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May 18, 2011

Laminate Sewing Tips

The picnic quilt from the last post was backed with laminate.  Some of you have asked about sewing laminates and I have put together my suggestions for working with the substrate.  This was my first experience sewing with laminates and I was apprehensive.  However, most of that anxiety was misplaced.  Here are the "rules" when working with laminates:
  1. Keep pins in the seam allowance.  Holes are permanent.  
  2. Where possible, use binding clips, paper clips or even bobby pins to keep two pieces joined together while you stitch.  None of these tools will leave holes.  And there will be times when you won't have a seam allowance to hide the pins in--topstitching, edgestitching, etc.
  3. Do NOT iron the laminated side.  You will ruin your project, gunk up your iron and be tempted to utter some very unpleasant words. 
  4. Use your walking foot.  This makes all the difference.  If you do not have a walking foot, you can put painter's tape on the bottom of your sewing machine foot.  Painter's tape will not leave residue on the foot.
Keep in mind that every stitch is a hole in the laminate.  Too many holes and the water resistance is compromised.  For this quilt, I "pre-quilted" the quilt top.  A muslin backing, thin batting and the pieced top made up the quilt sandwich.  After pre-quilting, I attached the laminate to the top.  I used two lines down and two lines across--just enough to secure it.  Wrapping the backing to the front to create the binding added extra stability between the two as well.

Perhaps the most important thing when working with laminates, especially if it's your first attempt, is to be patient.  Don't rush.  Go slowly and take a break if you start to become frustrated by the way the fabric wants to stick to your machine, the wall, your table.  (In the throes of this task I described it as being akin to wrestling baby alligators. A bit of hyperbole but you get the idea of why I recommend patience.) A Time Out just might save you from making a mistake.

That's it.  The rest is up to you.  Get up the nerve and go for it.  
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3 comments:

  1. RachaeldaisyMay 18, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    What a brilliant post, lots of things that hadn't occurred to me. Bobby pins is genius! The image of it sticking to everything sounds like a trial, wrestling baby alligators seems to be the right description! Your best tip of all is to be patient, it's good to be reminded to slow down a little in our busy lives.

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  2. Sew Pretty DressesMay 19, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Great tips! I have another laminate project. I am glad you pointed out using a walking foot since I forgot to do that the first time around.

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  3. The Muse of The DayMay 20, 2011 at 5:10 AM

    Secrets revealed- I like that, especially if I am going to attempt that laminate thing. I have been wanting to make a seat (with a back) that gets used on the ground. I wanted it pretty, but new moisture and dirt would be a problem. Laminate to the rescue. My favorite tip? Do all the un & funky quilting using a muslin backing, and then, when adding the laminate backing quilt only enough to keep all the layers joined- brilliant! Carolina

    PS- you get the award for being able to read that very L-O-N-G post of mine. I didn't think that, at the sight of it's length, anyone would attempt it. it means a lot to me that you read it. I will spring for the cappuccinos when we meet.

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