That paper stuff on the back of embroideries on shirts.

[AlFrankenFan]

Is it there for a reason (other than to irritate your skin) or can I just rip it off?

[lazarus]

1. my wife

Haele, the seamstress, says to just trim it. It's there to support the threads and fabric. If you rip it off, the embroidery will start to fall apart.

[AlFrankenFan]

3. Okay, thank you !!!! n/t

[havocmom]

2. It stabilizes the fabric while the embroidery machine does its thing

keeps some fabrics from rolling a bit where the decorative stitching is. Probably won't harm most garments to remove it after it has been washed a couple of times. I would check to make sure the embroidery stitching was secure first though.

[Hepburn]

4. It strengthens the material...

....because that much needlework would weaken it. It also keeps the stitching from stretching out of shape. At least I *think* this is correct. Think of it as re-bar is to cement.

[didntvote4shrub]

5. yes, and sort of

It's there in order to make it possible to embroider in the first place without the fabric stretching during the process (it's called interfacing). After the shirts been laundered, you can cut carefully around any "floppy" edges that are irritating, but don't just rip it -- you could rip out some of the embroidery.

HTH.