Evaluating Interfacings

Carole · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 8:07 pm Post subject: Evaluating Interfacings

Interfacings are one of my favorite things we sell at SB. It is so nice to have a selection of such high quality ones. Today, Barb asked me to evaluate about six fusible interfacings she is considering stocking. It was a fun and educational job.

She handed me the samples of the interfacing and told me to test them on scraps of fabric that we had left over from cutting swatches. I dug through the boxes, found fabrics in a variety of weights and plugged in the iron.

I tried to match up the fabric weight with the manufacturer's suggestions listed on the bolt. I used silks, wools, cottons and linens. Some of the interfacings felt very sophisticated and had a wonderful drapey quality about them. Others were more ordinary and not very interesting.

As each piece of fabric was fused with a corresponding interfacing I stapeled it to a piece of paper and wrote some thoughts about what happened when the interfacing and fabric became one. I wrote down things like "This one is a winner. It sort of takes the edge of this crisp silk." "Nice spongey texture." "Too heavy and stiff for this soft wool."

In a short amount of time I learned a lot about interfacing! I definitely had my favorites among the six. Maybe soon, Barb will be able to stock those. I would love to be able to use some of them on a regular basis.

While I was fusing away, Janee was working at the computer nearby. She gave me a nice tip that I'll pass along. She was telling me that she had heard a presentation by someone who worked professionally (maybe selling or representing interfacings - I can't remember) with interfacings. This woman suggested first pressing the piece of fabric you are going to fuse interfacing to, first, to let the iron heat up the fabric. Then lay the interfacing over the fabric and fuse as usual. The warm fabric 'grips' the interfacing as it is laid down over it and is much less slippery to work with. I was delighted with this tip and it made my fusing work go faster. Thank you Janee!

Jane in KC · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:44 am Post subject:

Thanks for sharing the tip.

If Barb is looking around for different fusible interfacings, I do hope she will consider the lovely ones available from Edit. They are truly excellent products, and it would be great to have them available through SB.

Moderator's Note: The Savvy Sewer Salon is an extension of Sawyer Brook Distinctive Fabrics and as such does not accept advertising or marketing of outside retailers. See Forum Etiquette

Barb · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:47 am Post subject:

I am indeed always looking for new interfacing products. We do business with most of the major suppliers and are open to customer suggestions for additional products if we can bring them to market in a cost effective way. Please feel free to use this forum to discuss the types of interfacings you are looking for. We'll do our best to source them!

Jane in KC · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:22 pm Post subject:

My apologies for posting the link. I did not even think of it as advertising, but was just trying to provide a way for Barb to see what I was talking about. Again - very sorry!