if i need a stablizer for puckering appliques i tend to use a fusable non-woven lightweight stablizer that i can just leave on---i hate having to remove paper stablizers...just me, but i don't find it necessary very often--unless doing satin stitch which i tend to avoid anyway- i don't really like the heaviness of it- i prefer an applique stitch that is almost invisible- so you just see the appliques...not heavy thread around it.