I have no clue how one does knock down stitches. Is this something that some machines have a function for doing? Just how does one do it?

Far easier (on towelling) to just iron the area of the design, with spray on starch, being sure to iron in the one direction that gives the flattest result.
By doing this you get a flatter area on which to stitch without the added bulk of additional underlay stitching.
Just my opinion, but it is the way I always embroider on towelling. I will also add tearaway stabiliser, or dry cover up, on top of the towelling to help prevent pokies coming through the embroidery down the track.

If I just want to add support to prevent stitches sinking into fabric, I will use a layer of WSS on top instead of tearaway or cover up.

Everyone has a technique they prefer, you need to experiment until you find what works best for you.

Some designs have no underlay at all, when they should have, but short of digitising a universal underlay for such designs I don't know how you would do 'knock down stitches' to match each design just to fatten nap, or replace missing underlay.

Sorry it's not much help. :-(

1 comment

by pennyhal2 14 Jan 2018

Thanks for the detailed instructions and the variety of ways to do it! I agree about the lack of underlay in some designs that really need it. I suppose it's a balance between how stiff the design ends vs underlay. I never thought of starching a towel! Thanks!

Sorry to intrude
I cant find a design. And dont know how to seatch on this site

2 comments

by toogie 13 Jan 2018

What were you looking for dear?

by airyfairy 14 Jan 2018

Go to Q & A at the top of the page. You will learn how to navigate the site

You could accomplish the same by placing a piece of Tull on top of the material before you start embroidering. The Tull tears away very easy after you are finished and keeps the nap down.

1 comment

by pennyhal2 14 Jan 2018

I have what I thought was tulle, but I had a hard time removing it. Maybe that was because the white tulle on white towels was too hard to see...or maybe I need new glasses!

I have SewWhatPro, which now has that function. Is an all over stitch that flattens the nap. It will create itself a bit larger than your design. I've used it on towels.

1 comment

by pennyhal2 14 Jan 2018

Now that's a convenient feature of software!