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Member since 9/7/08
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Posted on: 10/14/21 8:16 PM ET
I'm sewing a hem on a cotton lycra. I usually apply a fusible interfacing or stabilizer, press the hem up and sew. But with the cotton lycra, I can't get the stabilizer to fuse unless I set the iron to the steam setting - at that setting, the cotton lycra burns and becomes shiny. I'm going to use some scraps to test different hem techniques on this fabric. Here are the options I've come up with to test. Any others that I should try?

Spray with water bottle to create steam at lower iron setting
Try other stabilizers that I have (I have a few kinds and just tried one)
Starch fabric and press up (no stabilizer)

Anything else that will work on a fabric that can't take high heat?
  
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Re: Cotton Lycra Burns / Wont Press at Lower Heat (posted on 10/14/21 8:20 PM ET)
Wash Away Wonder Tape might work. I use it to hold hems in place I will be coverstitching. There is always good old fashioned hand basting. If the fabric is really shifty, I baste along the hem fold and then close to the raw edge of the hem.
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Sewing keeps me sane.

My herd includes a Singer Sewhandy, Bernina Artista 180, vintage Bernina 830 Record, Pfaff 794 serger, Juki 634D, Babylock BLCS2, Singer Slant Needle 403 from my grandmother, a Husqvarna 6570, a Viking Quilt Designer SE and my latest bargain Janome MC 10000.
  
Member since 4/8/08
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Posted on: 10/14/21 8:38 PM ET
In reply to amysayssew
Are you using a press cloth? What surface are you pressing on - ironing board, ironing table, pressing mat? What type of fusible interfacing are you using?

These are the first 3 things I would be checking.

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Sheila
"sewing very slowly to fill an empty closet"
Stash Tally: net +46.375 yds (2014 to 2020); net +48.0 (2021); net +57.125 (2022); net +109.875 (2023)- Stash Tally 2024: 77.5 yds out/90.375 yds in (net + 12.875 yds)

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Member since 6/4/15
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Posted on: 10/14/21 8:41 PM ET
In reply to amysayssew
I would use a pressing cloth, turn up the heat on the iron a smidge and press on the wrong side of the fabric. My primary pressing cloth is silk organza but I also use an old cotton tea towel.
  
Member since 5/28/11
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Posted on: 10/15/21 7:09 AM ET
In reply to amysayssew
I always us a Dritz double sided tape. It will hold the hem in place and a press cloth to press.
  
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Posted on: 10/15/21 5:14 PM ET
In reply to LifeofJanine
I tried a muslin press cloth and a silk organza press cloth but they didn’t help. It still burned. I was using an ironing board.
  
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Posted on: 10/15/21 6:30 PM ET
In reply to amysayssew
Quote: amysayssew

Anything else that will work on a fabric that can't take high heat?

How high is your iron set for? I only use the 'wool' setting (with steam) for lycra blend knits and a press cloth when needed.
-- Edited on 10/15/21 at 6:32 PM ET --
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Posted on: 10/15/21 11:06 PM ET
In reply to Doris W. in TN
I used the cotton setting. That’s the only setting eon my iron that produces steam. I tried pressing at a lower setting but it won’t make a crease.
-- Edited on 10/15/21 at 11:07 PM ET --
  
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Posted on: 10/16/21 8:10 AM ET
In reply to amysayssew
Quote: amysayssew
I used the cotton setting. That’s the only setting eon my iron that produces steam.

Yikes. 😳 It might be time to look into getting a new iron. Lots of topics here on PR about great steam irons at all price points.

In the meantime, try the Wool setting on your iron with a very damp press cloth. That will produce steam and possibly enough to fuse.
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Posted on: 10/16/21 8:59 AM ET
In reply to amysayssew
My iron (a cheapie from Costco) produces some steam on the wool setting. I agree with Doris’ suggestion to try a slightly dampened press cloth. I have had to do that on some very fragile fabrics and it worked fine.

I also keep Wonder Tape in my notions drawer for projects like this.

Good luck!
  
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