Hi Everyone,
I need some expert advice....

I'm wondering what y'all use for applique and how you like it.

For the first time, I used Heat & Bond to applique fun things to the outside of a playhouse for my niece.
It worked well, but it's a little thick.
And, I'm not sure how it will wash.

My next project (or one of my next projects) will be a quilt with many circles appliqued. (not sure of the exact design yet, but I want circles).

Does anyone have any thoughts on how the product used to iron the appliqued piece affects the final quilt?

I've used the lightest weight heat and bond. I liked it ok. I've done a lot of applique' though, so I'm probably not the best source of info on the topic! (O:

Lite Steam-A-Seam2 is what I use. It is lightweight and if you just use it around edges of large pieces you can hardly tell it is there.

I have used both and prefer the Wonderunder.

i use heat n bond lite, steam a seam lite and wonder under...
regular heat n bond and steam a seam are (no-sew) products - the lite versions are for sewing projects- not as stiff- easier to get a needle through- less likely to gum up needle. wonder under from pellon has been around the longest of the paper backed fusables...
all of them work pretty well- there are always instances when one works better than another- i recommend picking them up on sale and trying them all- then you can decide what you like- and what works best for you...
one thing about paper back fusables- none of them work real well on batik's (because of the wax in the fabrics) all will work best on pre-washed fabrics...sometimes the sizing or other chemicals will keep the fusable from adhering well.

My favorite is the Heat and Bond lite.

I have to disagree with ckcowl on the batik statement. In my experience, batiks are the best possible fabrics to fuse since the tight weave practically guarantees no fraying of the edges. All fusibles require pre-washing the fabrics in order to adhere properly.

I use Wonder Under (Pellon 805) after having tried Heat'n'Bond and Steam-a-Seam regular and lite, and have never had any problems at all with it. I do fabric collage art quilts and can still hand embroider through 6 layers of fabric and 5 layers of Wonder Under without any strain.

If you want to go with a paperless web, try MistyFuse. It's the lightest weight fusible currently available.

My preferred way is to use a very lightweight interfacing , stays very soft. It is made by Pellon. I iron it to my fabric, trace and cut out appliques, then add a touch of fabric glue sick around the edges to hole in place for sewing. Of course, this is for raw edge applique! But I think it would work on turned also.

I have used them all, as long as they are "light" and have not had any problems with any of them :D:D:D

Me too!

i prefer wonderunder for fusing and when possible i use misty fuse.

? where do you get your Misty fuse and Wonderunder I've never seen or heard of them here in my area. 8-)

I also tried most, but stuck with pellons lightest fusible. Works the best for me and it's priced so much better than the others.

I bought 5 yards of Heat N Bond Lite from eBay for $18.77. (free shipping.) If you want the link let me know. I couldn't find it here in small town, USA so I just ordered some! I don't know if it was a good deal or not but at least now I have some.

We use Wonder-under for every applique that we do, and we a lot of applique. I highly recommend it.

Lanny

I just recently used Heat N Bond Lite for the first time.
I really like it more than the Wonder Under that I used before.

I use all different type heat bonds depending on what I am sewing with it and the material I am using. I made a big mistake by using heavy heat bond on some thinner fabric as I needed it to be very stiff and my iron was a mess!

JoAnn's definitely has Wonder Under, it's with the interfacings and you can use a 40% coupon for it. It also goes on sale sometimes.

Your comment about the Heat and Bond is a good testament to what it is - thicker. So use that when you need a thick strong fusible webbing and use the others when you need something lighter.

Steam a Seam 2 is lighter than Steam a Seam. Both are "re-positionable", which is a really nice feature. I love Wonder Under for machine applique because it keeps the fabrics together while I stitch around.

Both Steam a Seam products have paper on both sides, Wonder Under has paper on one side and Misty Fuse doesn't have any paper. I have not used Heat and Bond.

Great question! :thumbup:

I have always used wonder under and when my quilts aren't still and wash very well. I used wonder under on the
T-shirts I made for my g-sons yesterday and they aren't stiff either.

