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Iron On Applique Quandary....
Hi everyone!
I'm new to QB...just joined a few minutes ago. I had no idea this site was so extensive and covers so many topics! Wow! Going to have fun here! I have a question for ya'all, but I will give a little background on myself first. I live in Spokane Washington and operate a little cottage industry from my home in which I make and sell mainly iron-on appliques, but I also make what I call "finished edge" (for lack of a better term) appliques. (These are backed with muslin, stitched, turned and pressed, "pillowcase style.") My question deals with just the iron ons. Many of my iron on appliques are multi-layer, having a base shape (such as an owl body) and parts are added on (such as eyes, beak, etc.) to the base shape. Much of the time, these added parts are small-tiny. As of a day or so ago, I was exclusively using Heat n Bond Lite, which requires the user to sew all the parts down...something customers rarely want to do. This gets tedious because of the small parts on the appliques. So I decided to try backing the multi-layer appliques with H n B Ultra, which requires NO sewing. My issue is with LAUNDERING. My customers say they don't like the Ultra because it leaves a stiff applique. *sigh* So, here's my question. The product Steam a Seam Lite: If this product is used, 1. Will it lift after a cool wash/dry? 2. Will it leave a stiffness to the applique? I am trying to find an adhesive that will be easy for the customer to work with (easy for the backing paper to be removed, easy to understand instructions), will leave the applique sort of soft, and most importantly will not lift in a cool wash/dry. Am I chasing the elusive unicorn? |
Welcome from Ontario, Canada. I tend to use Wonderunder fusible for applique and machine stitch the applique edge with buttonhole or zig zag stitch. I do not use Heat and Bond regular as it is not meant to be sewn on and gums up the machine needle. Steam a seam is a good product but I would still do some kind of sewing around the applique edges after fusing.
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With all these options, and preferences, you are going to be spending too much time explaining options to customers which could be interpreted as arguing or being a know it all, both negative to obtaining customer sales. May I suggest you make up a sales book of options or a design board of options where for example you would make up 50 owls. The 1st column would show:
a) Owls arrive in 8 pieces with H & B Ultra b) Customer Assembles Owl by (sewing/gluing) c) Customer Attaches to Item (t-shirt/ quilt square) d) After 10 launderings it looks and feels like this: The 2nd column would show H&B lite, the 3rd column would show wonderunder etc. That way, the customer would understand all her options, what she is getting, what to do with it, and what it will look like right away and after 10 washings. She could touch them and make up her own mind without you explaining, "selling" or "pushing" while she is thinking "well that is not my experience". This does not answer your question exactly, but it does. And it says, this is your cottage industry, you are the expert, you know the answers because you have tried all the options on all the products out there. This is what you recommend, but if your customer is nervous about the outcome of your recommendation, here is what it will turn out to be, and if you don't like that, here are the other options that are possible, but maybe not optional. Let me know how you want your order placed, Boom! Ca Ching! |
Welcome Elaine Michelle.
Great idea Jane Quilter. |
I have no advice for your quandary, but I can welcome you from the other side of the country, the beautiful mountains of western NC.
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No real answer to your question but did want to comment on the fusible. I am just starting some applique and used Heat n Bond lite as that was recommended but I felt it was very stiff, so then I tried WonderUnder, (pellon805 I think) and from what I can tell it is much softer.
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In an appliqué class a time or two, WonderUnder has always been suggested. Welcome to the QB, you're gonna love it here.
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Great site. Lots of inspiration and advice. Welcome! No help from me with the appliqué!
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Would it not be a good idea to test this yourself and create a sample to show customers?
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Have you tried window-pane on those smaller pieces, that is just make a "frame" of the iron on product, it eliminates bulk......
i personally think all iron on applique would eventually edge fray from washing unless sewed down somehow.... |
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