Description
StitchnSew Wash Away is a water-soluble non-woven stabilizer that disappears in water once the stitching is done. As a topping it goes on top of thick-pile fabrics like towels, robes and hand cloths so embroidery stitches sit on the surface instead of sinking into the loops. As a stabilizer it tames delicate, sheer and slippery fabrics such as chiffon and taffeta so they cut, hoop and stitch cleanly, and it holds open weaves like netting, tulle and burlap so they do not catch and pucker. On its own it is the base for freestanding lace and other standalone digitized designs.
Because it washes out completely, nothing stays in the project to show through, scratch or stiffen. It is made of PVA fibers, 19" wide, white, and sold as a 2-yard cut (19" x 72") or a 25-yard bolt. Keep it sealed and dry between uses; humidity softens it. When the design is finished, tear or trim away the excess, then rinse the remainder out in warm water or let it dissolve in the first wash. For towels, use it with a tear-away or cut-away backing underneath; the topping handles the surface and the backing supports the stitches.
Specifications
| Type | Wash-away (water-soluble) stabilizer, non-woven, sew-in; topping or base |
|---|---|
| Fusible | No |
| Width x length | 19" wide; 2 yard cut (19" x 72") or 25 yard bolt |
| Fiber content | PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) fibers |
| Color | White |
| Removal | Tear or trim away excess, then dissolve the rest in warm water or in the first wash; finished project machine washable and dryable as the fabric allows |
| Best for | Topping on towels and pile fabrics; stabilizing chiffon, taffeta, netting, tulle and burlap; freestanding lace and standalone designs |
| Also available as | StitchnSew Tear-Away stabilizer · StitchnSew Sew-In Fleece |
| SKU | TWDS-Q2421.Y (2 yd cut) · TWDS-Q2421 (25 yd bolt) |
What one 2 yd cut (19" x 72") hoops
6" x 6" pieces
7" x 9" pieces
10" x 12" pieces (one across)
Pieces are cut across the 19" width and down the 72" length, with about 1" of margin beyond the hoop on each side. The 25 yd bolt gives about 12.5 times these counts. Approximate, assumes no waste.
Compare and choose
- Do I still need a backing stabilizer if I use a topping?
- Yes. A topping only keeps stitches from sinking into pile; it does not support the stitches. On a towel, hoop a tear-away or cut-away under the fabric, lay the wash-away on top, stitch, tear away the excess topping and backing, and rinse out what is left under the stitches. On very light fabrics the wash-away can be the only stabilizer, since it leaves nothing behind. StitchnSew Heavy Weight Tear-Away 20"
- Fibrous wash-away vs a clear film like Solvy: which do I want?
- Clear film (Solvy, Super Solvy) is the classic topping: thin, see-through, and it lets you see the fabric underneath. A fibrous wash-away like StitchnSew is cloth-like and stronger, so it works as a topping and as a hoopable stabilizer or freestanding lace base, where film would stretch or tear. If you only ever top towels, film is fine; if you also do lace, sheers or cutwork, the fibrous kind does both jobs. Super Solvy 12" x 9.5 yd
- Can I use it for freestanding lace?
- Yes. A fibrous wash-away is the standard base for freestanding lace and other standalone designs: hoop one or two layers depending on the density of the design, stitch, trim the excess, then soak in warm water until the stabilizer is gone, and lay flat to dry. Leave a little stabilizer in if you want the lace slightly stiff.
- How do I remove it?
- Tear or trim away as much as you can first; it tears cleanly around the stitches. Then rinse the project in warm water, rubbing gently over the stitching, until no residue remains, or simply launder it and the rest dissolves in the wash. Do not iron directly on the stabilizer before it is removed.
- StitchnSew Wash Away vs a sticky-back wash-away?
- A sticky-back wash-away has adhesive on one side and is for hard-to-hoop items: you hoop the stabilizer, peel the paper, and stick the fabric down. StitchnSew is plain, with no adhesive, so it is the one for toppings and for hooping with the fabric. For patches, cuffs and tiny items that cannot be hooped, use the sticky version. Stick N Wash Away 11" x 2 yd
- How many hoopings are in a 2-yard cut?
- The cut is 19" x 72". For a 4" x 4" hoop, 6" squares give about 36 pieces; for a 5" x 7" hoop, 7" x 9" pieces give about 16; for an 8" x 10" hoop, 10" x 12" pieces give about 6, since only one fits across the 19" width. The 25-yard bolt gives about twelve and a half times as many.
