Need help with Insul-bright in pot holders
 

Hello all....I've been sewing for many years; and quilting for about ten. I've had a very frustrating morning trying to make a few pot holders for myself. The Insul-bright recommends two layers of cotton batting, for absorbing condensation. So I have a five layer sandwich (two of cotton fabric, two of warm & natural batting, and one of the Insul-bright). I'm using my walking foot; and have had plenty of experience with that. I'm having trouble with occasional skipped stitches; and occasional needle thread breakage. I've changed the needle; rethreaded the machine; experimented with the foot pressure, one variable at a time; and I continue to have the same problems. I don't have these issues when I'm quilting a three layer sandwich. And I've used the same thread, too. I'm not going to make a special trip out to buy some other thread.
If there is anybody out there with pot holder experience with Insul-bright, I'd love to hear your magic formula. I'm about ready to eliminate one of my layers of cottong batting; but thought I'd ask the board first.
It's a good thing I didn't sign on to mass produce pot holders for a craft show!
Thank you!

I just use the one layer of cotton batting with my insulbrite and it stitches fine. I use 50 wt cotton & my walking foot. (I have only made a few and to be honest I find them too stiff even with just the one layer of cotton batt)

Thank you, Thimblebug6000.

You just need one layer of insulbrite, and one layer warm and natural or brite and it is sufficient. I have had no problem with the layers on my machines. Maybe your stitch length is too small, have you increased it to accommodate the thickness

I've never used anything but one layer of Insulbrite and haven't had a burn yet.

We always recommend one layer of Insul-brite and one layer of regular batting. When sewing through Insulbrite, you also want to sew a lot slower than usual, and you may have to change needles more often, as it tends to dull needles quickly.

I'm beginning to not like insul-bright because i get tiny,tiny silver slivers in my machine.

When this happens make sure you vacuum out - do not use canned air. Harbor Freight has a nifty attachment for your home vacuum that works very well: http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...kit-32994.html

jdavis: Sorry to get off topic. I'm planning on making some hot pads soon so I am reading all the suggestions of construction. Glad you asked the question. :)

Shari

No worries, Shari; it's so nice of everyone to offer help!
I had much better luck when I removed one layer of batting.
Going slow seemed to be the right thing to do, also.
One last discovery: I found that when I switched thread to match my last two pot holders, it worked even better. There must have been a difference in the thread quality.

I recently made about 65 potholders and used one layer of cotton batting and one layer of insul bright and used a walking foot with a 2.60 stitch. I had no problems but i sure was tired of making them and glad I am done. Cut out too much from my scraps. :eek: