What Is ByAnnie's Soft and Stable?
ByAnnie's Soft and Stable is a foam stabilizer designed to give sewn projects lasting body and structure without adding weight. This piece measures 36" x 58" and is .175" thick. It is made of 100% polyester foam with polyester fabric on both sides of the foam, so it feels soft and comfortable while still holding its shape.
Think of it as the hidden layer that helps a project stand up, keep its form, and look professionally finished — instead of slumping the way fabric alone, or a soft batting alone, often does.
Why Quilters and Sewists Use It
Many projects need more than fabric and thread to succeed. A placemat that flops, wrinkles, and curls at the edges never looks quite right on the table, and soft layers can shift or bunch as you sew and wash them.
Soft and Stable addresses those problems. It provides great lasting body and stability, maintains its shape, and gives a professional finish to your project — yet it stays lightweight and is easy to sew. It is also washer and dryer safe, which matters for everyday items that will be used, spilled on, and laundered again and again.
The product description highlights sturdy, washable placemats as a favorite use: made with Soft and Stable, they look as good on the back as they do on the front and wash and wear beautifully.
How to Use It, Step by Step
- Cut your piece to size. The 36" x 58" piece gives you a generous area to work from. Measure your project pieces and cut the Soft and Stable to match the size your pattern or project calls for.
- Layer it with your fabric. Place the Soft and Stable between or behind your fabrics, using the polyester fabric surfaces on both sides of the foam as your sewing surfaces.
- Choose how to secure it. Fabric can be quilted to Soft and Stable, or simply sewn around the edges of the pieces. Unlike batting, there is no need to quilt every 2 to 4 inches — so a few lines of stitching, or just the edge seams, can be enough.
- Sew as usual. Stitch through the layers to assemble your project. The foam is easy to sew and soft to handle as you guide the work under the needle.
- Finish and use. Complete your edges and closures as your project requires, then put the finished piece to work. When it needs cleaning, it can go in the washer and dryer.
Practical Tips
Let the foam do the structural work. Because Soft and Stable maintains its shape, you do not need extra layers to get a sturdy result — one layer in a placemat gives it the body to lie flat and look crisp on the table.
Save your quilting time. With no requirement to quilt every few inches, placemats and similar flat projects can be finished by sewing around the edges, which makes a matching set for the table much quicker to complete.
Plan your cutting. A 36" x 58" piece is large enough for several smaller projects, so lay out all your pieces before you cut to get the most from it and keep a usable offcut for the next project.
Care and Storage
Finished projects made with Soft and Stable are washer and dryer safe, so everyday items like placemats can be laundered without special handling. Store unused pieces flat or loosely rolled in a clean, dry spot so the foam keeps its smooth, even thickness, and keep offcuts — even smaller pieces can support a future small project.
Project Ideas
Start with the classic: a set of sturdy, washable placemats that look as good on the back as on the front — a practical way to learn how the foam handles before trying something larger. Placemats also make excellent gifts, since they are useful every day and hold up to repeated washing. From there, use Soft and Stable anywhere you want a sewn piece to keep its shape and present a smooth, professional finish rather than draping softly.
Shop the ByAnnie Soft and Stable 36" x 58" - White at Linda's Electric Quilters.
