A Clean Iron

Today’s tip comes to you courtesy of Sara Lawson, author of popular sewing blog Sew Sweetness, and a very talented Pellon Projects™ Designer. Thanks so much Sara!!

Hey everyone! I looked at my iron this morning and it seriously looked like it was caked in mud. I’d say about a 1/4 of it was brown. Yuck. Who wants to use something like that to iron your gorgeous fabrics and prized projects? I had to do something! I came up with a great solution and thought it’d be worth sharing with all of you.

For a clean iron:

— Add equal parts baking soda and salt to water to form a paste.
— Apply the paste to a damp washcloth and use it to scrub your iron. The baking soda provides cleaning powers while the salt serves as what you might call an exfolient for your iron;).
— Create a vinegar/water solution and use it to clean the plate. This helps to remove any baking soda that got caked into the little holes in your iron plate.
— Use a magic eraser to polish the plate and make it look shiny again.
— Stand back and admire! Your iron should look as good as new!

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Planning to give this one a try? We’d love to see your before and after shots! Send them to erin @ pellon.

Interfacings & T-Shirt Quilts

What Product Do You Recommend for a T-Shirt Quilt?

This is a question that has come across our desk more than a few times. T-shirt quilts seem to be rising in popularity and with good reason. They are an excellent way to preserve memories, while finding new uses for old and well-loved tees. We fully understand that creating a t-shirt quilt can often be a delicate process. The t-shirts are precious and you want to make sure that it’s done right the first time! We shot the question out to our interfacing expert to grab the best info for you.

Like many other questions, this one does not have only one answer.

•  Pellon® 820 Quilter’s Grid™ and 821 Quilter’s Grid™ On-Point are natural choices for constructing a T-Shirt quilt. The interfacing has grid lines that help with layout and construction and is often preferred by beginners.
• Traditional apparel products such as 906F Pellon® Fusible Sheerweight, 911FF Pellon® Fusible Featherweight and 931TD Pellon® Fusible Midweight are also excellent choices. Those who prefer a lighter hand will opt for the 906F while those who favor a more supple feel will select the 931T.  Keep in mind that all three of these products have some stretch in them, so if your goal is complete stability, they might not be the right choice for you.
• For a more stable option, the Pellon® 950F ShirTailor® Fusible is the way to go. It was originally intended for shirt collars and cuffs, but many appreciate the firmness and stability that it gives to a T-Shirt quilt.

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Looking to make your very own T-Shirt quilt, but not quite sure where to start? Check out our handy tutorial, courtesy of Nancy Wygle, right here on our website.

[quilt by Nancy Wygle]

Need a little extra inspiration? Why not start here:

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

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Happy Quilting!

Which Side Is Fusible?

This is actually a Wednesday tip, masquerading as a Tuesday tip;). But, aren’t tips great any day of the week? As always, this wisdom is courtesy of our interfacing expert — you know, the one who knows everything that there is to know about interfacing? Yep. She’s awesome. Have a question for her? Ask it! Just click here.

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Have you ever wondered which side of the interfacing is the fusible side? We get it… you’re somewhat new to interfacing (I was, too!!) and it’s confusing. Rather than play the guessing game and risk fusing your interfacing to your ironing board in place of the fabric, take a peek at our helpful hints.

1 — Generally speaking, the fusible side is usually the rough or shiny side of the interfacing.

2 — Most Pellon® fusibles have an adhesive dot on them. While a little difficult to see on the white products, you can normally feel them. Run your fingers over both sides of the interfacing. The side that feels a little rough, or raised, is the fusible side.
 
ex: 987F Fusible Fleece has a pronounced fusible side. The image on the left is the non-fusible side. The image on the right shows the fusible side. Note the little ‘dots’ that are clearly visible!

3 — There are a few products — ES114 Easy-Shaper® & 80 Craft-Fuse® — that have a spray adhesive rather than an adhesive dot. In these cases, the fusible side will appear shiny, rather than feeling rough or bumpy. If in doubt, cut a small piece of the interfacing and fuse it in between two layers of fabric or even a paper towel. This will help to confirm which side is fusible.

4 — A notable exception is the new Fuse-N-Tear™ Embroidery Backing. For this product, the fusible side is the smooth side.

5 —If, after reading everything above, you still have doubts, email us for a helping hand!

Happy Wednesday!!

