Please Help

[Cathy32078]

Here is my problem: I am putting applique pieces on blocks using Heat N Bond Lite. Then going back as I have time and doing hand stitching around the pieces. Well the Heat & Bond is coming loose and the pieces are barely stuck on! So I got this glue thingy made by Sewline that looks like a Pen and has cool refills. It holds for a short while then it comes loose too!!! Soooo I went and got out the Roxannes glue. It is holding better but not totally. What in the Sam Hill have I done or what in your opinion is wrong?????? I am ready to go get Elmers & try that! LOL It is pathetic! All of the fabric was washed with no fabric softener because I hand washed it all. The only thing I can think of was I did use that Mary Ellens stuff instead of Spray Starch when I ironed it. Could that be the cause of nothing sticking????? I am about to pull my hair out. I have 4 whooping blocks hand stitched out of 20! Not good at this rate.

Thanks for any insight you might have.
Huge Hugs

[auntjana]

Anytime I have used Heat and Bond Lite I have have the same problem - I just re-ironed the pieces back on -with my regular iron or my small portable iron. I do a lot of machine blanket stitch and this seems to work for me.

Hope that this may help

Jana

[Marilynsgrammy]

well this is good for me to know.. I just used heat and bond on the back of my pieces but haven;t ironed them to my block yet.. guess I will Iron a couple, sew a couple...

Is there something better than heat and bond that won't do what Cathy is talking about?

Chriss

[maggiestew]

When this happened to me I found out I was using a WAY to hot of an iron. I was melting the glue off. I started using the setting half way between off and high (have an old iron and it just has numbers) and now I don't have a problem with my applique lifting. This seems to work on both Heat n Bond and Wonder Under. I don't do hand turned applique..I prefer the stick on with machine stitched edges. You might try reironing with a med setting and see what happens.

Maggie

[purrfect-lady]

I've used Steam-a-Seam 2 on a lot of applique's and never had a problem. I usually machine sew the edges afterward with small zigzag with invisible thread. It can be purchased in a package of 8-10 sheets or by the yard. maryz

[Cathy32078]

I very well may have used too hot of an iron with the Heat N Bond Lite. But the Sewline Glue & Roxannes still not sticking throws me for a loop. Makes me wonder if it could be the Mary Ellens Spray stuff I used to iron my fabric with. hmmmm I have used more time trying to get these blasted pieces to stick, than it would take to probably hand stitch the whole quilt top.

Thank You for your replies. I really appreciate it!!!!
Love You ALL

[Joannequilts]

Boy, Cathy, it sounds to me like something on the background fabric is preventing any of the glue from sticking...my guess would be the Mary Ellen's stuff, too. I would think that even a heavy spray starch could prevent the glue from penitrating into the background fabric. Just a thought!

Joanne:0)

[Cathy32078]

Joanne that is what I am just guessing, but it may not be. I really really love Mary Ellens Best Press & buy it by the gallon. I have 3 grandkids quilts to do for Christmas using Heat N Bond (reason for 2 Bolts of it) and I will not use the ME Best Press on the background pieces just in case that might be the culprit. I am soooo determined with these blocks I already have going that I may spend the entire weekend and baste ea. little piece on, just to keep them onto the background until I can get it all handstitched. But if that is what it takes, I'll do it. LOL Determined, stubborn or both, I don't know. I just want this quilt. LOL

Hugs & Love

[cindyg]

I think it is the Heat & Bond residue that is keeping the appliques from sticking. I iron my fabrics with Mary Ellen's BP and have never had a problem with sticking anything to it. On my last binding I use Roxanne's basting glue and as I put on a thin bead of glue I ironed it dry and it stuck perfectly while I hand stitched that binding around a queen size quilt. Let us know what you find that works.

[Evie]

I remember one time having a hard time with the paper backed fusible. Finally realized that it was too old. Bought some new and it worked just fine.