4th Quilted Tote - brought up more questions
#1
4th Quilted Tote - brought up more questions
Okay, so I am just hooked on totes right now (though I am working on finishing up my first tumbler quilt in the middle of totes).
My daughter picked the fabrics for this one, wanted it for school/books. I like the colors, and I tried some different combinations of interfacings/fleece. I have some questions that came up in the process - but not sure to post with the picture - or to post that over in the main forum. I'll post here so as not to double post - but correct me if I do it wrong please! :-)
I used Pellon SF101 woven fusible interfacing under the outer fabric, then used Pellon Fusible Fleece. LOVED that (first time using the woven fusible - I will be using it from now on)! I added DecorBond to the lining, as I wanted a sturdier bag. So far so good. But two things.
1. I have read about getting to many layers in the seam allowance and it being difficult to sew. I did not take the DecorBond all the way to the edge of the fabric - which I now believe was a mistake - primarily because now I am wondering at the strength of the fabric in those seams.
2. With regard to the Decor Bond - I am not finding it so fusible. It seemed so at first - but then when tinkering with the bag, edges started coming up. Since I hadn't taken the DecorBond all the way to the seam - it was not sewn down. I ended up adding strips of Stitch Witchery under the edges to reseal it.
I am wondering for those who use Decor Bond (or a similar type fusible) - how do you go about using it? Any problems with the fusing? I followed the instructions on the label. It all seemed fine at first, but did not hold up to all of my tinkering. I like what the Decor Bond adds to the bag - but if it isn't going to fuse down, I might as well buy the sew in stiff interfacing - which I am thinking is probably less expensive than the fusible. Though I am also considering that I could use the sew in with Wonder Under - just because I like things fused.
I already have in mind what I want to make for my next purse/tote. Something in a little bit of a different direction. After I finish up the quilting on my tumbler quilt.
My daughter picked the fabrics for this one, wanted it for school/books. I like the colors, and I tried some different combinations of interfacings/fleece. I have some questions that came up in the process - but not sure to post with the picture - or to post that over in the main forum. I'll post here so as not to double post - but correct me if I do it wrong please! :-)
I used Pellon SF101 woven fusible interfacing under the outer fabric, then used Pellon Fusible Fleece. LOVED that (first time using the woven fusible - I will be using it from now on)! I added DecorBond to the lining, as I wanted a sturdier bag. So far so good. But two things.
1. I have read about getting to many layers in the seam allowance and it being difficult to sew. I did not take the DecorBond all the way to the edge of the fabric - which I now believe was a mistake - primarily because now I am wondering at the strength of the fabric in those seams.
2. With regard to the Decor Bond - I am not finding it so fusible. It seemed so at first - but then when tinkering with the bag, edges started coming up. Since I hadn't taken the DecorBond all the way to the seam - it was not sewn down. I ended up adding strips of Stitch Witchery under the edges to reseal it.
I am wondering for those who use Decor Bond (or a similar type fusible) - how do you go about using it? Any problems with the fusing? I followed the instructions on the label. It all seemed fine at first, but did not hold up to all of my tinkering. I like what the Decor Bond adds to the bag - but if it isn't going to fuse down, I might as well buy the sew in stiff interfacing - which I am thinking is probably less expensive than the fusible. Though I am also considering that I could use the sew in with Wonder Under - just because I like things fused.
I already have in mind what I want to make for my next purse/tote. Something in a little bit of a different direction. After I finish up the quilting on my tumbler quilt.
#4
Very nice tote!!! I use Decor Bond in all my purses. Did you iron it on both sides? I iron it with the fabric on top first and then I turn it over, put a piece of muslin over it and iron that side also. I read somewhere before that fusibles need to be ironed on both sides. If it doesn't work, I turn my iron up a little more. I never have any problems with it not adhering. Of course, you can get a bad batch sometimes too.
#5
Very nice tote!!! I use Decor Bond in all my purses. Did you iron it on both sides? I iron it with the fabric on top first and then I turn it over, put a piece of muslin over it and iron that side also. I read somewhere before that fusibles need to be ironed on both sides. If it doesn't work, I turn my iron up a little more. I never have any problems with it not adhering. Of course, you can get a bad batch sometimes too.
A little worried because when I turned the purse inside out (after sewing the lining and the bag together) - a rather large piece of the Decor Bond was loose. I apparently didn't get all the way around the edges with my stitch witchery - thought it was all tacked down. I did try to push everything back into the bag to smooth it out so I could reach in right at the top with a bit of the stitch witchery to get it tacked back down - but couldn't get it all back down smooth enough to allow for this. So I proceeded forward. No idea what will happen. Mostly the Decor Bond is tacked down around the edges. I suppose all will likely be okay unless my daughter ever decides she needs to wash the bag.
Oh well, adding more notes as to what I have learned thus far. If the bag fails, I will just make her another one! I think she will get enough use out of it before that happens. Will chalk it up to more learning experiences.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
IBQUILTIN
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
10
07-10-2015 09:59 AM
trennag
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
21
02-20-2013 06:55 PM
craftybear
Recipes
1
07-05-2011 04:58 PM
craftybear
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
13
06-18-2011 12:41 PM