Fusible Batting

The directions said to smooth the layers together and press with "wool" setting. I laid a blanket over my sewing room table (an oval kitchen table with one leaf) and added the backing, the batting, and the pieced top. Pressing carefully so as not to scorch the pieced top, I fused the layers. Only it didn't "fuse". The top barely stuck to the batting. Not to be thwarted, I went over the top again. Same thing, not much of a fuse.

Okay. Back to the directions. Turns out I had not read ALL of the directions. Pressing on the "wool" setting only would fuse only the top to the batting. The directions actually said in order to fuse 3 layers, use "wool setting with STEAM." A little concerned about the table top, I added the steam and went at it again. Worked like a charm. All three layers were fused as one!

The edges seemed a little loose so I got out the old reliable pins and pinned around the little quilt.

The machine quilting went great! No pins to avoid, no punctured fingers.

There was only one hitch in the whole thing. You know that blanket I used to protect the table top? Turns out it was POLYESTER and got a wee bit warm in spots what with the steam and heat of the iron. Another learning experience and I now know to use something cotton to cover that table next time.

Quilters tell me that a table will work for fusing a large quilt top by fusing a section and sliding the top over to fuse another section. Watch for wrinkles. If you get a wrinkle, re-press and move the fabric while it is warm. Fusing sure beats pins on the floor!

Happy quilting! See you next month.

Merry Sunshine

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