👀What Even IS Interfacing
(And Why You Need It)
The power couple you might have been keeping apart- Fabric & Interfacing awwww. Interfacing: It's giving structure, It's giving body, It's giving your fabric its own “you complete me” moment.
Fusible interfacing is a woven or non-woven material with heat-activated glue blobs on one side. You press this onto the wrong side of your fabric and suddenly that floppy collar stands up straight, that waistband doesn't roll, and that placket has more integrate than your ex (which isn’t that hard .. am I right?!)
Baby, what’s your type…..
Not all interfacing is the same and this is where people go wrong. Here are the ones you'll actually encounter:
Woven fusible — behaves like fabric, has grain lines, moves with your fabric. Use it when you want structure that doesn't fight your woven fabric. Mostly used for garments!
Non-woven fusible — no grain, looks kind of like a dryer sheet, cuts in any direction, great for bags and crafts but can feel stiff on garments.
Knit fusible — stretchy! Use this on jersey and other knit fabrics or you will RUIN the stretch and wonder why your neckline is a cardboard situation.
Interfacing weight — light, medium, heavy. Match the weight to your fabric weight. Lightweight fabric = lightweight interfacing and so on a so forth!
I’m stuck to you like…..
How To Actually Fuse It
Here's where people mess up. You do NOT just slam your iron on it and drag. No no no.
Cut your interfacing slightly smaller than your fabric piece — this protectyou ironing board cover (you're welcome) and reduces bulk in your seamallowance.
Fabric goes right side down - interfacing goes… you guessed in right side down! ie: place the bumpy side DOWN onto the wrong side of your fabric
Press, press, press, press not iron. PRESS. We’ve talked about this difference between the two.
Hold for 10-15 seconds with firm pressure, move to the next section, overlap slightly.
Let it cool completely before you move it. It's still bonding while it's hot!!
Don’t go breaking my…
Signs You Did it Wrong
You didn’t use a press cloth and now you interfacing has melted to your iron and you are crying.
It's peeling - go back in and let it cook
The fabric is bubbling or puckering: this could mean you drrrrragged the iron instead of pressing, or the interfacing was cut off grain (for woven types)
How will I know..
When To Use It
A helpful rule is that “All facing gets… interfaceing!”ie: collars, cuffs, waistbands, plackets, pocket openings, bag pieces, any facing that needs to hold its shape, and anywhere your pattern instructions say "interfacing” - obvi.
It’s not you its …
Sew-In Interfacing
Yes, there's also sew-in interfacing that doesn't fuse. Some fabrics like velvet, beaded fabric, metallics, anything that can't take heat need sew-in instead. It gets basted to the wrong side of your fabric piece before construction. Same idea, different attachment method. Don't be afraid of it.
The moral of the story is that interfacing isn’t optional - I just might be the make or break to you love the end result ! xxh
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