AboutConnie Hester Expertise Quilting and applique expert.Can advise on the following topics:quilting, art quilts, quilt design and construction, machine and hand quilting, paper foundation piecing, machine piecing, hand piecing, raw edge applique, turned-edge applique and fiber art.
Experience Winning awards in international fiber and art competitions since 1983; http://www.conniehester.com/
BS,MS
See my work and books at http://www.conniehester.com/
Expert: Connie Hester Date: 3/19/2005 Subject: stabilizers with applique
Question I am helping to make a retirement quilt in which we are doing machine applique through five layers of fabric. I am using a blanket stitch on my blocks. The problem is the stabilizer doesn't tear away between the stitches on the back. It looks messy. Satin stitch is not an option for me. Is it really necessary to use a stabilizer in this instance. What is it's function?
Answer Hi, Pam,
The function of stabilizer is to keep the stitched surface from bunching-up or being pulled into the bobbin area under the throat plate of the sewing machine - or generally, anything which would prevent the finished surface from being flat. It seems to me that 5 layers of fabric would do that without help. Try machine stitching on a block without the stabilizer to see if you really need it. [or simply machine blanket stitch through a sample pile of 5 fabrics to see if it works smoothly without the stabilizer]
