Normally, I use fuse polymesh stabilizer to the wrong side of the design area to stabilize knit fabrics. But recently, I was working on a couple of knit skirts. The brown one, shown above, is an a-line skirt and easily slips over the hip. I used polymesh cut-away stabilizer on it with satisfactory results. The second skirt, a pretty avocado green is more fitted. I really needed to keep the stretch of the skirt so it could slip over the hip. I opted to use Piece & Stitch wash-away tear-away stabilizer instead of my usual cut-away.
As you can see, the stitches are lovely, they sit nicely on the fabric without a ripple.
This Piece & Stitch wash-away tear-away stabilizer breaks down in water leaving soft fibers in the embroidered stitches and practically vanishing from other areas. And I was thrilled with the results. The stitches are gorgeous and after laundering, the skirt has not lost any stretch. As a bonus it’s so comfortable to wear because the remaining stabilizer is very soft.
Do not confuse Piece & Stitch wash-away tear-away stabilizer with a water-soluble stabilizer. Water soluble stabilizer means it dissolves and disappears in water. Wash-away tear-away means it breaks down in water, like tissue paper, leaving no gummy residue. 
It’s good for many uses but not a substitute for water soluble, so don’t try to make lace with it! Normally, I use it for piecing quilt blocks in the hoop but now it’s my go-to stabilizer for stable knits.
12 COMMENTS
Dottie K
8 years agoInteresting and helpful info. Thanks.
Lynda Case
8 years agoThanks for telling us about this stabilizer.
Annette
8 years agoWho makes it and where do you buy it?
eileenroche
8 years ago AUTHORHi Annette,
Look in your local dealership in the stabilizer section. It can be branded under several different companies or you can buy it from Designs in Machine Embroidery: Copy this link into your browser to view:
http://www.shop.dzgns.com/collections/stabilizers/products/piece-stitch-stabilizer
Gaill Beam
8 years agoThank you for the tip for stitching on knits with this stabilizer.
Susan Shamekh
8 years agois anyone familiar with the Janome Memory Craft 270? Is it a good embroidery machine? I have wanted to buy a machine for a long time and this one was recommended to me. I can’t find much information on-line?
Susan Shamekh
8 years agoSorry the model Number is 370
Betsy
8 years agoEileen. Love your blog. So many helpful tips. Thanks.
Can you share where you got the design you put on the skirts? It’s just too cute.
dawn g
8 years agoGetting ready to embroider for first time on baby onesies. Would Piece & Stitch be a good stabilizer to use so as to keep underside embroidery stitches SOFT for babies skin?
Cathie Paski
8 years agowhat designs were you using. They are beautiful!
lucinda
8 years agocan it b used on towels?, and thank u for the information.
Bruce
7 years agoThank you for the tip with this stabilizer.
Bruce, https://www.printavo.com