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Thanks toSharry
Neumann for this article: Charlotte's
Fusible Thread | Using it for applique |
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Not
many quilters are familiar with fusible thread and I have not seen very many ways
in which it has been put to use. I use it for machine applique.
It looks a lot like dental floss. If you lay out a line of it and put your
iron near it and steam it, the thread will shrivel up. It will bond fabric to
fabric in a very thin line - the width of the thread. If you use a zigzag
stitch, it gives more of a bonding area but for my purposes I only use a
straight stitch because I want the least amount of bonding possible. Although
you can use a fusible thread for your upper thread, I mainly use Charlotte's
Fusible Web in the bobbin - wind it slowly and evenly onto the bobbin. Use MonoPolyTM
monofilament thread in the top. Some of my students are concerned that the
monofilament thread might melt. I have never had it happen because I use a
polyester monofilament, MonoPolyTM. Do NOT use a nylon
monofilament or a polyamide (another fancy name for nylon) monofilament
because it will melt and get all over your iron. The invisible thread only
holds the fusible thread in place until the fusing has been done. After that,
the monofilament becomes redundant. With Charlotte's Fusible Web you can even
pull the line of MonoPolyTM
thread out after fusing, while still warm, because the monofilament slides
through the nylon fusible thread. If you prefer you can use a cotton machine
embroidery thread instead of monofilament but you will need to change the
thread often to match your fabric and you cannot pull it out. Stitch
through one layer of fabric only. You have lost the purpose of using the
fusible thread if you stitch 2 different fabrics together. You may need to
adjust your machine tension to get a stitching line that lies flat. Do not
let the upper thread pull the fusible thread up to the surface of the right
side - this is rather unlikely to happen because the fusible thread is so
much heavier than the MonoPolyTM .
If the bobbin (fusible) thread is pulling only slightly and making the fabric
cup, you can clip the fusible thread every once in a while because the small
gaps will not interfere in the process. Clipping will release excess tension
and the applique will lie flat. Do not backstitch
when you begin or end stitching - it is not needed. If you are stitching
short lines, pinch the fabric where the stitching stops before pulling it out
from under the presser foot to avoid pulling out all the stitches. Make sure
there are no loose stitches at the beginning and end of stitching by pulling
the tail ends of the monofilament and then trim the tails
from the fusible thread and then from the monofilament. You
can now fuse the stitched fabric where you want it. When fusing, be quick and
firm with your iron for 10 seconds. Don't hover over the work with the iron
where the steam may make it shrivel and pucker the work. I would actually rather
use a dry iron than use steam but even just the heat from a dry iron may
cause the fusible thread to shrink if you don't apply pressure immediately.
Note: this is only a temporary bond. The thread bond by itself will not
withstand much wear and tear. It will need to be permanently finished after
fusing is completed. Because
fabric appliques are only fused around the outside
edges of the shape, you can cut away the background fabric from behind the appliques if desired. I assemble complicated applique pieces independent of the background by only
fusing the shapes together along the lines they have in common and then
stitch around the outside of the constructed applique
and fuse it in place on the background. A lot of trimming is used in this
process. Once
a project is temporarily assembled or constructed with Charlotte's Fusible
Web, it needs to be finished. Put a stabilizer on the under
side of the project. On the right side of the project, satin stitch or
thread paint using the appropriate color machine embroidery thread over the
raw (fused) edges of the shapes. Remove the stabilizer and use the completed
piece as desired. If
you have questions please feel free to contact me. Charlotte
Warr Andersen 5740
Wilderland Lane Salt
Lake City, Utah 84118 |