What is underlay in embroidery?

A light layer of stitches sewn first under the visible stitching, to anchor the fabric to the stabilizer and keep the top stitches from sinking.

Stitches

Underlay, explained

Common types are a center run under narrow satin, edge runs under medium columns, a zigzag under wide ones and a light fill at another angle under tatami. Too little lets the fabric show and stitches sink; too much makes thin text lumpy. Embrizo adds underlay automatically at a level you can set from none to heavy, and its fabric presets choose heavy for knits, stretch and fleece and light for leather.

Underlay (gold) sews first and holds the fabric under the top stitches
Underlay, drawn as thread. Real stitches are around 0.4 mm apart.

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