Todays Topic: FUSIBLE BATTING IN QUILTS
Why fuse your quilt? The simple answer is to remove the need to thread or pin baste your quilt. We baste to keep the layers together when we are quilting. This way our top doesn't end up 5" off the side of our backing. Do you need to fuse all layers? Well that is a personal choice. When quilting from the top you can see if the top is straight and the natural static electricity of the cotton batting holds most quilt tops in place. by fusing the back you hold the entire back flat and in place and only have to concentrate on keeping the top flat. Fusing one is also easier because you are only working on one side and can therefore see how you are doing; when fusing the complete sandwich you have to continually check that the side you can't see is still flat.
If you haven't had a chance to get your hands on Quilters Dreams new fusible batting (Dream Fusion), I suggest you start there. Up until now if you wanted to use a fusible batting in a quilt you were limited in your choices. There were polyester options, fleece options and spray adhesives. Most of these options are geared towards crafter's and not quilter's.
The idea of using a fusible for a quilt has been around along time, hence all of those quilt basting sprays. These work, but they smell and if over sprayed, can cause stains. What Quilters Dream has done is to infuse the adhesive right into their cotton batting. Yes, it still feels like the exact same cotton batting that so many of you have learned to love and still allows you to quilt up to 8" apart.
When using 100% cotton fabrics, many prefer to use 100% cotton batting. This new option from Quilters Dream lets you do just that. If you want to try it, I suggest you start with a small quilt (throw or smaller). Keep in mind that for the best results you will need room to do the fusing. Dream Fusion has limited the fusible to one side. You can fuse either the backing or top to your batting. I suggest you fuse the side you won't be seeing when doing your quilting. If you quilt from the top of the quilt, fuse the backing in place. This will should help you get rid of folds and shifts in the backing when working from the top.
Most brands include directions on how to use their fusible. Typically an iron on wool, and some moisture (spritz your fabric with water or use the water feature of your iron) will fuse the batting to the fabric. Press and lightly iron, do not stretch the fabric while ironing or you will get wrinkles. ALWAYS TEST a small piece with your iron and scrap fabrics to adjust the iron and moisture to what works for you and make sure you aren't getting glue stains. If you have a large ironing board you are good to go, but if you have a normal width board you may want to consider using an ironing pad on a table or a large quilters pressing pad on top of the ironing board to give you a larger flat space to work on. Pre-press the fabric so you aren't trying to remove wrinkles while fusing!
Some fusible batting & fleece include:
- Quilters Dream, Dream Fusion, is available in 100% cotton or polyester. Stitching requirements of 8" apart and 3-5% shrinkage. Fusible on one side.
- Hobbs Heirloom offers a cotton/poly blend fusible. Read the label carefully, it says Cotton Batting, but the fine print lists the polyester 80/20. Stitching requirements 4" apart and 3-5% shrinkage. Fusible on two sides.
- June Tailor, I found a note that June Tailor offers a queen size cotton fusible, but couldn't find anything except the polyester for sale. Does not list stitching requirements or shrinkage. Doesn't list if it is single or double sided fusible.
- Pellon fusible fleece, limited widths and polyester only. Available in single or double sided fusible.s
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