wonder under - 2 kinds? attn tia Mary

I've finally gotten to the embellishment stage of my musicmaking wallhanging and every few minutes the needle gets so gummed up that the machine starts to skip stitches. I used Wonder Under. I read in the archives about this - and Tia Mary mentioned that there is a kind of wonder under that does that - I have a bolt right here and before I start to use it I want to know how I can tell if it's the "good" kind.

Musicmaker

Reply to
Musicmaker
Loading thread data ...

Most of the fusible adhesives can gum up the needle some. Best thing I have found is Sewer's Aid, or TriFlo lubricant. Put some on a piece of felt, wet but not soppy. Put felt into snack size zip lock bag. periodically unthread needle and stitch through the felt (bag and all. Helps keep stuff from sticking to the needle.) You can also just wipe the needle with a piece of felt that has the lubricant, but every time I do it that way I end up poking my self on the needle. sigh.

It really does help keep the needle un-gunky.

Pati, > I've finally gotten to the embellishment stage of my musicmaking

Reply to
Pati C.

If you have the "heavy duty" Wonder Under it will do that. The heavy stuff is made for crafts that DO NOT require sewing on. What you need is the light weight stuff -- i t's meant simply to hold stuff together but not through repeated washings and needs to be sew through. the heavy stuff WILL gunk up your needle and it's a TOTAL P.I.T.A. to get the needle clean. What Pati suggests will work but some of the lubricants can "irritate" your sewing machine innards, even tho' they say they won't. So, check and see which type of fusible web you are using. Pellon makes the two types as does Wonder Under. That heavy duty stuff is great for bonding any two sorts of stuff together that can take the heat and steam requires. I have mounted fabric to card stock, paper to mat board, paper & fabric to wood, etc. Stuff works like a charm but ONLY on projects that do not require any sort of sewing. Let us know what you end up having to do, OK? CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

formatting link

Reply to
Tia Mary

ok - will be checking out the tri flow at the bike shop today. The wonder under I'm using says nothing on the bolt about heavy duty, so I've figured out that some of my fusible scraps that I've used in this wall hanging must have something besides wonder under on it. I also think I'll ask the baby lock dealer if tri flow is a problem for my machine, though I did find an art quilter link that lists tri flow as one of her top ten most valued tools. Remaining optimistic!!

Musicmaker

Reply to
Musicmaker

I'll "second" what everyone else has said - and I use Heat'n'Bond. Use H'n'B LITE if you plan on sewing through it... NOT the H'n'B regular (prolly the same as the Wonder Unders.) I also use the "Sewers-Aid" - but use it to (lightly) drip on my spool of thread - works well for me! BTDT! ME-Judy

Reply to
ME-Judy

Original Heat 'n' Bond was the heavy one. Marketed to non-sewists for various purposes. It makes stuff very stiff, and does not like to be sewn through. (However you can do it, use a fine leather needle which will cut a slit in the fabric for the thread to pass through. That is what Joan Shay recommends for her "appli-bond" technique.) The light was produced for sewists who wanted something a little less stiff and more sewable. H'n'B is a very different "formula" than Wonder Under. HnB is much more "plasticky" than the other. Of course the first, at least that I can recall, was Stitch-Witchery. But it wasn't paper backed (still isn't, and yes you can still find it.) That was a wonderful invention. (Before that I did lots of machine applique by using pieces of dry cleaner bags to hold pieces in place on the base fabric. Talk about an adventure!!!! Especially the satin stars appliqued onto satin...... and not just a few of them either.....) Wonder Under is basically SW on a paper backing. The original is the lighter weight one.The heavy weight was added for those purposes where you wanted more stiffness/hold and less sewing. Original WU was meant to be sewn down or edges finished in some way. Did a lot of fusible applique with fabric paint over the edges and for embellishment for a while there. The raw edges of Wonder Undered fabrics will lift if you don't do something to them. Especially when you heat the glue again in the dryer. And then there is Steam a Seam, and Misty Fuse and several other brands current and past. All use the same idea, but differ in formulation and end feel/use.

Sewer's Aid on the thread is good, if your machine is okay with it. But that is very different from using it on the needle. Sewer's Aid or TriFlo, is a lubricant, silicone based I believe. By "coating" the needle it makes it slicker and doesn't allow the glue to stick to the needle. Different use altogether than using it to keep the thread from fraying, etc. Multipurpose stuff it is..........

Pati, in Phx

ME-Judy wrote:

Reply to
Pati C.

Pati, I hope this doesn't embarrass you, but I simply have to say it.

I am full of admiration for your depth and breadth of knowledge - of so many subjects in and on the periphery of quilting (no doubt other subjects as well). Not only that, you are able to explain difficult things - and you do, so often, and it must take a lot of your time, as you never stint. You write clearly and so very well - just look at this answer.

I feel very lucky to be part of a group where you are. I benefit more than you know, because quite often I'll pick up a tip (or piece of information) from one of your answers to someone else. When that happens, I don't always remember to thank you: or it could be that the information becomes relevant to me ages afterwards.

Anyway, whatever the case, I just wanted you to know how I feel about the wonderful messages you post (and I am positive I am not alone in this!). . In message , Pati C. writes

Reply to
Patti

Well said, Patti, and it is about time we saluted Pati for her sharing her skill and experience. I was just delighted recently when Pati wrote

"The other solution is to be a little more careful with feeding the fabric under the foot. That just takes practice, the machine still does the work, you just have to keep guiding it. After all, who is "bigger", you or the machine/fabric? "

It takes a while for a SM to clearly understand that we are in charge and their defaults don't mean a hoot. When I read Pati's comments, I wanted to cheer "Atta girl, Pati!" Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

awww shucks. Thank you. It does somewhat embarrass me but I do appreciate it. I will admit that sometimes I hesitate to answer because I don't want anyone to think that I am a "know it all" or anything. But fabric and everything that can be done with/to it is something that I enjoy knowing about. And I tend to pick up information about it and remember it. I have also been sewing a long time, and my degree is in clothing/textiles. So there is a lot of information build up along the way. Some of my sewing has also been out of the "usual" range for most people. I'm also glad that my written explanations make sense. Sometimes I really want the ability to just show someone what I mean. That is part of why I love to teach.

Thank you aga> Pati, I hope this doesn't embarrass you, but I simply have to say it. >

Reply to
Pati C.

Reply to
Pati C.

I second that! Pati is so good about sharing her wealth of knowledge and in a way that even I can understand. Thank you!

Reply to
Louise in Iowa

And she made the best Sorting Hats in the entire world. I still love the blocks she made for the Harry Potter swap. :) And, when the exams are over, I *will* get them out and decide what to do with them!

-- Jo in Scotland

Reply to
Johanna Gibson

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.