How to Attach Foam Interfacing (the correct way)!

[@annakitty7983]

I followed your instructions and my Christmas tote came out perfect, no wrinkles. Thank you!

[@itsmelaura1533]

This video popped up in my suggestion feed. I have a whole roll of fusible foam interfacing way back in my closet because I hated the way my purses looked after completed with that foam! I am going to dig it out and give your method a try. Thank you!

[@sleebyhollow]

This popped up right as I was cutting foam for a bag and this is a much better solution than the quilting I was going to do! I hate using foam so hopefully this will help change my mind

[@fiercekittenz]

I hate it too. It's definitely not my preferred interfacing, but I was using a lot of it making some Convention Raiders recently. It really does provide good structure to larger bag panels without it being too difficult to sew and flip right-side-out.

[@deweyforever]

Thanks so much for this! Looking forward to wrinkle-free bags!!

[@jackyf3505]

I used 5mm foam in my second bag and used zigzag but the 3-step zigzag, like the number 6 on your machine. It creates a nice even graduation to the foam so there's less volume butting up inside the seam allowances. I've loved that stitch for ever and use it for just about all zz applications.

[@fiercekittenz]

OH I like that!

[@cvgsunset5844]

@@jackyf3505 Thank you for this suggestion! I didn’t even know about that stitch but I just tried it and it works so well! 😄

[@evelynwald9132]

Wow that was a jam packed 2 minutes of really useful information. Thank you so much!

[@fiercekittenz]

You're welcome! I'm trying SO HARD to make my videos less rambly and just get to the point. My older videos are a lot of jibber jabber.

[@evelynwald9132]

@@fiercekittenz You did a great job here. I can only imagine how difficult it must be when you have a lot of knowledge to share to try to streamline things, especially so a beginner can understand as well as someone like me who grew up sewing in a household where sewing was as common as cooking.

[@m_martha_e]

Useful and concise! I’ll be experimenting with foam for the first time tomorrow. I’ve been avoiding it because I was worried about bulk in the seams. I suppose the zigzag stitches also compress the foam. Off to get my neglected domestic machine and zigzag away 👍🏾

[@fiercekittenz]

Yup yup! The zig zag really pinches it down so it isn't all floofy in the seam. It's not thick stuff in reality - all air - but if it isn't compressed and left in the seam it'll be hard for that seam to look right when flipped right side out.

[@stacymcintyre1796]

Maaannnnnn (whiny voice) I thought I was all set to start making massive numbers of bags, now I've got yet another thing to buy! LOL Seriously, I'm glad you made this video, the iron-on interfacing always peels up when I'm ready to sew. It's so frustrating! Plus it wrinkles badly and doesn't look great even after ironing the finished item. I'm crossing my fingers that this is the solution. Thank you!

[@fuzzzyyellow]

Helpful and hilarious! Love your commentary, and it's just what I needed to know. Thank you.

[@PeggyH2830]

Wow thx for the tip, this worked perfectly and the timing great just sewing with foam for the first time today !

[@kimmcalister3594]

Thank you for this! I have heard so many horror stories about foam, I have been hesitant to use it. Will give it a try!

[@VeronicaSlz]

Great tips!! Thanks for the awesome video as always!!

[@karamelArtsAtelier]

Excellent tip

[@Marlahanna]

Thank you!

[@RobinLeBlanc-d4f]

You are awesome! Thank you!

[@ltyrell405]

I only use the fusible foam when not turning through, and use a steam generator iron to really adhere it well :)

[@shirleytrusler3208]

I glue my sponge to leather with contact adhesive. yes it is more costly and time consuming but the end result is a beautiful.

[@LedgerAndLace]

GENIUS!!! 🙂

[@peyton-a-lee]

Perfect timing, I'm literally in the process of planning out a bag design with the foam interfacing I have! I did have a question; do you recommend cutting the foam and/or woven interfacing smaller than your main fabrics (so it doesn't end add bulk to the seam allowance) or do you cut them all to the same size? I'm planning on binding the edges of the bag so I didn't know if bulk was still a concern. Thanks!

[@fiercekittenz]

NOPE! I cut it all to the same size, otherwise the fabric at the seams isn't reinforced and can make things look really floppy.

[@D9P323]

​@@fiercekittenzso do you cut all your fabrics and interfaces the same size as the pattern calls for THEN zigzag the foam on to the exterior?

[@michelleapril]

@@D9P323 Yes that's right.

[@koalasez1200]

Perfect!! Found you courtesy of notches 😊

[@kasiako355]

Thank you! 💖

[@suebaillie3926]

Ok…..so, if I’m making a vinyl tote, are you saying I add the sf101 then do the zigzag of the foam to it? OR are you saying the foam is only attached to the cotton lining. Thank you….love your videos!