Sorry...I didn't proofread very well. I have NOT done a lot of applique'. Only 3 blocks so far. :-D :-D

I like Wonder Under much better than Heat and Bond. I have yet to find the heat and bond lite to use. Wonder Under doesn't gum up my needle when appliquing. Heat and Bond has gummed up my needle bad enough that I thought my machine was tore up.

i buy wonderunder from joann online by the bolt with a 50% coupon and i buy misty fuse from amazon, 10 yards at a time - here's a link

http://www.amazon.com/Mistyfuse-Mist.../dp/B000PFPSJI

I use wonderuner because its cheap, like me! :) Its not stiff after being washed, I pretty much forget I even used it!

I use the lightest fusible web for machine applique, and I always cut the center of the shape out of the fusible after tracing it so that the quilt top doesn't get stiff from the fusible. It is sold off of bolts here at our larger fabric stores.

WOW! I'm overwhelmed by the response and the great ideas, everyone.
I knew this was the forum for my question!

Looks like wonder-under is the way to go - I'm guessing the 805 is the lightest, but I think I'm going to find out, once I get to joann's!

ps. jljack, that's a beautiful machine as your avatar - what kind is it? and, do you sew on it?

Yes, 805 is the lightest. :D

I prefer to use the light weight fusible interfacing. Put the glue side towards the right side of your fabric, draw your shape onto the back side of the fabric, stitch around the pieces, cut a small slit in the interfacing and then when you flip it the glue side will be towards the back and press them on your block or surface, then machine or hand applique them down. I use the skinny steam-a-seam for my binding too. No pins to stick you when you are hand stitching in down. Happy Stitchin' crafty_linda_b

I prefer heat n bond lite

Same here.

Look up Charlotte's Fusible Thread by Superior online. You might like it. Haven't used it yet but plan to buy some next time I go to LQS.

Light Heat and Bond....wonderunder tends to come away from the paper if stored too long...than you get it all drawn out and it shift...bugs me to death....blessings

There is a fusible called VILENE. It works really well, doesn't get a very stiff feeling. it is pricey though.

It was a good deal! I use Pellon light weight for most iron on purposes, but if you want a raised affect, use an iron on batting. The circles would be lovely with that method.

Don't remember what company makes the iron on batting. You can get it at most any fabric store.

I pretty much agree with ghostrider except that I do not care for Pellon's wonder under these days. It used to be a good product, but I have trouble peeling the paper off now. The company send me 5 yards as a replacement and I had just as much trouble with that. I peel it off the backing now until my supply is gone and use it like the Misty Fuse. That works well. Head and Bond lite also works well for me.

The product and method you use really depends on your project. Therefore, I use many different products and methods.

http://www.byannie.com/fusible_thread_video_7/

I just ran across this video yesterday about this fusible thread and its use for applique. I'm willing to give it a try.

I accidentally used Heat and Bond on an applique once (didn't realize I had done this) and when I went to applique it on the sewing machine my needle kept getting goo all over it and made the applique difficult to do. I think for the playhouse it is fine or on something that doesn't require sewing. I use the lightest Wunder Under possible for appliques.

Thank you

Superior threads have a new product, fuseable thread. I don't think it wiuld be great for raw edge, but it would eliminate stiffness and hold well until stitched. I'd like to try it. Would sure eliminate all those qdd ends of fuseable that are saved for the "next project." Has enyone tried it? Please let us know your opinion if it.

I prefer misty-fuse. Very light weight and doesn't goo up the needle.

This is what I use, too. It is easy to use, very lightweight and doesn't gum up your needle.

Pelon 805 is wonder under and is great. I discovered this product when taking a class from Laura Wasilowski, who is the fuse queen. see her here http://www.artfabrik.blogspot.com/

I have tried them all and heat and bond lite is still stiff. I do like steam a seam 2 lite. I is according to what you are doing. I think Heat and bond is good for crafts.