Sharonarooni Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Hi! I am quilting a piece that has some appliqué fused down but not stitched down. She asked me to just tack these down as I quilt the quilt. My machine is balking at the fusible. Missing stitches and sometimes breaking the bobbin thread, but usually not. I have tried 3.5 and 4 needles, quilting very slowly, but then of course I get wobbles. Help! Is there something I should know that I'm not experienced enough to know? :/ Thanks in advance! ANY help is appreciated. Sharon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enchanted Quilting Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 I recently did a banner for church that was like stitching through formica! The only thing that helped at all was by going exceedingly slow. Otherwise I broke thread, skipped stitches etc, etc. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cagey Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 You might try a 4.5 needle. The fusing could be pulling on the thread, causing it to break. I thought we could use +/- one needle size without retiming. Otherwise, maybe use a much smaller thread, so there will be more space with the 4.0 needle. Maybe also try soaking the thread with sewers aid or mineral oil. That may also help the thread move up and down through the fusing. Cagey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferBernard Posted June 8, 2015 Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Believe it or not, the fusible gets easier to quilt through the older the top gets. I once did a sweatshirt with fusible and my needle gummed up and the thread broke constantly. I finally gave up, the tried to finish is a year later and the fusible was not a problem at all! Too bad you can't wait for the fusible to age! Is your needle getting sticky? You can clean it with alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharonarooni Posted June 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2015 Thank you all! My needle isn't gumming up, and the thread is not breaking at all now. Just a few stitches missed here and there. I'm just going slow as Christmas like Charlotte suggests. It gets more wobbly that way, but it is the only option. I'm trying a larger needle tomorrow. Whew! Sharon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I'd try sewers aid and a bigger needle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zora Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Sometimes the best thing to do is admit we can't do something. I recently returned such a project to a customer. She should have anchored these pieces on her domestic machine. I will never accept another project of this type...ever. Too much time and too much trouble..and too much stress over the results. No other profession is expected to do the impossible. Why should we? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diane c Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I'm with Lynn on this one. When I get a project like this, I tell them I won't be stitching down the applique. I'll do the background, borders, etc., but I won't be the stitching through the fusible. We can set our own boundaries. The longer I've been doing this, the easier it is to say "no" to some requests. I'm making more boundaries too! Diane in MN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cagey Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 While I can understand the glue from the fusible backing sticking to the needle as the heat builds up, I do not understand why you would not be able to adjust your machine to work with the backing. I recently used multiple layers of fusible backing, along with one layer of embroidery cutaway stabilizer, and another layer of wash-away stabilizer. The whole things was starched into a board like layer. While I did stitch around the outside edges of the appliqué with my DSM, my George had no problem powering through the layers and the stitch quality was fine after tweaking the tension. I found this on the APQS Blog; Fusible interfacing and quiltsAugust 22, 2012 Fusible interfacing has transitioned from a staple in sewing rooms to a valuable tool for many quilters. Interfacing is often confused with "stabilizer" when quilters talk about special techniques such as thread play. However, stabilizer is meant to be removed from most quilting applications (unlike some embroidery applications, where the stabilizer remains in a garment). Fusible interfacing does stabilize the fabric to which it is applied, but it remains attached even when the project is finished. Lamé fabrics and silk fabrics are often backed with lightweight fusible interfacing to give them body and prevent excessive raveling. Appliqué can be accomplished more quickly using interfacing as well. To appliqué with fusible interfacing, cut out the shape from both the main fabric and fusible interfacing, adding a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Place the right side of the fabric and the fusible side of the interfacing together. Pin and sew around the shape, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance and leaving an opening for turning. Clip curves and trim corners as necessary to reduce bulk on the finished design. Turn the appliqué right side out, then finger press the unsewn seam allowances inside. Don't iron the appliqué yet or you'll activate the fusible material and have a patch stuck to your ironing board! If needed, use a point turner or stiletto to carefully push out corners or small areas that aren't quite flat. Position the appliqué in place with the interfacing side down on your background. Lightly press, holding the iron in each spot only 3-4 seconds. Finally, Stitch the appliqué in place by hand or machine. When quilting through interfacing, some residue may build up on your needle. As you quilt, your needle gets hot from the friction of entering all the quilt layers, and can sometimes get hot enough to melt the adhesive on the fusible interfacing. This clings to the needle and can make it feel "gummy" or can transfer unwanted glue to other areas of your quilt. Clean the needle with rubbing alcohol to cut through any residue. Slow down to keep the needle cool, and try adding a bit of liquid silicone to your thread to keep it cool (Sewer's Aid is one brand available in the notions department). T-shirt quilts are usually backed with interfacing to stabilize the knit fabric. Use the same advice to prevent sticky build up on your needle, and be aware that needle heat can also "melt" some of the vinyl lettering on T-shirts and transfer it to other areas of the shirt. For example, you might quilt across a dark green vinyl name on a shirt, and carry some of that green color as little dots to other areas of the shirt. Either quilt around these areas, or move slowly through them and wipe your needle before moving to another area of the quilt. Checking online, it appears they do make and sell non-sewable fusible backing; Be sure to purchase a SEWABLE fusible adhesive if you’re going to be sewing because a non sewable kind will gum up your needle.Though even then, it sounds like that would only gum up the needle, and make it feel like the machine is binding slightly. Tension adjustments would seem to fix everything else. Cagey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 I had a quilt earlier this year that had appliqued owls from Curtain fabric with a very stiff fusible behind them. Doable but I had to keep cleaning the eye of my needle with alcohol to get rid of the gunk! I use a 4.0 needle for everything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharonarooni Posted June 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 Cagey, This is a customer quilt. I only needle turn my own appliqué so I don't run into the problem on my own quilts. It is an interesting article, though. Everyone who has answered, Thanks so much for all of your suggesestions. The problem was not the needle gumming up . The problem is the fusible being so thick that the needle flex is the problem. A larger needle and a super slow hand is doing the trick. I will post some pics when I finish. Thanks again! Sharon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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