Over the years,  fusible web has become the time saving alternative to sewing. A type of interfacing, everyone from the beginning crafter to the most experienced designer can appreciate the ease and simplicity of this no-sew method. If you’re new to the notion of fusing, here are a few tips, tricks and fusing basics.

Fusible web is an adhesive that’s activated by the DRY heat of an iron. Fusible products require different combinations of heat and pressure to adhere two fabrics together. Basic paper-backed web and web tape come in several weights. The heavy-duty or ultra-web is best for medium to heavy-weight fabrics such as home decor and upholstery. Lightweight webs work well with light novelty cottons or sheers. When using a paper-backed webbing, once the web is ironed onto the back of one fabric, the paper backing is peeled off and the pairing fabric is ready to be ironed in place. Ideal for appliques, hemming, and joining fabric pieces together, fusing tape and paper backed fusing sheets offer an alternative to adhering with needle and thread.

 

Bonding Brands. 

There are several brands of fusible web on the market. Pellon, Stitch Witchery, and Heat-n-Bond are a few of the more popular. While they all provide the same level of bonding capabilities overall,  pricing and specifics may vary. Once you choose the one that suites your needs, following the manufacturer’s instructions will ensure a sufficient bond.

 

 Pre-wash, Pre-wash, Pre-wash !

For simplifying home decorating projects, choose a paper-backed fusible web. Not only do they hold projects together securely, you can create the straightest seams and a professional finish with use each time. Pellon’s 805 Wonder Under is a good place to start. Follow the fabric laundering instructions to determine if you should pre-wash your fabrics BEFORE you begin. This is very important.  Store bought commercial fabrics often have starch or additional treatments on them so you need to wash them before you begin your project. If you want your fusible to stick to the fabric, washing it will get all the chemicals and things off the fabric. The fusible will stick to it so much better once clear of all chemicals.  If you are working with a dry-clean only fabric like a decorative, no pre-washing or dry-cleaning is required.

 

Glue Be Gone!

To avoid getting adhesive on the ironing board cover, lay an additional piece of muslin or other lightweight cotton between the project and the iron cover. If you wind up getting adhesive on your ironing board cover anyway, place a paper towel or terry  cloth towel over the adhesive residue. Iron the paper towel for several seconds (depends on the thickness of the paper towel or towel being used). Move the paper towel / towel and re-iron…continue to move and re-iron until the majority of the residue is gone. Use  a product like Un-Do or Goo-Goneto remove the residue from the cover If you get adhesive on the iron itself, try the following steps:

Step 1: Turn iron on a high setting (such as cotton) and allow it to warm up for a minute or two.

Step 2: Lay a paper towel on the edge of ironing board so that some of the paper towel hangs over the edge of the board. Lay a fabric softener sheet on top of the paper towel, also allowing some to hang over the edge of the board.

Step 3: Wipe base of iron in a downward motion onto the fabric softener sheet (using the edge of the ironing board allows the fabric softener sheet to “scrape” off more of the adhesive from the iron plate.)

Step 4: Move the fabric softener sheet and paper towel to expose an unused section and repeat the wiping process until iron is clean.

Step 5: Place a clean paper towel on the flat part of the ironing board and place an unused fabric softener sheet on the paper towel. “Iron” the fabric softener sheet…this will remove any residue in the little holes of the iron.

 

Stick To It!

On occasion, you may find that your adhesive is not sticking to your fabric. When this happens, it’s usually for two main reasons. (1) You didn’t pre-wash your fabric (2) your iron isn’t on a hot enough setting. Fusible web needs a good amount of heat (not steam) to get hot enough to bond.  If this happens, you may need to re do your bonding step.

 

Don’t Sew a Seam, Fuse It!

 

 

 

From quaint upholstered sitting tea room chairs and window drapes, to quick and easy table mats and coordinating basket liner, a sew-free dinette room defining timeless prints in fused beauty is yours when time sensitivity and presentation are key. Even the fabric framed wall hanging owes its look to a little clever creativity and webbing.

 

Check out our selection of decorative fabric.

Check out our selection of novelty fabric.

Check out our selection of upholstery fabric.