Advice needed for Using Pellon Flex-Foam
04-07-2021, 02:08 PM
#11
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Thank you so much for all the suggestions and comments 
- I am certainly learning alot with this project!
It is a fun project and now instead of making only 1 I have been asked by the other 2 Grands & a friend's daughter to make them one too! LOL by the time I get to the 4th one my skills will be much better
Rhonda K - Using a walking foot, can I quilt through the foam in a diagonal that is widely spaced? If so what type / size needle should I use? A "micro-tex sharp" needle, a "quilting" needle or a "ball point" ?
In order to catch the foam on the edge of the seam allowance (1/8") should I use a large basting stitch? Again, what type and size needle should I use to stitch the pieces together?
- I am certainly learning alot with this project!It is a fun project and now instead of making only 1 I have been asked by the other 2 Grands & a friend's daughter to make them one too! LOL by the time I get to the 4th one my skills will be much better
Rhonda K - Using a walking foot, can I quilt through the foam in a diagonal that is widely spaced? If so what type / size needle should I use? A "micro-tex sharp" needle, a "quilting" needle or a "ball point" ?
In order to catch the foam on the edge of the seam allowance (1/8") should I use a large basting stitch? Again, what type and size needle should I use to stitch the pieces together?
04-07-2021, 02:35 PM
#12
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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Just as a data point, I used the iron-in version of Pellon Flex foam for some rectangular "bins" for our closet shelves. They came out fairly floppy, particularly the long sides. It would depend on how large the doll bassinette was, but I don't think the foam is rigid enough on its own. It would need additional structure of some sort. For our closet bins, adding stiff wire seemed to be the best solution.
04-07-2021, 02:50 PM
#13
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MKC - Thanks for the info! I was wondering if the foam would be sturdy enough to hold up the length of the bed. I was thinking of first using the HeatnBond Ultra Hold to fuse the Buckram to the outer fabric to give it more strength and then sandwiching the foam between the outer fabric and the lining.
I thought of the possibility of using wire to maintain the shape - what kind of wire did you use? What gauge was it? Also what type / size needle did you use?
Please post a pic of your bins - would love to see them!
I thought of the possibility of using wire to maintain the shape - what kind of wire did you use? What gauge was it? Also what type / size needle did you use?
Please post a pic of your bins
- would love to see them!
04-07-2021, 06:05 PM
#14
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Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 266
I have been trying for a long time to post some pictures of a doll bed I made for my granddaughter and have finally given up. The last straw was when the Quiltingboard closed my connection. At least that is what my computer said.
Like you, I was having trouble finding something that would be stiff enough yet not too brittle. I went with making bolster type pillows. They are basically long tubes that I stuffed with batting scraps. I sewed them seam side down to a piece of fabric that became the bottom of the bed. I sewed a grosgrain ribbon to each end of the bolster then used the ribbons to tie the corners together. Now I had four thick sturdy sides and a piece of fabric holding them all together as a base. I took a piece of plastic cakeboard (Amazon), cut it to size (a tiny bit bigger than the base of the bed so it tucked under the bolsters) covered it with fabric and tucked it into place. Covered that with a "Mattress" that was a sack stuffed with more batting scraps and tacked together through all the layers in about five places. Doll goes on that, little quilt on top. Big pillow with a ruffle all around. Hope you can picture this.
Like you, I was having trouble finding something that would be stiff enough yet not too brittle. I went with making bolster type pillows. They are basically long tubes that I stuffed with batting scraps. I sewed them seam side down to a piece of fabric that became the bottom of the bed. I sewed a grosgrain ribbon to each end of the bolster then used the ribbons to tie the corners together. Now I had four thick sturdy sides and a piece of fabric holding them all together as a base. I took a piece of plastic cakeboard (Amazon), cut it to size (a tiny bit bigger than the base of the bed so it tucked under the bolsters) covered it with fabric and tucked it into place. Covered that with a "Mattress" that was a sack stuffed with more batting scraps and tacked together through all the layers in about five places. Doll goes on that, little quilt on top. Big pillow with a ruffle all around. Hope you can picture this.
04-07-2021, 06:38 PM
#16
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I just found this blog post on how to sew flexible foam. I'm sure many of you have seen this before or know how to do it but for those of us who are new to using flexible foam her explanations and her pics show how easy it can be to work with and sew.
https://sacotin.com/en/how-to-sew-flexible-foam/
https://sacotin.com/en/how-to-sew-flexible-foam/
Last edited by costumegirl; 04-07-2021 at 06:42 PM.
04-07-2021, 07:16 PM
#17
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Join Date: May 2011
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Originally Posted by janiebakes
I have been trying for a long time to post some pictures of a doll bed I made for my granddaughter and have finally given up. The last straw was when the Quiltingboard closed my connection. At least that is what my computer said.
Last edited by Peckish; 04-07-2021 at 07:20 PM.
04-08-2021, 04:12 AM
#18
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Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sunny Florida
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You should be able to able to quilt through the foam without any issues. You want to use a Microtex 90/14 needle
Here is a tutorial on quilting foam. We made this bag in class using one layer of bosal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIWtJ_BVD0c
I didn't realize that you mentioned foam in your original post. I was thinking of the stiff stabilizer like Pel-tex when I replied about making 2 separate pieces. Good luck!
You can simply make the quilt sandwich, then quilt and bind as desired.
Here is a tutorial on quilting foam. We made this bag in class using one layer of bosal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIWtJ_BVD0c
I didn't realize that you mentioned foam in your original post. I was thinking of the stiff stabilizer like Pel-tex when I replied about making 2 separate pieces. Good luck!
You can simply make the quilt sandwich, then quilt and bind as desired.
04-08-2021, 05:57 AM
#19
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Rhonda K - What a terrific bag!! It is a great style! - would love to see a pic of your bag!
Thank you for the video link! If this project goes smoothly I may add that bag to my "to do" list!
Good explaination on how to do the quilting and how to attach the side pieces - LOL seeing her attach the side pieces in the video makes so much sense and it looks easier than I thought - I would have just attached the regular way but this is so much better! Again Thank you!
Thank you for the video link! If this project goes smoothly I may add that bag to my "to do" list!
Good explaination on how to do the quilting and how to attach the side pieces - LOL seeing her attach the side pieces in the video makes so much sense and it looks easier than I thought - I would have just attached the regular way but this is so much better! Again Thank you!
