Removing Fused Appliques

by Tess
(Clearfield, Utah)

I used a heavy fusible on a quilt and it is just very very stiff. I am so unhappy with the result. Is there away to remove the appliques and start over?

Reply

I am unaware of a sure-fire way to remove a piece once it's been fused to a quilt.

That said, I do know that if you press the be-jeebers (a very descriptive quilting term! :) ) that you can literally destroy/evaporate the fusible web. You'll often see this warning on the package..."don't press too long!".

If the quilt makes you terribly unhappy because of the stiffness and you're willing to take the risk, you could try that.

HOWEVER it is imperative that you use a press cloth to protect the fabric. Otherwise you run the risk of scorching it and that can't be fixed. I also recommend pressing at something less than the highest 'nuclear fusion' setting. It will take awhile, and again, you don't want to scorch your quilt top.

CAUTION: IF you've used a polyester batting, I wouldn't attempt this at all. The polyester fibers are going to soften and flatten if they are pressed for any length of time.

If you are able to remove this patch, try the windowing technique with your fusible web to eliminate the stiff, but still have a sturdy quilt for cuddling.

Readers, do you know of a way to remove a fused applique shape from a quilt. Have you tried it? Please share your experiences using the 'comments' link found just below.

Thank you.

Piecefully,

Julie Baird
Editor

This article was printed from Generations-Quilt-Patterns.com