Lets Talk Interfacing...

Interfacings can be puzzling. Why do you use them, how to you use them and which one do you pick? So I set out to pick the brains of the quite knowledgeable Waechterettes.

French Fuse

It's the long standing joke that if you ask us all the same question you'll get 8 different answers. Because sewing is an art as well as a skill, all of our answers reflect what we love to sew and the way we inject our style into our skill.

Here's what was said:



Judith -our resident perfectionist: I've never found a fusible that doesn't bubble a little. Bubbling interfacing drives me crazy so I prefer to use silk organza. Pre-Shrink it, we always carry black and white in the store. There is virtually no weight added and I find it to be the perfect amount of stabilizing for most projects. It is very important to use interfacing for fabrics that may stretch out of shape.



Elizabeth -our detail maven: Honestly, I use sew-ins and one main reason is because I have a junky iron and have had problems with fusibles moving around after completing a garment. I use the light weight and medium sew-ins and love them. Basting the interfacings in means that they won't move around. I will admit that I tried my hand at the fusible cotton lawn on a organdy shirt and it receives high, high marks because it provided enough weight while still maintaining the transparency.



Elaine -quilter and tailor: I use a woven fusible or French Fuse for cotton garments. I love the weight of a fusible for waistbands. Of course, if I'm doing tailoring I use the old fallback: Hair Canvas. Waechter's has a fusible Hair Canvas that is great.



Karen -artist and free spirit: French Fuse all the way. Use it on light weight sewing projects, linen, rayon, and even on some silk. It's fast, quick and easy.



Laura Casey -color and coordinating genius, purse queen: French Fuse for dressmaking. I always have 3 yards of it in my sewing studio in both black and white. It's easy and adds no weight to a fabric. I like the fusible because it allows me to just deal with the one piece of fabric after it's been ironed on. Of course, I prefer a heavier interfacing for purse making, but it has to be iron on no matter what. Quick and easy.



Linda -technique guru: I use batiste cotton or organza. I will use 505 spray to temporarily attach it. I use those interfacings so that it won't add heft to a fabric. Use interfacing to give a piece body or support.



Sarahbeth -wild child: I love a good shirt. There's nothing better than a men's shirt made with feminine wiles, but I can't stand a droopy collar. The crisper the better. Sew in wovens give firm support. Also - I love a lightweight knit. There is a fusible nude color tricot interfacing that is to die for use it on featherweight knits.



Joyce -our heirloom sewing queen: I love the fusible cotton lawn. Use it on voile, liberty and other lightweight cottons. It has a wonderful weight and drape. Perfect for heirloom sewing and lightweight pretty things.



Find all of these interfacings on our interfacing page at http://www.waechters.com/