I don't know Sarah. I know I use cut-a-way behind my applique and 'normally' it works well. On my hooded towel, the blue baseball app, when I washed it, it all wrinkled up. I had hooped my towel to the tear-a-way and used WSS on top. I ironed the back of the design and the wrinkles came out, but who is going to iron a towel. My app fabric was a cotton and my towel is a cotton terry. I wondered how fleece would work with towels. What have you appliqued on, a tee shirt, towel or something else?- Sorry I am no help.

I hope this helps.

Hi there, I iron on some fabric vilene to my applique material...this really makes the fabric firmer and it does not fray so easily. Hope this helps.Yvonne

I press before hand. I also use heat n bond lite for my applique fabric. Usually they turn out great. I did see an article on the internet where it makes a difference after washing what you use on the back of your applique as some products can make your design wrinkle slightly. I can't remember what product though won as to eliminate wrinkles completely. I do heat n bond lite to eliminate any fabric threads poking through the final satin stitch.
Are you doing a light press and no movement on your iron? Also some people will hoop the stabilizer and pin the garmet on the stabilizer, as maybe the garment is getting stretched somehow. So many variables can happen.

I have now tried again. I have used cutaway on the main garment and only hooped that and used vilene on the applique pieces. Slowed down my machine and pressed with a pressing cloth. I am still not happy but it is so much better than the first attempt. I have scrapped this idea but have learnt a lot. Thank you all for the help and ideas
First picture - first attempt.

Sarah, I do tons of applique and I hoop the fabric along with a mesh stabilizer. After the first stitch line (the die line) I cut a fabric piece that is about 1/2-1" larger and hold it down inside my trash bin and lightly spray the wrong side with temporary adhesive spray. I then take my hand and smooth it down over the die line and stitch the trim line. I then remove the hoop from the machine and without pressing on it or pulling or tugging I carefully cut away the excess fabric on the outside of the trim line and place back on my machine.

Hi Sarah...I use a Heat and Bond type of fusible...it is double sided fusible and called Steam A Seam or Wonder Under...fuse one side to the applique fabric...pull away the paper...then fuse the applique fabric to the hooped fabric...I do this when it is in the hoop using one of those small clover irons after I cut away the excess fabric around the outside of the applique die line...this fuses the applique fabric to the main fabric and you shouldn't get any puckers...also helps to prevent little frays where you cut the outside of the applique fabric...Also, there is a great applique tutorial at Oma's Place...the link is below...scroll down to the video...Applique Oma's Way...good luck and I hope this helps!

I have this same problem. I can do tshirts one way and have them all come out perfect. Then one day they stop coming out perfect. I'm thinking that it must have something to do with the stabilizer. I'll have to pay attention to when I open a new roll of it and see if it makes a difference.

I think I have found something like your heat n bond here in South Africa. It is called Magic Applique. The internet is a wonderful tool.