Using Heat 'n' Bond
 

Has anyone actually sewn through the HeatnBond Ultrahold while making a T-Shirt quilt?
I have been asked to make a T-shirt quilt. (Never did that before.) I went to my local quilt store and they sold me some HeatnBond. When I got home, I noticed that it says right on the package "Once applied, HeatnBond Ultrahold is NOT to be sewn through." I took it back to the store, and they insisted that they use that all the time. I came back home and now I noticed that it says also on the packaging in the "Tips: DO NOT SEW! If stitching is required, use HeatnBond Lite in the purple package." I'm going back to the store and point this out to them, but has anyone used the Ultra for this?

Ive only used heatnbond lite - and even that adds noticeable thickness. I don't think I wouldn't want to sew through the ultra.

Yes I have and then I realized that I wasn't using the light HnB. You can sew through the Ulltra heatnbond, but it will gum up your needle thus causing skipped stitches.

I have used heat and bond lite and have sewn with blanket stitch on the project. I had no trouble. It did seem a little stiff where I added the applique piece but had no problems with sewing it to background. I bought the package at Walmart.

I have only sewn on Heat'n'Bond lite. Even it is a bit stiff, before it's been washed, so I'm guessing the the Ultra would cause many skipped stitches. Personally, I would heed the manufacturer instructions and not sew through it. I have never made T-shirt quilt, but I have heard that many quilters use Pellon Featherweight interfacing.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pellon-91...kage/358399946

Many years ago, I used Steam-a-Seam. In recent years I only use Wonder Under 805. I love it. Have made many applique projects with no problem. I have to add that I machine applique.

Yes, will gum up needle. No trouble with Wonder Under !

I can't imagine a tee shirt quilt using Heat n Bond Utlra. There are many products available for tee shirt backing that is much better then Heat n Bond. A few quilters I know that make tee shirt quilts for customers use this: http://quiltersselect.com/products/S...Select-Cutaway. They won't use anything else.

take it back and read it to them. get the kind you then need from them. goodness, what silly people!

And people wonder why so some quilt shops go out of business. I wouldn't go back to that shop. It could might possibly void the warranty on a new machine if it bogs up.

I have sewn thru it and it isn't fun. It does gum up the needle but didn't hurt the machine, as others have mentioned there were skipped stitches. If your t shirts have large vinyl decals also it may be a bad combination. The vinyl is hard to sew thru also. It was also stiff.

Besides possibly gumming up the needle, I think it would make the quilt stiffer than you want in a t-shirt quilt. I use a very light weight fusible for them. Seems like it is Pellon Feather weight 911. It's been a while since I made one. Sounds like you may need to look somewhere other than your LQS, unfortunately.

Oh my! You people have me in tears, you are so wonderful. I am certainly going to take it back and read them the directions on the packaging. Luckily it's only 3 miles from my house.

Don't use Heat 'n Bond - use a very light fusible non-woven interfacing. I've made several t-shirt quilts using that and had no problem. And they are so soft...

Do not use the heat and bond! For t-shirt quilts I use Pellon 911. Very easy to use and remember.

So what does a person use Heat'n'Bond for? I'm not familiar with this product.

I use non woven fusible interfacing-lite weight. Take that stiff stuff back to store and tell whomever it was that told you that to please re-educate themselves!

https://leahday.com/products/french-fuse

i saw Nancy Zieman use this too

Misty Fuse is a good one to use and doesn't make the item stiff.

I also use a light weight knit iron on interfacing for t-shirt quilts. It quilted just fine with invisible thread no less.

I was making some flags for our youth group at church, and used the Ultra hold to put the designs on them, and it worked great,however, I did not have to sew the designs. the Heat&Bond Lite is great for appliques, etc.I use it all the time for baby bibs,etc. hope this helps.

I wouldn't sew through it. I do use the Lite.

If you sew pieces of several T-shirts together, they would not end up square, as the fabric is so stretchy it would never stay where you want it. So you take some kind of interfacing and iron it onto the back of that knit fabric. Now it feels and acts as if you were using quilting cotton. That's what you want. Sometimes an interfacing is ironed onto the back of an appliqued piece; wherever a little more stiffness is desired in the fabric.

