Using Fusible Interfacing

Fusible interfacing, or fusible web as it can be known, is an integral part of raw edge applique. I wanna show you how to use it. Each brand is called a little something different and each one has its own technique for application, so you really want to read the instructions on the back of the sheet and follow them closely. But I just want to give you the basic feel of how to use a web adhesive. So this one is by Pellon, it's called Lite EZ-Steam II.

It is a two-sided pressure sensitive fusible web, which makes it one of my favorites. By being pressure sensitive, I can reposition and adjust the fusible web until I'm totally pleased with the placement and then iron it and fuse it to my fabric. So let me show you how it works. I like the light steam version or the light version, because it will remain very flexible with your fabric and have a good drape to it. Some of the heavier ones are almost like a cardboard when you're done stitching them, but I really like this light version.

It has a grid on it, which makes it easy for placement. The nice thing is because it is a fused web, it's a conglomeration of fibers that have been meshed and fused together and then have adhesive on them. You don't have to worry about a grain line and you can use little bits and pieces to put together a hole if you need to, so it's very economical and cost-effective that way. I want, so let's go ahead and get set up with a very, very simple applique pattern here. I have the piece of the web cut and you want to draw on the gridded side, so always have your gridded side up.

You can use free hand drawing, you can use clip art, you can use a template, whatever you want. One thing that I find that's very good is a cookie cutter. They're nice, easy, big shapes, and they're simple to trace. So just put your pattern down and trace around it, whatever type pattern you're choosing to use. You can use a pen, you can use a pencil.

You just want to be able to get the design onto the paper portion here. The paper feels kind of like a heavy waxed paper. It doesn't have to be perfect. You can tell where my cookie cutter slipped. It's not the end of the world because we still have to cut it and it will never show on your fabric.

Take your prepared fabric piece. I like to cut a piece of fabric that's a little bit larger than the fusible web just so when I put it on, I've got some margin of error there for when I iron. You are going to be putting it onto the wrong side of the fabric, so keep that in mind, because that means your design will be reverse. A heart, it doesn't matter which way I turn it, it's going to be the same, but you will have some designs where you need to be aware of that you will be a mirror image. You're going to peel off the back side, the one that is not gridded.

And this gives you a good look at those fibers and the stickiness of the glue there. So go ahead and put it in position wherever you want it, and simply press it down. If you're not happy, you said, oops, not quite what I want, that's how easy it comes off, and you can try it again. So it is pressure sensitive, get it onto your fabric. You're gonna want some very sharp scissors.

I find that medium to small scissors tend to work best for accuracy. You're just going to simply cut on those lines and cut out your design. You want to make sure when you're doing applique that you get a two-sided fusible, because you need to fuse it onto the applique and then you need to be able to fuse the applique onto your other patch or fabric, so that's why I say watch for the two-sided one. All right, now we have our little patch cut out and this is going to be my block that I'm going to put it on. It doesn't matter where I put it.

I can put markings to help me align it, whatever my design is. So then the next thing you want to do is now peel off the backing that has the grid on it. When you do this, make sure that the fusible part is indeed stuck to your fabric. Sometimes it'll want to stick to the paper. You need to make sure it's on your fabric.

Once you get it started, it peels off nice and easily. Yeah, we're going to put it right up here, align it the way you want it, press it on. Oops, that's not quite straight, take it off. I can reposition it as I need to. When I'm happy, go ahead and press it down.

Now, again, we need to follow the directions for this particular fusible. We need to use some type of either a press cloth, which could be cheesecloth, even a handkerchief will work, and then they want you to get it slightly damp and then put it over. You can also use a pressing sheet. This is one made for applique. It's a nonstick one and I can still see through it.

So all I'm going to do is take my iron for this particular brand of fusible, I'm supposed to hold the iron on it for 10 to 15 seconds and apply some steam. Go ahead, make sure that your edges are in particular are adhered down. And this one is all set and ready to go. I just have to take it over to the machine and put my applique stitches on. And that's how you use fusible web.