[@fiercekittenz]

Yes, add SF101 to reinforce the vinyl (it will stretch, or worse - rip when flipping/birthing), THEN zig-zag the foam to it. Only caveat is I probably wouldn't fuss with reinforcing with SF101 if the vinyl were marine vinyl and had the fabric backing to it. If it's one of the softer vinyls from customs groups, yeaaaah... you need a woven interfacing on it.

[@D9P323]

Wait Shape flex first THEN zigzag on the foam? 😮 Not a fan of foam but to zigzag and NOT have to quilt across it sounds much better, time wise.......I need to make a bunch of bags so this is perfect timing! What seam allowances do you use for foam and needle and what are the best dimensions for a bag with foam? Proper sizes are trouble for me here

[@fiercekittenz]

Usually I just keep to a 3/8 - 1/2" seam allowance or whatever the pattern calls for. I don't normally use foam until the bag gets over 10" tall or wide and needs to have structure, but I'm not using something like vinyl.

[@mnharlan7662]

So if I happen to have a bunch of the adhesive foam interfacing, could I do the same thing and just pretend there is no adhesive?

[@fiercekittenz]

YUP!

[@SewSeatheWorld]

The zigzag machine comment got me 😂 I have so many straight stitch machines and only one that can zigzag. At least I have one 🤣🤣🤣

[@tamradickinson9699]

What brand is your purple cutting mat? I like the color and the size.

[@pebbles7035]

You're an absolute geniuuuus!!!!! 🤗😁

[@dcwatashi]

Don’t forget there are a lot of us that have sergers. My Juki sits out and so does my baby lock victory, but my domestic machine sits next to my crafting table on the floor and sometimes I’m just too lazy to swap out the domestic for the baby lock 😂😂

[@fiercekittenz]

I have a Baby Lock Triumph right behind me too! Love the darn thing, but I figured a video on using zig-zag would have been more accessible for your typical sewist.

[@D9P323]

​@@fiercekittenzyou had me at ❤Babylock❤ triumph❤ If you do serger tutorial videos I'm SO watching.

[@mariefritz1]

Okay this is genius I usually just sit there cussing that it won't fuse lol

[@fiercekittenz]

ROFL RIGHT???

[@antoinettemitchell2888]

tyfs great solution

[@patanco13]

That makes sense.......and now why did that not occur to me 50 years ago? LOL

[@katharinemurphy9369]

Any tips for if we're cutting foam out of the seam allowance altogether (machine capability constraints) so can't really do a zig zag?

[@fiercekittenz]

You could pin or clip back the fabric to get it out of the way, then just carefully cut away the foam. Another commentor said they can't do zig-zag so they just stitch it down 1/8" away from the edge to compress and attach it to the fabric. If you go that route, you'll just want to press with a stiletto/pencil/point turner as you feed it through the machine so it doesn't move it around on you.

[@jackyf3505]

I've seen in UK groups people using 1" wide strips of interfacing to fuse the edges overlapping onto the seam allowance. A lighter weight type should be effective without adding any noticeable extra thickness when sewing the seam. Typically the bags I've made since then haven't required foam, of course!

[@glennabroughton6667]

Thank u

[@danielploszkiewicz1058]

Which woven interfacing do you recommend? I haven’t found one I like yet, but it’s entirely possible I’m not using the right product!

[@fiercekittenz]

I've used Pellon Shapeflex 101 (aka SF101), DulceFuse Light, and SewFuse Light. They're all pretty good, but the DulceFuse Light is my fave.

[@valeriehofmann2615]

What foam are you using?

[@fiercekittenz]

This is specifically Pellon Flexfoam.

[@valeriehofmann2615]

@@fiercekittenz is it fusible? I cant find the non fusible by the yard. What number is the non fusible?

[@fiercekittenz]

@@valeriehofmann2615 I don't use the fusible kind. It doesn't fuse evenly and causes a lot of wrinkling, hence the video covering how to zig zag it to the edge and not use fusible. I don't know the number off hand. It's called "Flexfoam."

[@Puppy52]

Off topic, love your blouse😍😂

[@fiercekittenz]

Thank you!!! Stitch Fix :) I get a lot of my biz-casual stuff through that service. Been using them since the panini in 2020. It's kind of like a surprise treat every 4-5 months or so.

[@kumada84]

Princess Saturn 👀

[@fiercekittenz]

Yeeeeees? :)

[@FleurdeLinda.Stitches]

I straight stitch the foam 1/8 from the edge.

[@fiercekittenz]

Do you find it compresses it enough for you? A lot of bag patterns have 3/8 - 1/2" seam allowances, so if you trim that 1/8" down you get the floof in the seam back.