut close to the design with scissors, providing ongoing reinforcement for the life of the garment. Best for stretch fabrics (polos, tees, performance wear) and high stitch counts. If your fabric stretches or your design is dense, choose cutaway. If your fabric is stable and your design is simple, tearaway is sufficient and looks cleaner.

When should I use Soft Tearaway vs Firm Tearaway?

Use Soft 1.5 oz Tearaway for light stitch counts (under 4,000 stitches), fine monogram work, simple single-color logos, and delicate woven fabrics where firm tearaway would be excessive. The soft construction tears more easily and impacts fabric less. Use Firm 1.8 oz Tearaway for everyday production work, medium stitch counts (4,000-8,000 stitches), and most commercial embroidery on stable woven fabrics — the extra body provides better stability for typical production designs.

What size sheet (or length roll) should I buy?

For sheets: match the size to your hoop and design area. The backing should fully cover the embroidery zone plus extend at least 1 inch past the design on all sides. Common sizes: 7″×7″ or 8″×8″ for left-chest logos, 9″×9″ or 10″×10″ for larger designs, 15″×20″ for jacket backs. For rolls: longer rolls give the best per-yard cost — buy a 100yd or 200yd roll if you do volume work; smaller rolls are fine for low-volume shops.

Can I use tearaway on knit fabrics?

No — tearaway should not be used on knits, jerseys, polos, performance wear, or any stretch fabric. Knit fabrics need permanent backing to keep the embroidery from distorting over time as the garment stretches with wear and washing. Tearaway is removed entirely after stitching, so it provides no ongoing support. For knit garments, use cutaway backing instead — specifically medium 2.5 oz cutaway for standard polo and tee work.

How do I tear it away without damaging the design?

Tear parallel to the stitch lines, not across them. Hold the fabric flat with one hand near the design while tearing with the other hand. Tearaway is engineered with directional weak points that release cleanly when you tear in the right direction — if you’re feeling resistance or pulling fabric, try tearing from a different angle. Take your time on detailed or curved designs. For very intricate work, finish with embroidery scissors to trim any small remaining pieces.

Can I use this with spray adhesive?

Yes — for tricky-to-hoop pieces, a light coat of temporary spray adhesive between the fabric and tearaway helps prevent shifting during hooping and stitching. Use sparingly — a heavy coat can gum up the needle and make tearaway removal harder than it should be. Best practice: hold the can 8-10 inches from the backing and apply a brief, light mist.

Will this work on my embroidery machine?

Yes. Tearaway backing has no machine-specific requirements — it works with any commercial embroidery machine that uses a standard hooping system. Confirmed compatible with Tajima, Brother (PR series and commercial), Barudan, SWF, Melco, Ricoma, Happy, Baby Lock, Janome MB, Toyota, and other commercial multi-needle systems.

How many sheets/yards will I use per garment?

Roughly: one sheet per garment for small to medium designs, two or more for large or jacket-back designs. For volume planning, a 250-sheet pack handles 200-250 standard garments. A 50-yard roll handles roughly 250-400 garments depending on hoop size. A 200-yard roll handles 1,000-1,600 garments. Plan for some waste — cutting errors, hoop misalignment, and irregular shapes.

What needle and thread should I use with tearaway?

For most tearaway work on woven fabrics, use a 75/11 or 80/12 sharp point chrome needle — the sharp tip cuts cleanly through woven fibers for crisp detail. Pair with standard 40 wt polyester embroidery thread — see our Exquisite 1000m or 5000m lineup.

How should I store unused tearaway backing?

Store backing flat (for sheets) or rolled (for roll formats) in a cool, dry location. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight and high-humidity environments. In normal shop conditions, tearaway backing keeps indefinitely — there’s no shelf-life concern. For Peel ‘N Stick adhesive backing specifically, keep the release paper in place until ready to use and avoid temperature extremes that could affect the adhesive.

Need help picking the right tearaway?

Call (512) 454-0505 or email [email protected].

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Embroidery Backing 20″ Wide Medium Weight | 1.5 oz | Soft Tearaway Rolls – For Light Stitch Counts

Description

Soft Tearaway 1.5 oz — White 20″ Roll