Interfacing Organization

And, we’re back! Since our fab little Pellon 101 series has come to a close, we’re returning to our regularly scheduled Tuesday Tips. We’ll be bringing you sage advice from our Pellon® experts and tips from some of your favorite Pellon Projects™ designers. Have something you’re curious about, or need help with a project? Email us and we may just post the answer here!

Problem:
“I am a total ‘Pack Rat’ when it comes to my sewing supplies. Sometimes, when I go to grab a particular interfacing, all I can find are unmarked samples with no instructions.”

Solution:
Keeping your interfacing stash organized is just as important as a tidy fabric stash and our interfacing expert is here to help! When purchasing a new type of interfacing, make sure to get a complete copy of the product interleafing (instructions that should come free with your purchase.) Many Pellon® products can be easily folded. Fold into a neat square that will fit into a 1 gallon-sized zip lock bag, then fold the corresponding interleafing so that the name and style # of the product are visible. Place both inside the bag with the interleafing in front. The bag can then be filed into a box (check out these storage boxes) or file drawer for future use. If you want to get really organized and you have the time, take it one step further and section your items by segment (see our Pellon 101 printables post).

If you have Pellon® products that shouldn’t be folded (or you’d simply prefer not to fold them), roll them up and stow them inside a cardboard tube. (hint: Try using an old wrapping paper tube, a paper towel roll, or even a toilet paper roll!) Simply write the name of the product on the outside of the tube and you’re ready to go!

To get even craftier, why not make custom labels for the outside of your bags or tubes? We’ve created a few simple labels just for you. Click the images below to download, or create your own!

 

 

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Enjoy!!

:: Pellon 101 — The Printables ::

Just in the nick of time!! I promised you a printable on Thursday and a printable on Thursday, you shall have!! I decided to break it up into sections, so if you’re just looking for one particular segment, you can download that directly rather than going for the full shebang;). Please email me if you have any difficulty with the files.

So… Click. Download. Print. Post. Enjoy.

As always, if you have any questions about a particular product, or if you’re looking for where to buy a product online, please just let us know. Happy Crafting!!

PELLON 101 — The Printables

Pellon101GuidePrintable  [33.3MB] — (or click here to download via dropbox)

Pellon101-Apparel [8.9MB] — (or click here to download via dropbox)

Pellon101-Crafts&HomeDecor [6.5MB] — (or click here to download via dropbox)

Pellon101-Quilting [9.3MB] — (or click here to download via dropbox)

Pellon101-FusibleWebs&Adhesives [4.3MB] — (or click here to download via dropbox)

Pellon101-Embroidery [5.5MB] — (or click here to download via dropbox)

:: Pellon 101 — Part 8 ::

Woo hoo! We made it! You’ve been a dedicated crew, checking in week after week to learn all about what Pellon® has to offer. We’ve made it through all of the segments and have come to our fabulous line of batting, officially the Legacy™ by Pellon® line. I’ve been looking forward to this one as many of you may not have even know that we produce batting. Well, we do! We began introducing the line just 3 years ago and have been working hard to build exposure ever since. There is quite a variety and I’m happy to say, we’ve been getting tremendously positive feedback. Take a peek, head on out to your local independent quilt shop or Long Arm quilter and grab your favorite for your next quilt!

Depending on the type, our batting is offered both by-the-yard and in a variety of convenient packaged sizes including Crib, Throw, Twin, Queen & King. Ask your local quilt shop for more details, or contact us here with questions You can learn more about the different types of batting on our website.

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For your very own, extremely handy, eye-catching and fabulous Pellon® Products pdf download, please check back on Thursday. We’re still finalizing and want it to be just right, just for you!

:: Pellon 101 — Part 7 ::

This week, we take a step into the world of embroidery. I know what you’re thinking… isn’t that a little old fashioned? Heck no! Embroidery is all the rage these days and takes so many different forms. Don’t believe me? Take a peek at our Stitches & Embroidery Pinterest Board. Embroidery can be hand-stitched or done by machine and adds a special touch to any project. With such a wide range of embroidery styles, you’ll need a wide range of stabilizers to keep you on track. Thankfully, Pellon® has you covered.

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EMBROIDERY
Embroidery backings and toppings are used to stabilize fabric during machine and hand embroidery to avoid stretching and distortion. There are several types of embroidery stabilizers to go along with different fabric types and projects.

