fusible

[Sandy F.]

I'm just completing my first raw edge appliqued wall hanging. I used the lightest type of Heat n' Bond and it is very stiff on the larger pieces. I also found that my brand new machine will not easily sew in those areas as well to add embellishing stitches. I enjoyed it so much that I'd like to do another one but would like to find a better fusible. I forgot to do as the pattern maker suggested and trim out the centers. I bought some Misty Fuse, but am unsure how to use it as I've no directions. Is there a better brand?

[Frances L.]

Check out Ricky's lesson on Rhapsody quilts. I think he likes Steam-A-Seam 2. That's what I usually use and I really like it. I was making a jacket that had a block similar to Drunkard's path and the way we did it was to cut out a ring of S-A-S and fuse it to the fabric and then cut it in quarters. So we had about half an inch or so of S-A-S and that's all.
Frances in hot Austin (it's not supposed to be summer yet!)

[Frances L.]

Heat and bond is not made to be machine stitched. I am impressed if you were able to do it. What you want to use next time is steam a seam. I know some people who have used misty fuse, but I have not tried it yet. I am also getting ready to order some Soft Fuse from Staci Mitchell (sp?). It leaves the finished product even softer than steam a seam does. Heat and Bond should be hand stitched if you are going to stitch it. Joan Shay makes a needle for her appli-bond technique that is actually 3 sided at the tip and is the best needle for use w/the appli bond. I bent 3 regular needles using multi layers of fabric fused w/heat and bond to make a dimentional quilt before I took her class and learned about these needles. Don't give up on fusable applique just try another product.

[Carla G.]

I agree, Steam a seam 2 works great, if you have multiple layers you might want to try steam a seam 2 lite..... less bulk.

Carla

[Cheryl K.]

There are also two types of Heat & Bond. I think the "craft" stuff is heavier and not meant to be sewn through but the regular H & B can take the needle.

I don't applique much but the Floriana product from one of our recent TQS shows looks interesting. The guest also used gluestick rather than fusible. Don't know if that applies to your project however.

happy sewing.

[Lynn K.]

I've been using Ricky's Stable Stuff and like it alot. When you wash it it pretty much dissolves and becomes very soft. Stitches very nicely. Course this is for turned under applique. I haven't done any raw edge yet, so..............

[Lynn K.]

I tried Heat and Bond and didn't like it for the same reasons. I am now using Steam A Seam Lite with better results. I still want to try Ricky's Stable Stuff but I have lots of Steam A Seam to use up first.

[Lynn K.]

What is the difference between:

Steam a Seam
Steam a Seam light
Steam a Seam 2?

Lynn

[Carla G.]

steam a seam 2 is double sided.
The light is a lighter web and does not make as thick a layer as the regular steam a seam 2

Carla

[Joan J.]

I've been wondering about the best fusible. I've read all the posts here, thank you. So for machine applique with fusible, steam a steam 2 is the one to use, is the lite also 2 sided? and is Ricky's stable stuff ironable or do we have to baste it on the back side?
Thanks
Joan

[Anne B.]

The nice thing about Steam-a-Seam 2 is that you can move the pieces around on your design wall before fusing them down, and they'll stay where you put them. I think both Steam-a-Seam and Steam-a-Seam 2 come in Lite versions.

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

[Joan J.]

I remember what I wanted to ask in the first place! Does this come on the large bolts or just the small packages? I'm doing a t-shirt quilt for my cousin, and I just need the fusible on the one side and I thought depending upon how large the t-shirt logo is I might need something bigger than the 8 x 11 type packages.
Thanks
Joan

[Joan J.]

I like to use Wonder Under. It stitches nicely, plays nicely, and has a nice hand, not very stiff. Misty Fuse is great, but because it is not on a backing, it is a little different to work with, but it also has a nice hand.

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Joan J.]

I am using Ricky's Stable Stuff on a BOM that has some applique blocks. I use 505 Spray to attach it to the fabric before cutting out the final shape. When I position it on the block I use a glue stick.

I like the idea that when I wash the quilt, it will act like another thin layer of batting. Though I haven't washed the quilt yet, so don't know exactly what it is going to do.

Jean in Windsor, ON

[Robin G.]

I have almost always used Wonder-Under and have had good results. I recently bought some Misty-Fuse (from a bolt) - no directions! I found that it gave my fabrics the nicest feel, but it's so light that it was easy to lose track of stray bits. Somehow, they always ended up where I least wanted them, like on the bottom of my iron.
I am making a new quilt and, after seeing Melinda Bula on TQS the other day, I decided to use Steam-a-Seam 2. While I love that it is sticky and easy to reposition, it has not been without some difficulty. In cutting out my shapes, the sticky side seemed to want to stick to my scissors blades and to other parts of the same fused fabric sheet. I ended up leaving the paper on the reverse side until I had the shapes cut out and that works much better. It seems to work particularly well at keeping the raw edge from fraying even a little bit.