Friday, March 27, 2009

Cutting out fused fabrics


I got this email and thought I would respond to it for all to see.
Frieda,

I just read your blog and may have had an "aha" moment. You say that after you fuse your fabric, you remove the paper backing and then cut it. You also say that you end up with clean edges. Does this mean that if I were to cut out a flower with scissors, that I, too, would have clean edges? I usually button hole stitch my pieces, but I have tried just using an embroidery running stitch close to my cut out piece for depth. I like the look, but some of my pieces (ie. "flowers), tend to ravel, and I don't like the look of that. These are all wall hangings, so I don't have to worry about washing them.

Any comments you can give me would be helpful!

Thanks,

Kris

Hi Kris,
First of all are you pre-washing your fabrics before using with fusible? It is important to wash commercial fabrics first as they have starch on them which makes the fusible not want to stick well. And yes I think you will like this method much better. Fuse your fabrics and let the fusible cool. Remember it is an adhesive that melts when it is heated and solidifies when it cools. Remove the release paper and place the release paper on top of your pattern piece. Use a pencil and trace around the design you want to make. Place the release paper pencil side against the fused side of the fabric and press with a hot dry iron for just a quick second. The pencil will transfer to the back of your fused fabric. Now take your scissors and cut out just inside the pencil line. Place your fused flower head in the right place on your design and fuse it in place. You are all set to go. I like to stitch in the ditch around all my design elements, because all of my fused pieces are art and go on the wall. That is the only "finishing" of the edges that I do. I have found that "Wonder Under", #805 on the end of the bolt, is a very durable and dependable product. They also make a product called Wonder Web that comes without the paper and says #807 on the end of the bolt. This is a great product but not what I use.
AND I got such a large teflon sheet from Bear Thread Designs . They custom cut it for me and one for Laura too.
Ya know, you could have me come to your guild and teach a class on fusing and learn ALL the great tricks and tips that I have about fusing.

2 comments:

Gayle from MI said...

I too would like to suggest you have Frieda come to your guild for a class and lecture. I invited her to my guild an everyone loved her class and lecture. She is one of the best teachers I have ever had as far as quilting goes. I love how you can buy the "kit" from her which contains almost everything you need to complete your project. Plus Frieda is just a wonderful person and lots of fun to be around.

Laura Wasilowski said...

The Teflon sheet from Bear Threads is the best! I like that it makes the glue side of the fabric shiny so I can tell the glue side of the fabric from the non-glue side.
Hire Frieda, she knows her stuff!

Print this page