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Old 09-16-2011, 07:27 AM
  #51  
Sierra
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: northern California
Posts: 1,098
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In 4 pages one person mentioned double sided fusible fleece!!!??? It is easier, quicker, safer (no toxic fumes) and re-doable w/o hassle.

I've used warm and natural and loved it, a poly mix batting and liked it fine, but the double sided fusible fleece is fantastic! I'm using it now on a huge (7x8' queen) and I never have to worry about anything shifting. JoAnn's sells it; most fabric stores do.

The instructions will tell you something like iron on your back using some lower heat w/o steam. I use a flat ironing board (easy to make) so can lay the quilt out on my table and have a better view of what I'm are doing. My "ironing board" is about 36x20" and I move it as I iron (easier than moving the fabric).

I center my backing on (I put a dot in the center of the batting and on the center of each of the 4 edges), and do the same with my backing and and the top (using pins to mark the center of my fabric layers, not a dot!). I lighter iron down the backing, turn the 2/3 sandwich over and center the top on, and iron down lightly.

When it is together and you've checked it on both sides for any problems (and there are done) you re-iron using steam (usually) and it become very firm (you can still re-steam it if you ironed in a fold, re-iron, lift and redo).

Then trim the fusible fleece around the edges --I always leave an inch or two of extra along the sides because I like the look and feel of the raised binding. Bind as you prefer. No problem or noticible difference with the needle going through the sandwich when I'm quilting on my regular (only) sewing machine.

Wash it (I always wash my quilts when I am done and before giving), the sticky stuff dissolves completely and the quilt is light and lovely (and loose if you've left a big enough area unquilted so you can test it).

I can make a lap robe, using wide strips of fabric, in a few hours. No more pinning, no more dabbing up blood spots, no more ripping out! And, no toxic fumes! You can't beat fusible fleece.
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