Tear Away
These products help to prevent distortion and avoid stretching while stitching. Use more layers for custom levels of stability. The excess stabilizer easily tears away, leaving no sticky residue. Available in both iron-on and sew-in varieties.

Cut Away
A product that provides continued stabilization that remains with fabric to prevent stretching or sagging stitches. Fast cut away removal.

Wash Away
Products that stabilize embroidery materials to avoid pulls or distortion while stitching. All products feature an easy wash away removal for no-show stabilization.

AND… as promised… Next week we’ll take a closer look at our wide range of Legacy™ by Pellon® Battings. You’ll also be given access to a very handy, downloadable pdf featuring all of the info we’ve presented in Pellon 101. Don’t you just love Summer??

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Interested in trying a few of these products out? We’re running our MONDAY MADNESS GIVEAWAY through midnight on Monday, July 7th. Prize pack includes one product from each segment. Click HERE for more details and to enter-to-win!

For a little modern embroidery inspiration, check out these fabulous designers!
Sarah Jane Studios
Imagine Gnats
Wild Olive
Too Crewel
Little Deer Tracks
Clover & Violet
Lunch Box Quilts

:: Pellon 101 – Part 6 ::

This week we take a peek at Fusible Webs & Adhesives, the fabulous segment that brings us to the irresistible 805 Wonder-Under®. Seriously, how many fabulous-shirts, art quilts, play mats, etc… have you created using Wonder-Under®. Did you know that it was first introduced back in 1988? That’s 24 years of magic;).

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FUSIBLE WEBS & ADHESIVES
Fusible Webs feature a  steam heat-activated glue that will fuse fabric to fabric or any other porous surface such as cardboard or wood.  The bond created between the two surfaces allows for an easy, no-sew finish. New to the line are Pellon®’s laminates which are designed to offer a protective finish.

Paper-backed
Webs with a paper backing that can peeled off after initial fusing to reveal a second fusible side.

No Backing
Webs that have no backing and must be fused on both sides at once.

Laminates
Provides a protective finish to fabrics. Used for accessories, apparel and craft & home décor projects.

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Next week we’ll take a look at our final segment, Embroidery! In the meantime, we’d love to see some examples of what you’re creating with all of these products. Post what you make to our Facebook page:).

** Psssst. Thought you might like to know that at the end of this series, we’ll offer a free downloadable print out with all the information you’ll need to select the right Pellon® products for your projects!

:: Pellon 101 — Part 5 ::

Continuing the Pellon 101 series, this week we address quilting!

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QUILTING
The products included in this segment are those that are used to assist in the design of a quilt or to add weight or warmth to the final quilted project.

Fleece
These products are typically used in crafting and small quilting projects and often have special qualities like fusible adhesive or insulation.

Quilting Aids
A range of products designed to help quilters achieve better quality finished quilts in a more efficient manner.

Batting
Used in quilting and quilting projects. Available in a variety of fiber contents and thicknesses. [note: As mentioned in last week’s post, we’ll dedicate a separate section to our extensive line of battings at the end of this series!]

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Next week we’ll focus on Fusible Webs & Adhesives.

** Psssst. Thought you might like to know that at the end of this series, we’ll offer a free downloadable print out with all the information you’ll need to select the right Pellon® products for your projects!

:: Pellon 101 — Part 4 ::

If you’ve been following along, you know we’re on to segment #2 this week: Crafts & Home Décor! If you’re just joining us, you can catch up on what you’ve missed right here.

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CRAFTS & HOME DÉCOR
Just as with apparel, it is extremely important to use the right stabilizer in craft and home decorating projects. This range of products lends itself to a diverse range of projects, including children’s toys, mixed media collages, scrap-booking and so much more. They are intended to strengthen and stabilize as well as aid and add to the design process in some way. The three major categories are: Stabilizers, Tracing Cloths and Mixed Media.

Stabilizers
For basic crafts, accessories and home décor projects.  Generally easy to use.

Tracing Cloths
Non-interfacing materials used in garment or craft patterning and creation.

Mixed Media
Spun bonded polyester sew-ins for crafting, sewing, quilting and fiber arts.

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Next week we’ll jump in to the non-batting area of Quilting. (We’ll do a separate series on the Legacy™ by Pellon® batting after the Pellon 101 series is complete!) Until then, enjoy the last days of Spring!

** Psssst. Thought you might like to know that at the end of this series, we’ll offer a free downloadable print out with all the information you’ll need to select the right Pellon® products for your projects!