One by one has a link that shows many different kinds of interfacing.
Also, see Stitchnripper's post above and check out the link.

Apparently my LQS didn't know there were different grades of HeatnBond. They are more of a craft place but sell many things quilters use.

I use heat and bond a lot, but I would not use Ultra on a quilt. It is a bit too stiff for my liking. But, may I ask why you are using a web product rather than a fusible interfacing? Usually you stabilize the T-shirt with a fusible interfacing and then cut out the piece. At this point you use it as if it were a 'regular' piece of fabric.

I spent a whole day going thru you tube videos to find decent ones on T-shirt quilt making so I would have something to tell my customers to watch. Most are absolute junk and some even seemed dangerous! But, a very basic one with lots of variations and simple instructions is our old standard - Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day. Her YouTube video has all the basic info and also how to utilize different sizes (pocket logos, sleeve logos). You do have more than her normal amount of silly talk, but she puts in an awful lot of good instruction in the video.

Thank you klswift for your very enlightening posts. I will try to check out Eleanor Burns' site. I am learning a lot here. I have time to find out about these things and get the right stuff before I ruin Roseable's T-shirts.

I'll echo what's been said before. I do a lot of applique quilts and use the Lite version all the time, it's relatively easy to sew through. It leaves the quilt somewhat stiff, but that's not a problem for my wall hangings. I accidentally bought the Ultra one time and I'm still trying to use it up! Ultra is difficult, but not impossible, to sew through and much thicker than you would need. I've used it occasionally to adhere thick embroidered patches (like Girl Scout badges and the like...). I really should just toss it.

That said though, I agree that for a t-shirt quilt I would recommend fusible stabilizer instead of a product like Heat 'n Bond. Unless you're doing some small appliques on top of the shirts? Anyway, best of luck with your project!

My sister and I tried it on a project and had to stop sewing every few minutes to clean the glue off the needles. Then we used steam a seam and wonder under - both great - just follow the instructions

They have fusible stabilizer for t-shirts, much better option - is it called shirtailer?

I used it once on an appliqué for a wall hanging and it was awful! I had to keep cleaning my needle because it would gum up. I don't have any trouble when I use the light weight. I made a t-shirt quilt once, but I used a stabilizer for the back of the shirts.

Mavis,

I'm obviously no expert, but I have made several machine appliqued quilts. I use the Heat 'N Bond Lite -- never the "heavy" or "ultra"-- that's going to be way too stiff for a quilt. If you use the ultra, you are letting yourself in for a lot of grief -- even the lite will, on occasion, gum up your needle, but it's certainly not as extreme as the "ultra". I think the Pellon Lite Fusible is your best bet for a stabilizer for a T-Shirt Quilt.

That use is not recommended even by the manufacturer, and I really don't think the sales lady who sold that to you is correct -- what she uses it for is no doubt different than what your project is.

Blah to sewing through the Heat N Bond--did that once and needle kept gumming up and very stiff. I've made about 25 t-shirt quilts (working on one right now) and I prefer the 54" wide StayFlex (its a woven stabilizer that is used in tailored clothing--it comes in 20" wide too) or my 2nd choice is FlexFuse (I've also heard it referred to as French Fuse) it's a 20" wide woven stabilizer that is a knit, so it does stretch in one direction. Both of these are light and easy to use (especially the StayFlex). 3rd choice is a Pellon 311F or 309F--but I think they are heavier and only come in 20" widths. Good luck!

Just wanted to add that I actually bought EB's pattern for t-shirt quilts! I know people seem to want to avoid buying patterns and just search the internet but for me, this pattern had so much information condensed in one spot, it was well worth the approx. $8.00. Don't get me wrong, I love perusing the internet, also, but for me, I like specific written instructions that I can look at whenever I want.

It will also break your thread constantly...when doing t shirt quilts you use one.side pellon fusible lightweight batting...

The very best backing for t-shirts is French fuse it is 60 " wide a knot and does not add weight I hAve made about 5 of these quilts