Lite Steam a Seam 2 Shortage?

[ANNE E.]

As a lot of quilters, I use Lite Steam a Seam 2 for my applique, and I noted that it is recommended for the 2014 BOM quilt....the product has been very scarce the last year and now I'm hearing that it is no longer going to be made. Does anyone know what is happening with production and what are you going to use as a replacement?? I've noticed that the Pellon company's EZ Steam ( which appeared shortly after Steam a Seam's problems began) is really getting bad reviews and I know of no other product that has the 'tackiness' to hold the pieces in place before they are fused. Any thoughts appreciated. Help!

[Lynn K.]

I've not needed it lately. Interesting no one has responded. Are you in USA?

[Rosamond C.]

I don't know anything about the shortage of Steam-a-seam 2, however, I can tell you the Soft Fuse is what I use and it is totally awesome!! If you were involved with the 2013 BOM, you will know that Soft Fuse is what Pat Holly and Sue Nichols recommend. I was in a class in Paducah last fall where we were doing appliqué using either Steam-a-seam 2 or Soft Fuse. The ones using the "NEW" Steam-a-seam 2 had trouble with their needles getting gummed up. We noticed that those using the OLD Steam-a-seam 2 didn't have that problem. I've never had it happen using Soft Fuse. So if you can't locate Steam-a-seam 2, look for Soft Fuse.

Rosamond

[Rosamond C.]

Hi, Thanks for the replies. Yes I am in the USA and Lite Steam a Seam 2 is impossible to buy now... JoAnn's always carried it and I bought it by the 25 yard box for a long time. Now they do not have it in any form, nor does any place online that I have checked ( eQuilter and SoftExpressions being two major online shops), even Amazon doesn't have it anymore.

Thanks for the suggestion of Soft Fuse, I will definitely check it out. Not sure what "New" and "Old" Steam a Seam might be...I know they changed the papers ( which cover the fusible web) but I thought that the fusible was the same.

[Pam D.]

I have just taken this from The warm Company's website.

http://warmcompany.com/sas-update.html

[Pam D.]

Hmmm... thanks for the link to the Warm Co. site....I guess I'll just have to hope that they eventually bring a good product back to market and try other fusibles in the meantime, trying to find one that will work the way I want it to. Still open to suggestions as to what other people are using. Thanks!

[Susan B.]

http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/Item--i-PELLON-EZ-2L-12

I just checked. The product is listed as in stock.

[Susan B.]

Hi, Thanks! I checked Hancock and it is the new "Pellon" fusible that showed up when the Warm Co. started having trouble keeping Steam a Seam in production....they are two different companies and two different products. The Pellon stuff is getting horrible reviews ( the paper won't come off, the needle gums up, etc) but I haven't tried it yet. I do have some on order from another shop as I felt I had to start trying replacements. Thanks!

[Marianne D.]

Wonder under by Pellon is the next option for a substitute fusible.

[Janet S.]

I have used the Soft Fuse and like it alot. The Pellon fusible that Joanne's carries is too heavy in my opinion, and I found it gummed up my sewing machine needles. The Soft Fuse is a little pricier than Steam a Seam, but it works well.

[Janet S.]

I have used Soft Fuse on the 2014 BOM and it works great. It is not tacky though, but it's not a problem in this situation. I would not advise using the Pellon fusible - it is gooey and hard to use. Btw, I love this BOM! Thanks Janet

Linda

[Janet S.]

I have used Soft Fuse on the 2014 BOM and it works great. It is not tacky though, but it's not a problem in this situation. I would not advise using the Pellon fusible - it is gooey and hard to use. Btw, I love this BOM! Thanks Janet

Linda

Thanks so much, Linda!!

[Susan B.]

A curiosity question for those who have had poor results with the Pellon Steam A Seam...do you use steam in the final pressing before stitching?

I'm finishing up a roll of the old Warm Company kind and started having problems with the leaves coming loose on the 2013 BOM, before stitching. Using Steam seems to help. I'm wondering if the fusible just gets old and refuses to work, (kinda like me)

[Nancy R.]

I've heard that steam-a-seam does have a shelf life and will stop sticking when it gets old, but I've never had that problem myself and I use some pretty old stuff. I supposed it could depend on the conditions of where you live -- humidity, temperature, etc. If you read the instructions for steam-a-seam, you are supposed to use steam when setting it. I didn't used to do that and had problems sometimes, until someone pointed this out to me and helped me remember by pointing out that that's why it has "steam" in the name.

Nancy

[Margo C.]

Well, DUH!