When to Use Water Soluble (WSS) Toppers
Not all fabrics need a water soluble topper, but using a topper can help create a smooth surface over textured fabric, make it easier to cut jump stitches, and give a crisper stitch out when using some fonts.
The following fabrics look better with a clear water soluble topper:
- Plush or furry fabrics, including Minky brand fabric and faux fur fabrics. The water soluble topper hold the fur flat so that it doesn’t get caught in the embroidery stitching
- Anything made from terry cloth, including towels and robes. The topper holds down the terry cloth loops and keeps them from poking through the embroidery stitching
- Any fabric that has depth or thickness, such as fleece or foam backed fabrics. The topper keeps the embroidery stitches from sinking into the fabric and disappearing
- Any fabric that has fibers that are directional, such as velvet and velveteen. A topper keeps embroidery stitches from sinking into the fabric.
- Any item made from bumpy or textured fabrics, such as corduroy, pique knit shirts, and waffle weave towels. A topper helps smooth the surface of the fabric during stitching.
- Most blankets, except the thin flannel ones. A topper keeps the stitches from sinking into the fabric’s thickness.
- Any knitted item, such as t-shirts, pique knit fabrics, hats, sweaters, and knit scarves. A topper helps the stitches not sink into the low spots of the knitted rows.
You can also use a knockdown stitch on towels or plush fabrics. A knockdown stitch is a lattice type of stitch used to hold down a fabric’s fibers prior to embroidering a design.
Other fabrics might also benefit from using a water soluble topper. These materials include:
- Vinyl fabrics, where the topper keeps the stitching from sinking into the vinyl.
- Thin fabrics with small lettering, as the topper makes it easier to cut jump stitches and keeps the lettering crisp.
- Burlap and other open weave fabrics, where the topper helps the embroidery foot skim over the open spaces.
- Loose weave fabrics where the topper helps keep the stitching above the fabric.