Whether you are doing applique, or just prefer to use a fabric adhesive as an alternative to pins, Tara Rex shows you what product to use. She shares information on several different kinds of fabric adhesives, including fusible web, glue sticks and adhesive spray.
Fusible Web
Fusible web is a popular product to use when doing applique because you can cut out and adhere intricate shapes with ease. Tara explains that there are several different kinds of fusible web, Clear Fuse and Wonder Under being two of the most commonly found brands. Fusible web is often found near the fusible interfacing, but is not to be confused with it. Fusible web acts as a glue between two pieces of fabric, whereas interfacing fabric is a way to stiffen a piece of fabric. Tara demonstrates how to use fusible web, showing how to determine which side of the fusible web has the glue and then demonstrating how to adhere that to the wrong side of a piece of fabric. She then explains how to remove the plastic or paper on the fusible web, allowing it to be adhered to another piece of fabric. Tara gives tips for removing the backing and also explains the importance of cutting your fusible web to the right size, ensuring none of the adhesive gets on your iron.
Other Adhesives
If you are wanting to use a fabric adhesive as an alternative to pins, or just don’t need the intricate pieces of adhesive you can get from fusible web, glue sticks and spray adhesives are a great option. Tara shows one of the glue sticks she likes to use, though others can be used as long as they are meant for fabric. Fabric glue sticks are water soluble and can still be stitched though. Spray adhesives are a great choice if you need to apply adhesive to a large area of fabric at one time, and Tara shares a spray adhesive she likes to use.
Is there a fabric adhesive that is permanent that your appliqué doesn’t have to be sewn
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I was out of fusible interfacing, and purchased by mistake fusible web. I figured they were similar (with the internet at my fingertips, one would think that I could’ve taken the two seconds to look it up). When I went to sew my pieces, even though the web was between two pieces of fabric, it entirely coated the needle and jammed my bobbin several times. Can web not be sewn at all, or was I doing something wrong?
Hi,
Fusible web can definitely be sewn through and usually doesn’t cause any issues with gumming up the needle. I would however recommend that after fusing it in place you let the fabric cool completely before stitching as this will ensure that the glue is dry and set before you stitch it.
Hope this helps!
I’m pretty new to the sewing world, Tara doesn’t mentions the name of the spray adhesive in this video. She only mentions the iron on one “Pellon brand – 800 clear fuse”. The spray adhesive is what I would like to purchase but I still need the proper name. Thanks in advance
I’m pretty new to the sewing world and Tara doesn’t mentions the name of the spray adhesive in this video, she only mentions the iron on one “Pellon brand – 800 clear fuse”. The spray adhesive is what I would like to purchase but I still need the proper name. Thanks in advance
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THE PELLON AND WONDER DO YOU HAVE TO FUSE IT WITH A STEAM IRON OR CAN YOU USE A DRY IRON?
joymjoslin@hughes.net
DO YOU USE A DRY IRON OR STEAM IRON AND WHAT SETTING?
Hi, Joy. This will depend on what you are using and most will come with manufacturers instructions that tell you what heat and iron setting to use to achieve the best result. If you don’t have instructions, I would recommend starting with a dry iron set to the heat temperature appropriate for whatever fabric you are adhere it to.