I'm fusing a piece onto a background square. The background square has been starched 5 times,(that works very nicely instead of using stabilizer). My problem is my fusible web will not iron onto the starched square. I don't know the fusible brand other than it came from Joann's and came on a bolt. It is medium weight. Do I need to wash out the starch? Thanks for listening

I starch my fabric pretty heavily and fuse pieces onto it. I use wonder under and it works fine. Try using steam to fuse it, or spray the applique with a little water to help set the adhesive :D

Does it have a paper backing? Did you peel the paper off? :shock:

I really hate that stuff and don't have good luck with it so I won't give you any advice. But I will 'listen' hard to everyone else's.

I wouldn't think the starch would stop it either . I use a damp wash clothe over the fabric when I am attaching it with the fusible to the base fabric

I tried the steam and water it helped enough until I get it satin stiched down. I tried the fusible on non-starched fabric and it didn't adhere very well either, I am assuming the fusibel web is at fault. So I think I will go get some wonder under and try it. Thanks Amma and everyone else who were generous with your help, I knew I could count on this board for fast and good advice.

I think wonder under is the best

Which one is more pliable. I have always used Heat N Bond lite and doing some fusible appliqués which I will then b stitching down and quilting, wondering if there is something that would be softer than the heat n bond lite.

Steam-a-Seam Lite might be softer. I would have to do a direct comparison of the two to be sure, though.

I use wonder under 805 and I don't use a stabilizer anymore. I discovered you can machine stitch without it and you don't to deal with cutting the paper away on the back afterwards.

I have made many applique quilts and I always use Wonder Under 805. It is easy and uncomplicated. Try it you'll like it!!! I buy it at WalMart and it is cheap, $.85 a yard. I have a light box and the tracing is simple. Hope this works for you it does for me..........

fusible can get old in the stores too.

Have you tried to fuse it to a piece of fabric that has no starch?

I see your updates that you did to no avail. Sorry. I once had some (don't the the brand) and realized I was trying to iron the wrong side to the fabric. I don't know why it didn't melt to my iron.

Thank you everyone for your good advice. I think I might try the wonder under. I'm sure my fusible is at least 2 -3 years old. I never had trouble with it when I first used it. but then again I never used starch. I really like using the starch to stiffen my fabric, it's like finding a new best friend.

Wonder Under is pretty soft but I use HeatNBond also.

It could be the web itself - I really like soft fuse it is really light

I think it just may have been too old. I use Wonder Under and Heat N Bond Lite or Med and really can't tell any difference. I don't like the Steam a Seam because it seems to complicated for my brain.

The bolt fusible that JoAnn's sells in stores is generally Wonder Under (Pellon), here in NH anyway. And if yours is 3 years old, it is the age that is the problem, not the product itself. It is exposed glue after all and it has had 3 years of exposere to light, humidity, temp changes, and a host of other things. Time to buy new! :D

What is Wonder Under 805? Please? I have used both the Steam a Seam Lite and Heat & Bond lite......both still seem a little stiff. I have also used Wonder Under with disasterous results.....but it was "regular" off the bolt from Joann's. Is 805 different and why? Thank You........

Flip it over, you probably have the paper side down instead of the fusible side. Ask me how I know! GG

I like HeatNbond. I buy it by the yard at Joann's and cut it to size. It always works great for me. Have you ever used sizing instead starch? Someone told me that insects will eat starch (after many years, I guess) but not sizing. I buy the sizing in spray cans just like spray starch. Maybe that would help. Let me know. Good luck.

I read that some fusibles are more temperamental than others. The fabric is supposed to be washed, so I assume that starch is a no-no. Why starch if you use the fusible? My worry would be that the fusibel will not stay on the fabric and things start to pucker. Run a trial on a scrap and find out.

Be sure you hold the iron still on the fusible web long enough (count of 5?) or the glue won't melt. I had a hard time with it until I finally got the hang of it...took about 3 projects to really understand it. Once you get it, it's not so hard.

If your iron is too hot the glue will just disapear instead of fusing.

Are you sure it is fusible?

Have you tried to remove teh paper if any?

I like Lite Steam a Seam fusible. Have had trouble with it not adhering and was told it was too old. Now store unused pieces in ziploc bag and no longer have that problem.

I recently watched a Fons & Porter DVD & they said not to use fabric softener when you wash your fabric, because then your fusible will have difficulty sticking. I haven't done a lot of fusing, so can't comment from personal experience.

I used starch because I used heavy amount of my decorative stitches to decorate my background fabric and I needed the stiffness. I wonder if all that extra rayon thread I used could have caused some of the problem?

Ahhh... The wonder of fusibles.
A bit of info for those that are interested:
Fusibles work best on fabric that is washed/dried without softeners or any thing else added to it. (including starch)
New fabric has finishes on it to protect it during shipping/storage. One of those finishes is a "dirt/soil repellent", which will also repel the glue of the fusible. You can often temporarily use a fusible, but it will not totally fuse to unwashed fabric. sigh.

Fabric softener includes a similar product.

When you starch/stiffen fabric with an applied product you in effect coat the fabric with the starch/sizing. When you put on the fusible it sticks to the starch not the fabric. <G> Wiping the area you will be fusing with a damp cloth removes some of the starch and allows a bit better bond.

As to the decorative stitching with rayon thread, that shouldn't make much difference. <G>

Here in the desert we have to cope with lots of drying of all sorts of stuff. I always use steam + heat + pressure when using fusibles. You do need to be a bit careful with some of them. Heat'n'Bond is very temperature sensitive, if you overheat it, it "goes away" and loses the bond completely.
I much prefer Wonder Under or Steam a Seam, or MistyFuse if I don't need the paper backing. <G>
Depends on what I am actually doing. And how many layers of fusing I will have.

Every situation is different, but if you understand the basics it all works.

Have Fun,
Pati, in Phx

Thank you for all the info, I just had this same problem. God bless. Penny