Ronna, sounds like your stitches need to a bit closer together. On the underside, your stitches should look like 'chicken cratchin'. And it also sounds like you are treating your handiwork a bit too roughly. Wash in your gentle/short cycle. Cannot imagine your applique was so dirty require a long/hard cycle. If your applique work is going to be washed often, I would suggest using the machine applique method. Suz