need help clarifying differences in interfacing/stabilizer
 

I have been making purses lately, and am confused between interfacing and stabilizer. Are they interchangeable if the weight is approx the same? I use quite a bit of fusible fleece, since that is what is suggests in the Bow Tuck pattern, but some I want to make (and have made) call for fusible interfacing, some fusible and some sew-in (does it matter?)and is Craft Fuse by Pellon the same as fusible interfacing? I have one pattern that calls for very stiff iron-on interfacing in German #250 (what ever that is), so I used a stiff one I already had and it was so stiff, I couldn't sew thru the layers! I bought med. weight stabilizer (Pellon #40)-It isn't fusable-can that be used for med. weight interfacing? Hope this makes sense-could really use some clarity!

I had to buy some fusible tricot today. The Joann's store near me had about 2 dozen different bolts. I had to read the labels to find what I needed, so I understand your confusion. I will use the fusible so that my fabric doesn't move/distort, but if that was not a concern, I might just use interfacing. Some stabilizers for embroidery machines are tear away paper. Therefore, decide what product you need, read the label and purchase for the particular project. Good luck. Show us some photos of your finished projects.

fusable interfacing is thin- like a layer of muslin (or thinner) which has a fusable web on one side- it adds (body) to a bag without adding bulk- fusable fleece adds bulk
timtex is a stiff interfacing that is fairly easy to sew through (by machine) it comes in fusable and non-fusable forms- it is the same stuff used in baseball cap brims. craft fusable is often fusable on both sides- (used for appliques, ect) which you press to the back of a fabric- cut out- then peel the paper and press to a back ground.
if you want to use an interfacing that is not fusable (but you need fusable) you can always press a fusable to it- like steam a seam lite, heat & bond lite or wonderunder (from pellon) you press the fusable to the interfacing- peel the paper then use as a fusable interfacing.
medium & heavy interfacings are used in shirt collars & cuffs- to give you and idea of their (property/bulk)
since they are your projects you can use what you want- but keep in mind if it calls for stablizer/interfacing and you use fleece it is going to affect the size/bulk of the bag-since fleece is alot thicker/meatier than interfacing which is a very lightweight fabric.

when purchasing fusibles, regardless of weight, it will come with a strip of plastic labeling material that keeps the layers separate. this plastic strip contains the instructions for each and every separate product. after purchasing, fold the plastic strip in half across it's width and sew into a 'bag'.... now store your fusible in this bag in order to keep the instructions WITH the correct product. They do not all have the same information... so only store the correct product in it's 'bag'.... i 'hem' my bags at the top by rolling 2 or 3 times to make stronger so i can use a hole punch thru the hem and hang them on hangers in the closet...

Thanks everyone for the info-I would LOVE to post photos of my purses, but on this new board, can't figure out how to do it. Directions say click the square icon with a "tree" in it-well, I can't find it! Maybe I will try again-did the other night when I was tired and after about an hour, turned off the computer in a rage!! I not have used the right interfacing in a couple of the bags, but they came out ok-with the exception of one BIG bag that called for stiff interfacing-I got one, fused it, and had to fight my machine and the bag to get it sewn! Stubborn I am, so I persisted and finished it-I guess no one would really notice too much, but the quilting in the handle (just stipple) is a bit feeble!

Go to bottom of page where you see quick reply. The tree one is the 4th from the right.

Freddie, I don't see any icons on the bar that says quick reply.

I didn't read all the way through this thread, so if this is already offered - sorry for the repeat. But here is a tute with pics on How To Post Pics on the QB

http://www.quiltingboard.com/qb-help...s-t169467.html