Thursday, October 26, 2006
Lite Steam-A-Seam 2
This question is for anyone out there that works with fabric. I went to the fabric store the other day to purchase supplies for Christmas presents. I needed to get some fusable web. I instictively picked out the wonder-under because that's what I grew up with and I know how to use it really well. The lady at the counter told me that this new "Lite Steam-A-Seam 2" is really far supperior to what I had chosen and it had this extra feature of being paper lined on both sides of the glue, not just one. When you pealed the first paper off the glue is slightly sticky so it will stick to the fabric a little before you use the iron on it so you can be sure to put the piece exactly where you want it. I bought the song and dance hook line and sinker so I paid the extra to get the new and improved technology. My question is do you, that have worked with both brands, think it's worth it? The paper lining that you peal off first is falling off while I'm trying to trace my stencil so it doesn't seem like that second lining is really necessary. I'm not sure. What do you think? Also, what is your favorite brand of fusable web? Should I ditch both brands for one far superior that I don't yet know about?
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12 comments:
Seems to me like twice the paper means twice the mess to clean up after.
Since at one point in my life I bought a full roll of Aileen's I haven't tried anything new in some time. (Another example of hating to shop?)
I was heavily influenced by Madame Domgaard of the BYU C&T department against fusibles (but that was 30+years ago). One of the independent pattern designers that comes to Puyallup Sewing Expo LOVES the steam-a-seam-2 for her couture techniques. She claims it is flexible so it doesn't change the hand of the fabric (much)& does not gunk up the needle. whether it is worth the extra money depends on the project I guess.
Wow. I guess I don't sew much anymore.
Is that the same as fusible interfacing?
The last time I used interfacing... many moons ago I didn't like fusible because it eventually made pucker bubbles in the collar... etc. Stuck with sew-in interfacing.
TRS- I too have encountered that same problem with fusable interfacing. I still use it though because it's easy to get in the right spot. Oh well. Fusable web is different. It's an iron on glue that just glues the two pieces of fabric together for applique.
I went to the fabric store again day before yesterday because I didn't buy enough fusable web for all of my projects the first time and I purchased the same thing because the original lady was helping me and I didn't want to dissapoint her. I purchased 5 yards because I didn't want to go back and then last night I got most of the projects cut out and ironed on and I only used 1.5 yards! Now I have tons of extra steam-a-seam. Oh well, I'll use it someday. Plus, I think the Expo lady was right, it does retain a whole lot of flexablilty. Now that I'm stuck with it I guess I'd better look at the bright side. If I just throw the paper away as it comes off I don't have to do too much cleaning. (Although that's not what I did last night. Our house was COVERED with paper backing!)
I use steam a seam all the time for my applique projects and LOVE it! I think it's definitely worth the extra money for the flexibility it gives you but watch out - you can get addicted once you realize all you can do with it! Check out www.robbieklow.com for some neat examples of what you can do with th stuff!
I was disappointed. It may have been the humidity the day I tried it but I could not get it to stick at all to anything. I followed the directions but it was a very humid day and I had no air on.
I have only used steam a seam 2 and it works great for me! I love to make wall hangings and art quilting, and the steam a seam 2 doesn't pucker or bubble or anything for me, but I have central air.
I am not much of a quilter, but have taken a quilting class in the past year and used seam a steam for all the applique. I love it. I have used wonder under and it does not compare to seam a steam. It is definetly worth the price to me.
I tried it for the first time, after many years of Heat & Bond Light. I also don't get the point of the 2nd paper backing. Maybe I'm not using it right, but this is what I did. I traced on the side that the paper stuck better, rough cut the pieces and stuck it onto the back of my fabric. At this point, I don't see the advantage of moving it around, since it's on the back. It isn't secure enough to cut just stuck, so I lightly fused it to the back. Then, as I'm starting to cut the pieces on the lines, the remaining paper starts falling off. Makes it hard to keep track of your pieces ! So once the cutting was done, I put the pieces on the backing and fused them on. Pretty frustrating. With Heat & Bond, you trace on the paper, rough cut, iron on, peel off the paper and fuse to your backing. A lot easier, but since I'm doing a McKenna Ryan project I thought I'd try something that's not quite so bulky. I might go back to it though, did I do something wrong?
I've been using steam-a-seam lite for years for applique and LOVE it.
I also use SAS2 Lite and I liked it. I was doing a fabric portrait of my Dad and it was helpful to be able to stick tiny pieces down and then move then, if needed. You can use the extra paper as a release paper but I too wonder why 2 papers sometimes. I see that Heat and Bond has a featherweight fusible now and I wonder if anyone has tried it?
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