ReeneeD

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.

MadQuilter

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.

jljack

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.

lucyb

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

wvdek

Are you sure it is fusible?

Have you tried to remove teh paper if any?

quiltyhoop

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.

Margandi

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.

Justok

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?

Pati- in Phx

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

zz-pd

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