My sister sprays it with a mist of water before using it if she is going to leave it in something. She has had experience with it drawing up a little. I don't think it was a lot.

She always leaves it in large family heirloom designs that will be framed. Also leaves it in large designs that will be made into pillows.

Marcelle

Betty, I have 9 grandchildren and have made a lot of bibs. I pre-wash the bibs and use cutaway. I trim the stabilizer to 1/8 of an inch when done. They have washed and held up beautifully.

I used a washaway on the bibs that I did - they turned out just fine. I washed them before sewing them too (to rid of any potential shrinking).

I also use tear-away, and like the suggestion from Roberta-I put a thin layer of quilt pelon inside. If it is stitch intensive, float an extra piece of stabilizer under the hoop-always have good luck with that.

As long as the cut-away is light weight, there should be no problem. The ideal cut-away for a bib would be the soft polymesh cut-away stabilizer. Then the bib will flexible and soft for a baby.
Angel

I have used both tearaway and cutaway on little bibs with good effect. I have never embroidered with washaway, but sometimes will float and extra piece of tearaway underneath if it is a very dence design. Happy embroidery.***

The cut away I have is soft, however I use the pelon for anything touching the skin. I think the important thing is to pre-wash your blanks. Live Laugh Download Stitch!