Am I crazy, dreaming, or what?
 

Somewhere I thought I read that when using Insulbrite, you should put a layer of muslin on top of it to catch the condensation that forms when hot things are placed on the table runner, hot pad, placemat, etc. I have been reading a lot of discussions on the board about using Insulbrite, but none seemed to address this idea. I am making a table runner, using Insulbrite, a thin layer of muslin on top of the shiny side, and am now confused. Do I use another layer of muslin underneath the Insulbrite? a layer of batting? thin batting layer? flannel? nothing else? Any help will be greatly appreciated! If nothing else, maybe I can determine if I am crazy or what! :)

I have used Insulbrite when I make mug rugs. Never used any muslin or extra batting. There is the noise of crinkling that some people don't care for. I never can find the right side from the other side. They both LOOK THE SAME to me.

What a good question. I have used Insulbrite one or two times and have to say not really impressed.

One hot pad that I made was not what I call "up to duty". Maybe I had it upside down but I could feel even heat on both sides????

I have made some potholders and used batting on both sides of the insulbrite. I also could feel heat, no matter which side I used, which should not make any difference, because it was the same on both sides. Not really empressed with the product.

since there is a "right" side to insulbright, i always test it by placing the iron on it and seeing where the heat stays or goes. then if it's not doing what I want, i flip it over. never really heard of using muslin on it due to any moisture though.

I have only made hot pads and pot holders......between my outer fabrics i use 1 layer of Insulbrite (shiny side facing the hot side) a piece of muslin and a piece of 100% cotton batting.. in that order....and i use 100% cotton thread. I don't over quilt because it just seems this would make the thermal effect weaker along the quilt lines. I know i read this instructions somewhere - and it has worked great for me so far.

I've never used it, never made potholders or anything for hot pots/dishes. It just seems to me though that it shouldn't have a right/wrong side, potholders you buy at the store don't.

I've used insulbrite several times and can never see a difference in sides. How do you determine which is the "shiny" side. I've never heard of putting muslin on it either.

I used with muslin on one side and quilt with crosshatch, it remains warm but not hot when I use it

The only thing I found that mentions anything like that is from the Warm Company website. Scroll to the bottom for their "recommendation":

http://www.warmcompany.com/images/creative/ibeng.pdf

I have made a couple hundred pot holders and I use insulbrite and some cotton batting. I never put the muslin over that.

I do the same as Sewingsuz. Have made many this way. Don't know if there is a better way but this works for me.

I've made umpteen dozen casserole carriers and cast iron handle covers now using insul-bright. I can definitely see a difference in sides. Cotton fabric, thin fusible batting, insul-bright, thin fusible batting, cotton fabric. Shiniest side toward the item you want to keep hot/cold. So for a table runner to protect your table I would guess shiniest side up, leaving more batting/protection between the hot item and table. I'm not quite sure how the muslin would help with condensation as it's not going to 'waterproof' anything. I can't imagine you would have that much condensation on a table runner anyway.

The potholders I have made that I like the best are the ones that I used insulbrite , cotton batting, and another layer of insulbrite. Makes the holder very puffy but I like that.

I always use old towels for batting on my potholders. One towel makes lots of potholders.

I do also. Been doing that for years...

I'm with elly66, when I make a hot pad, I use two layers of insulbrite. I don't think condensation is a problem. There is no condensation when using cotton batting and fabrics with it. I usually have a quilted side, insulbrite, batting, insulbrite, and a back. But then I'm making hot pads for my kitchen island where I know I will have oven hot pans. So I want it thick and sturdy.

I have used insulbright a lot in potholders and never have heard complaints that they were unusable because they got too hot. I don't pay much attention to right side and wrong side because most pot holders get used with either side being the right side. In some I have put an extra layer of batting and others not. I have small hands so I don't like my potholders to be too thick as they are clumsy in my hands. I use potholders for trivets on the table and haven't noticed any problem with condensation.

I used insulbrite in a Holiday table topper for my neighbor. It was double sided for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It did the crinkle sounds but it worked perfectly to prevent any further burn marks on her solid oak table. She said that her table was warm not hot! I guess that is a success! I do plan to longarm another one for myself.

I'm glad I am not the only one. I wanted to make a pair of potholders. I was told at the quilt store all I needed was insulbright instead of batting in my project. I was so dubious I asked twice! Well these pot holders suck! There is not enough insulation and the mitts get hot. What a waste of time and money! Glad I only made one pair.

I have those, also. But the towels from which they were made were heavy with a tight weave. I wonder if you can buy that now. These are at least 30 years old. A friend threatened to buy me some new potholders. I said please don't. I like these and don't want new ones.

Good to know. The recommendation of batting on top and bottom Of the isulbrite in a hot pad surely would be sufficient to avoid burning oneself. I have used only I layer of insulbrite and top and bottom fabric for hotpads and was pleased with the result.