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Because ByAnnie's Soft and Stable is a polyester foam, we do not recommend putting it in the microwave or exposing it to high heat.

Annie created Soft and Stable to use as an alternative to batting or other interfacing. She was looking for something that would hold the shape of the bag, giving a professional looking finish without being too stiff or making the bag too heavy.

Because ByAnnie's Soft and Stable is a polyester foam, we do not recommend exposing it to high heat. It is still suitable for use in placemats or transporting warm food in projects like our  Potluck Pals [1] . [1] https://www.byannie.com/potluck-pals

ByAnnie's Soft and Stable is a 100% polyester foam that can be easily machine washed, dried and ironed on low to medium heat.

Soft and Stable may be used with either side up. The softly-napped fabric lining is the same on each side. There is a slight bit more stretch on the crosswise grain of Soft and Stable (the 58" width) than on the lengthwise grain (the 18", 36" or 72" length). However, the difference is minimal and we turn the Soft and Stable as needed to make best use of the product.

It is not necessary to pre-wash your fabric, as it gives you a nice "stiffness" when you're attaching it to your Soft and Stable. However, if you are concerned about the colors in the fabric bleeding, then you might want to pre-wash it.

​No. You can still use Soft and Stable without quilting the fabric. ​Here are the steps we usually follow: Carefully smooth the first fabric (main or lining depending on pattern instructions) onto a piece of Soft and Stable which is cut about ½" larger on each side. Pin or clip the fabric in place on top of the Soft and Stable and sew around the edges, stitching about ⅛" from the edge. ​ ​ByAnnie offers a selection of patterns that don't require quilting. Some of these include : All Bottled Up [1] Clam Up [2] Close At Hand [3] Daytripper II [4] Fetch Your Sketch [5] Glo and Go [6] Grab Some Grub 2.0 [7] iCases [8] Nesting Baskets [9] On the Town II [10] Serenity Shoulder Bag [11] The Write Stuff [12] [1] https://www.byannie.com/all-bottled-up [2] https://www.byannie.com/clam-u

The hallmark of Soft and Stable is its softly-napped lining on each side of the high-quality, resilient foam. The fabric lining clings to quilting cottons making it easy to sew and quilt. When your project is finished, the fabric continues to be attracted to the Soft and Stable, providing a smooth finish on both quilted and non-quilted projects and yielding a beautiful long-term result, even after multiple washings. Soft and Stable's napped surfaces perform much better than other sew-in stabilizers and are a huge factor when comparing to fusible foam interfacings. Fusibles fail with use and time, leaving you with a limp project or, worse yet, a cottage cheese look. Most customers indicate that they prefer Soft and Stable's balance between softness and sturdiness over that of other foam interfacings. They often complain that the others are either crinkly and hard or thin and flimsy or stretchy and hard to sew. Finally, Soft and Stable is 58" wide. Some other foam interfacings are only 20" wide. This an important factor for customers not only when comparing prices, but also for efficient use of material and larger projects.

While some machines struggle to sew through thick layers, most household sewing machines should be able to sew any of our projects. Here are a few things to keep in mind before sewing: We recommend using a sharp 90/14 top-stitch needle and suggest changing your needle frequently. Check to make sure you're using the correct tension settings for your machine. Let your machine move the fabric. Do not tug at it. We suggest using ByAnnie's Stiletto and Pressing Tool to help press down the layers and feed it through the foot.  Our new technique, introduced in the Add-on Video for our Out and About pattern, mentions that you can use a small hammer to help "smoosh" down the layers.  Be mindful of the type of fabric you are using. We suggest using quilting cottons for our patterns, so be aware that