Machine Embroidery Stabilizers III
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Welcome back to All About Machine Embroidery.
So far we’ve covered Tear-Away and Cut-Away stabilizers. Today, I’ll be discussing Wash-Away stabilizers.
Wash-Away’s will dissolve when they get wet. There are two basic types of Wash-Away’s.
The first one is a thin plastic film (think plastic sandwich bag).
The other is a paper-like mesh (think paper towelish).
Why are these two Wash-Away stabilizers so different?
The Wash-Away stabilizer that is a thin plastic film is primarily used as a ‘topper.’ This means that it is set on top of the fabric and the machine embroiders over it.
You would want to always use a topper when embroidering on something with a pile or loft, such as a towel or fleece blanket.
If you don’t add the topper, your design will sink into the pile and be barely visible.
Personally, I like to add a topper to almost everything I embroider. You get such a nice look.
The second type of Wash-Away stabilizer is a non-woven mesh that dissolves in water. It is available with or without an adhesive backing.
The mesh Wash-Away is perfect for embroidering on things like cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, shawls, or anything where the back might show. {It is not suitable for knits, however.}
The mesh Wash-Away with adhesive backing is ideal for embroidering things that are really small and don’t hoop well. A good example would be pockets, collars, and cuffs.
One thing to remember about Wash-Aways ~ they wash away. You do not want this to be the primary support of your design.
Rather, the product is there to enhance the design and allow you to embroider on a variety of fabrics.