janRN

I made a small wall hanging and used Fusible Batting for the first time. I found it difficult to use even on a small quilt; can't imagine getting it fused to a large quilt.
Problem: it's as stiff as a board! I didn't prewash my fabric since it's a wall hanging and won't be laundered very often. Now I'm afraid if I wash it to soften the batting, it will pucker and not be flat. Did I do something wrong that it's so stiff or is this the norm for fusible batting? Any suggestions on what to do? If I wash it in cold water will it pucker?
Thanks for any advice!

MTS

I think the fusible is used with the understanding that it will be washed - it softens right up.
The stiffness is part of its appeal - no shifting of the layers when quilting.
I've used it on lap quilts (~72") and I loved the way it worked out.

If washed now, it shouldn't pucker any more or less than with regular cotton batting - based on if you pre-washed the fabrics - top and backing, the density of your quilting, etc.

Mind you, the puckering I'm talking about it is a little bit of crinkle.
The quilt top will NOT become all distorted if washed, if that was what you were thinking might happen.

Pat625

I used it when making a purse and found the same thing,,,but to make it worse as I worked with the backed fabric, it began to come loose!! My daughter has the purse and when she washed it, it was soft..and the fabrics I used didnt shrink.Is it obvious to someone looking at it that it is stiff?? If not I would just leave it as is

Lori S

When fusible batting first came out I thought it was the answer , and a genious solution to basting... It was way more trouble than it was worth. Now spray basting... that is genious!
As for the stiffness, it will relax once washed. How much shrinkage you will get ... that depends on the fabric you used.

QuiltE

JanRN ... Oh dear ... and I'm hoping this is not the decadron.
I don't know a lot about fusible battings and only used it once in a purse.
I do know that when I was purchasing it, there were different stiffness levels. The stiffest seemed all board like and would let it stand up on end ... which would be nice if you wanted a stand up tote for groceries! Not so otherwise.

Do you have some of the batting left?

My suggestion would be to make a mug rug or placemat, ideally with the same fabrics as your wall hanging. Try to copy it as much as possible ... fabric pieces about the same size as your wall hanging, and quilting about the same distance apart as on the wall hanging. Then wash it and see what happens.

I'm pretty sure it was Tartan that posted recently that she uses fusibles a lot on her bed quilts. So she may have some insights for you.

carslo

I bought as bolt of fusible by mistake and used it for quilts - it does soften but I won't be buying it again as my quilts were too large to iron.

Tartan

I use Hobbs 80/29 fusible batt for a lot of my machine quilting. It does soften up when you wash it as this removes the fusible. I hand agitate my quilts and then spin them. I then put them in the dryer until almost dry. If I want a flat look after washing, I block the quilt out on my spare room carpet on a clean sheet. If you block it until it dries, you will get an almost wrinkless look but softer. In wallhangings I like the stiffer effect so I don't wash those after quilting.

QuiltE

A question about the fusible batting .....
..... after it is washed, does it stay fused?
or does it wash away?

MTS

You mean if you had quilted lines 10" apart, would you be able to pinch apart the quilt sandwich in the unquilted areas?
Yes (as you could with regular batting).

The fusing is just some adhesive-like finish they put on the batting.
You can definitely feel it on the batting right out of the bag.

The same way the Elmer's or 505 would wash out after quilting, so does this "finish."

janRN

I'm still nervous about this LOL. Can I peel it apart? (It's not quilted yet). The pieces are small triangles, lots of bias edges so I'm not sure if I pull it apart maybe it would stretch. It's so hard I'm afraid to quilt it--I think it would break the needle. Maybe I did something wrong--it's not just stiff. It is rock hard like plastic.
Thanks for all the input--you guys are great.