PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,235 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,235 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
Member since 1/24/07
Posts: 611
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 5/5/08 7:28 PM ET
I have never has this happen before. I fused Pellon Easy-Knit interfacing onto my cotton batik collar and it seemed to be just fine. I sewed a seam on the collar and pressed it. When the iron touched the fusible interfacing, it immediately seized up and attached itself to the iron and distorted the fabric. I managed to cut away the interfacing where it was so destroyed and saved the collar. Then I had to clean the iron. I used Stacy's Clean & Glide Iron Ceaner and it worked really well. I finished the collar pressing by using a teflon sheet between the iron and the collar. Does anyone have any idea why this happened? I don't really want to experiment because I don't want to have to clean my iron again.
-- Edited on 5/5/08 7:32 PM --
------
Elaine
  
Member since 1/27/08
Posts: 267
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 5/5/08 10:47 PM ET
Eek, that's scary! Did you use a press cloth? My sewing instructor has 2 - one for fusibles, one for not.
  
Member since 1/12/04
Posts: 6312
Send Message
Posted on: 5/5/08 11:58 PM ET
Maybe the iron was too hot.
------
Marilyn

January 2009 to January 2010 81 yards out and 71yards in January 2010 to the present 106.7 yards out and 146.5 yards in. January 2011 to the present: 47 yards out and 69 yards in.
  
Member since 1/24/07
Posts: 611
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 5/6/08 0:35 AM ET
The scary part was that I had successfully fused it with heat and it was cool and secure. When I pressed the sewn seam, it just immediately scrunched up onto the iron. I was using a cotton setting on the iron with steam. What I am curious about is does this just happen with the Pellon Easy-Knit? Has it happened to anyone else? Should I make a habit of using a press cloth when pressing on the fusible side of something that has already been fused? I know that I have successfully pressed on the fused side of other fabrics. Was it the batik? Could this be a faulty lot of fusible interfacing? When I get brave enough, I am going to experiment with one of my other irons. I do not want to have to clean my good iron again. Plus, I do not want to ruin my fabric. I was lucky to be able to rescue the fabric I was using.
-- Edited on 5/6/08 0:36 AM --
------
Elaine
  
Board Moderator
Member since 10/11/03
Posts: 1020
Send Message
Posted on: 5/6/08 1:15 AM ET
my guess is 1)faulty interfacing. Because I definitely press on finished interfacing side. You can heat interfacing up again though I think and make it re-sticky. I either read that or it says on the directions. But still it should not stick through to your iron. In general I always use a press cloth. Also dont' be afraid to clean your iron! I clean mine every other day. If you get the Rowenta kit, it's so easy.
  
Member since 1/24/07
Posts: 611
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 5/6/08 1:36 AM ET
In reply to mastdenman
Quote:
Maybe the iron was too hot.

I think that was part of the problem. I checked the insert sheet that comes with the pellon and it says that the heat setting should be wool/steam. I used cotton/steam. However, I think that the fusible interfacing was not quite right. I don't think the sticky stuff should have come through to the nonsticky side and attached itself to my iron in such a messy fashion. I am going to be very careful about using a pressing cloth the next time I press on finished fusible interfacing. I had to get out of bed and post this as I was lying there thinking about what you had said.
------
Elaine
  
Member since 1/22/06
Posts: 1183
Send Message
Posted on: 5/6/08 6:18 AM ET
I use a lot of the fusible tricot type interfacing and I've never had a problem with the adhesive bleeding through to the topside. I would guess that either the iron was too hot or possibly a faulty batch of interfacing.
To be safe I like to use my teflon pressing sheet, I can see though it and I never have any sticky stuff on my iron.
If you do get any adhesive residue on your iron you can clean it easily with the lotion for electric savers that men use. Electra-Shave is one brand. I learned that trick to remove adhesives from embroidery hoops and it works great. Just be sure to wipe to wipe down the iron after you finish, I use a cloth damped with rubbing alcohol.
------
Formerly sew*itch
  
Member since 12/3/05
Posts: 6572
Send Message
Posted on: 5/6/08 8:55 AM ET
I always use a teflon pressing sheet to protect my iron whenever I'm fusing interfacing.
------
No sewing project is ever a complete success nor a total failure.
  
Member since 3/2/04
Posts: 2073
Send Message
Posted on: 5/6/08 9:13 AM ET
I don't think the fusible "came through" the interfacing. Using a cotton setting was way too hot for a knit...it probably melted the fabric!

Another super-easy way to clean this kind of mess [melted fabric or fusible] off your iron, is to iron over a used or new fabric softener dryer sheet, with your iron hot. The gunk will come off the iron and stick onto the dryer sheet.

------
Ardis

the lefthanded daughter of a lefthanded mother
  
Member since 1/24/07
Posts: 611
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 5/6/08 10:40 AM ET
In reply to SewVeryTall
Quote:
I don't think the fusible "came through" the interfacing. Using a cotton setting was way too hot for a knit

I think that you have provided the answer, but I didn't just melt the fabric; I burned it to a crisp so that it scrunched away from the fabric. I am going to put this down to a tired senior moment and move on. I will certainly be more careful about iron tempoeratures and the use of pressing cloths from now on.
Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions. PR is such a wonderful place for people with all kinds of problems.
------
Elaine
  
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Elliott Berman Textiles
High-end Fashion Fabrics
Specials!
Nature's Fabrics
Natural & Organic Fabrics
Specials!