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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: MaryW
Date: 05-22-2007, 10:35 AM (1 of 20)
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Hello everyone. Today's sewing tip is about fusing fabric. If you fuse interfacings to fabric before cutting out your pattern pieces, this is called block fusing. It is much easier to do this rather than fuse each pattern piece individually. Cover your cutting surface with a heavy blanket or towels. Lay your fabric and interfacing out very flat to fuse. Comments are welcome on this tip. Until tomorrow, happy sewing everybody. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Serra55
Date: 05-22-2007, 11:38 AM (2 of 20)
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Well, I'm making a purse with a plain exterior and a wildly printed interior. What you advise is just what the instructions said, but I didn't get it. I have my main fabric and the reverse fabrics cut out. However, what's the interfacing for? I'm using pre-quilted fabric for the main fabric. I assumed it was to bind the two together? Obviously, I'm new at this. I think I need more explanation...if you please? Serra55
Adamstown, PA |
User: Serra55
Member since: 04-07-2006 Total posts: 5 
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From: Pcat
Date: 05-22-2007, 02:43 PM (3 of 20)
| Serra, I dont know which pattern you are using, but whenever I've made purses the interfacing is fused to the wrong side of the exterior fabric. This gives a cloth purse some body, and will help keep the purse from "collapsing" when you set it down. The interior fabric is usually constructed similar to the purse itself, then attached as the lining. Hope this helps. |
User: Pcat
Member since: 04-17-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 05-22-2007, 05:12 PM (4 of 20)
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Well, I'm making a purse with a plain exterior and a wildly printed interior. What you advise is just what the instructions said, but I didn't get it. I have my main fabric and the reverse fabrics cut out. However, what's the interfacing for? I'm using pre-quilted fabric for the main fabric. I assumed it was to bind the two together? Obviously, I'm new at this. I think I need more explanation...if you please? Fusible interfacing binds to one surface so it can't be used to join two fabrics together. It's used - as Pcat mentioned - for giving the purse a bit more structure. A prequilted fabric may be heavy/stiff enough to do without although you need to decide this for yourself. There is a product called heat n bond (this is Australian name so I'm not sure if it's the same) that is used to join two fabrics and is used for applique and other projects. When you make a purse (I've only made a couple so I can only speak for those I've done) - you cut out four pieces of fabric - two for the outer and two for the inner lining. They are assembled separately (leaving a seam gap somewhere on the lining piece) and sewn together as almost the last step. The lining and outer don't get joined with the fusing at all - they are just sewn together at the top and depending on your pattern maybe top stitched somewhere else (sides or bottom). At some stage before sewing side seams you will need to attach the interfacing to the wrong side of your outer layer. The tip that Mary had was about when to do it in your process - i.e. when you have your uncut fabric out on the table (or floor in my case). As you have already cut your pieces it's too late to use this tip and you may not need/want to anyway. Have a look at this link if this doesn't seem clear. She doesn't include interfacing in the instructions but it has been used on the outer layer.http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=32204.0 Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: Serra55
Date: 05-22-2007, 06:32 PM (5 of 20)
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I see it better now. I loved the link you put up, Pauline G. Okay, Pcat, so the interfacing is for strengthening the purse. I think I will use it, despite the pre-quilted material, I don't like my bags to sag overmuch. This is my second purse, the first I used denim. There really wasn't an issue about interfacing, it was so different. I still don't see the advantage, however, of putting the interfacing on the fabric first. Maybe I'm just now going to find out  . Just seems to me like a waste of interfacing and fabric. I'll let you know.Thanks for taking time out of your day to answer my questions! Serra55
Adamstown, PA |
User: Serra55
Member since: 04-07-2006 Total posts: 5
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From: Pcat
Date: 05-22-2007, 07:46 PM (6 of 20)
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Well, I know there are times that I am trying to fuse interfacing on a little curved facing piece and it just doesn't seem to match up. That's when I wish it was all together already. Also, since interfacings have no grain direction, it would be easy to arrange the pieces so there would be less waste. I may try this on my next project... Thanks, Mary~! |
User: Pcat
Member since: 04-17-2007 Total posts: 20 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 05-22-2007, 07:50 PM (7 of 20)
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When I put my interfacing on individual pieces I find that I cut it a bit too big to make sure I get full coverage and then end up with gooey stuff on my iron when I iron around the edges. Which reminds me - time to go and clean my iron.
