Am I having and "old timer's" moment or what?!?! What are knockdown stitches? I gather this is used to reduce pile in a fabric.....so...how do you achieve this? Avis

Neither 5D nor 6D have the feature, but you can digitise an FSL kind of background instead of an underlay.

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by pennifold 11 Mar 2018

Thanks Martine, I've just found it on my new software, which I bought in January it's the Premier +2 software programme and It looks great. Love Chris

Thank you ladies for the help..... I imagine using one layer of wss/Vilene/Sulky would achieve the same results?? It might be cheaper to use the tule or organza instead. Have a great weekend!!

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by pennyhal2 13 Mar 2018

Because vilene washes away, it will allow little pokies to stand up and say hello and push their way into the design. Having said , I use vilene because I know the designs I'm using have a very dense "knock down" stitches and don't need the tulle, organza, netting, etc. to hold the pokies down. A lot depends on the design you are using too. Sometimes the design relies and areas that are going to be fluffy and not tacked down. I think that'ts the difference between knockdown stitches and embossing. The knock down stitches will stitch everything down, while the embossing designs will allow areas to be fluffy.

"Knockdown stitches" is the terminology in one specific embroidery software suite, just like "nap tack". I use the same stitches I use for FSL, just a bit more open - not automatic, but it works well for me.

SewWhatPro has a function called nap tack, which will mimic the shape of your design and lay down stitches to hold the nap down before you put your design on.
You can find some free shapes on Craftsy.com if you search

Yes knock down stitches are underneath the design to hold down the pile of things like a towel. Almost like embossed designs.
I use tulle close to the color of the towel an stitch over it. Afterwards I cut around the outer edged of the design to get rid of the extra tulle. The tulle holds down the pile in the spaces that are open in the design and the tulle will not show at all. Easy and fast... Hope that helps Suzanne

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by RodnickBiljon 11 Mar 2018

Hi do you use tulle instead of melt-away then

by sdrise 11 Mar 2018

Yes I use tulle it stays behind and keeps the nap in check for a long time through washings and all the use. I just trim it around the design and leave the rest.

I believe that the terminology comes from digitizing programs. These are stitches that flatten out the nap so that the designs does not disappear . They kind of flatten the nap. Maybe some machines have that built in.
I usually lay down a fine mesh tulle where the design is to go to achieve the same

I don't know this term. Perhaps it is to lighten the density, I am sure the digitizers will help you. Kay

Good question and I'll be watching for the answers!!!

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by katydid 09 Mar 2018

me ,too!