Not all that long ago I never used a stabilizer, always wondered why my satin stitch was not flat. Mentioned it at the fabric store, the owner of the store brought me over the tear away stabilizer, told me to try it. What a difference. Now out of necessity I ran out of stabilizer and had read on this board that some used paper and have not gone back. I do use only very cheap white or off white paper. Am afraid with the colored paper or newsprint that it might show up after washing, the very little bits that remain. It does make all the difference in the world with machine applique.