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-22-2007, 10:02 PM (8 of 20)
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I still don't see the advantage, however, of putting the interfacing on the fabric first. Maybe I'm just now going to find out . Just seems to me like a waste of interfacing and fabric. I'll let you know. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT I know this one!! I almost always do my interfacing this way!! Here's the reason. Here's the answer. IT JUST WORKS BETTER THIS WAY. If the interfacing is on the fabric before you cut it, everything fits perfectly. You are not pulling things off grain when you fuse the interfacing to the fashion fabric or the lining. The final cut piece is just that -- one piece of fabric made of two fused together, not two pieces of fabric fused together. It does "waste" fabric and interfacing in the sense that you throw more scraps away, I guess. But if that is a major issue for you -- don't complain later that your clothes look "home made." Try it a few times and I'll bet you will make it a habit. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 05-22-2007, 10:32 PM (9 of 20)
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If the interfacing is on the fabric before you cut it, everything fits perfectly. You are not pulling things off grain when you fuse the interfacing to the fashion fabric or the lining. Dorothy Ah yes - this has happened to me as well. It's all becoming clearer now. It was a striped fabric too.  As to the waste - you could salvage the unused fabric if you wanted to by ironing it again (the leftovers) and pulling the interfacing off when it's still hot. It'll need a quick wash (or two) but should be okay again afterwards. I think I'm convinced. Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: ejhuds
Date: 05-23-2007, 12:11 AM (10 of 20)
| I always fuse a piece of interfacing onto fabric which will be used for cutting out my neck facing pieces. Then I cut out the facings, and they are not distorted or stretched out of shape etc. My facings are much easier to apply this way, and look better. |
User: ejhuds
Member since: 03-30-2005 Total posts: 2 |
From: thedolphinlady
Date: 05-23-2007, 06:52 AM (11 of 20)
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Thanks for putting up that idea of ironing the interfacing on the fabric first, its a terrific idea and one that I never thought about. I have a friend who has suggested that fusible interfacings on wovens are not neccessarily a good thing. pucker when washed maybe? Do you prewash your fabric before interfacing? Wash interfacing? how is the whole thing handled?  
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User: thedolphinlady
Member since: 02-14-2007 Total posts: 33 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-23-2007, 09:28 AM (12 of 20)
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I have a friend who has suggested that fusible interfacings on wovens are not neccessarily a good thing. pucker when washed maybe? Fusible interfacing just won't stick to some synthetics and bubbles up after washing. I seem to have a much easier time since I stopped using that non-woven stuff and went to knit (now -- does that make sense?) and woven interfacings, fusible or not. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-23-2007, 09:47 AM (13 of 20)
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Pcat, interfacing does have a grainline, just like fabric. The lengthwise grain has no stretch, the width does. If you fuse a lengthwise cut strip of interfacing along the top of your pockets, they will not bag or sag out of shape.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: thedolphinlady
Date: 05-24-2007, 08:09 AM (14 of 20)
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Fusible interfacing just won't stick to some synthetics and bubbles up after washing. I seem to have a much easier time since I stopped using that non-woven stuff and went to knit (now -- does that make sense?) and woven interfacings, fusible or not. Dorothy Dorothy, are we still talking about using fusible interfacings? Not exactly sure would you meant? |
User: thedolphinlady
Member since: 02-14-2007 Total posts: 33 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-24-2007, 08:47 AM (15 of 20)
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Dorothy, are we still talking about using fusible interfacings? Not exactly sure would you meant? Well, I was. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 05-24-2007, 09:20 AM (16 of 20)
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Very striking avatar today Dorothy. A vintage fabric?
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-24-2007, 10:04 AM (17 of 20)
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Very striking avatar today Dorothy. A vintage fabric? Retro I would say, if by vintage you mean actually made in the period. But fabric, yes. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-24-2007, 05:31 PM (18 of 20)
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I have a problem with the seams behaving when I don't trim all excess interfacing away from seam allowances.. Collars and pockets in particular.. So, I cut my interfacings very carefully to be the correct size.. Now on some pieces, I like this tip .. , but I'll keep on doing collars and pockets my way..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: thedolphinlady
Date: 05-26-2007, 06:46 AM (19 of 20)
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Oh boy, when I said fusible interfacings I meant should I use woven or knit interfacings for rayon? Well, I was. Dorothy |
User: thedolphinlady
Member since: 02-14-2007 Total posts: 33 |
From: thedolphinlady
Date: 05-26-2007, 06:49 AM (20 of 20)
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Dorothy, you already answered my question about fusibles or knits. Are you just using knit interfacings with stretching stuff or for woven cotten as well? Oh boy, when I said fusible interfacings I meant should I use woven or knit interfacings for rayon? |
User: thedolphinlady
Member since: 02-14-2007 Total posts: 33 |
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