Thread: Fusible interfacing and assuit

I think I just found a pretty good way to deal with moderately damaged assuit: Sheer knit specialty apparel fusible interfacing. It's a slightly stretchy, thin mesh, available in black and white. I got it to fix fraying recycled sari fabrics, but just used it to fix a small hole in an assuit dress. I am really happy with the outcome. It is of course a little bit stiff, but not too much and virtually invisible.

That is good to know. I wonder if you can dye the white? I have some colored assiut that could use some help.

oooh nice tip! thanks!

I don't think one can dye that interfacing because it has the iron-on glue on one side and its stiffness makes ironing practical. I'd either try a fabric marker (available at JoAnn) or paint-on dye (not always available at JoAnn, but at some art stores). Actually, I'd think that even a sharpie could do the trick.

Originally Posted by steffib

I don't think one can dye that interfacing because it has the iron-on glue on one side and its stiffness makes ironing practical. I'd either try a fabric marker (available at JoAnn) or paint-on dye (not always available at JoAnn, but at some art stores). Actually, I'd think that even a sharpie could do the trick.

Yeah, that might work since the pieces are going to be so small. I have fabric markers. Thanks for the tip.

Originally Posted by steffib

I'd either try a fabric marker (available at JoAnn) or paint-on dye (not always available at JoAnn, but at some art stores). Actually, I'd think that even a sharpie could do the trick.

I've never had good luck with Sharpies on fabric. They sometimes leave a residue that can stand out with an orangish, oily sheen in certain lighting conditions. If you can find markers specifically for fabric painting, this will probably give the best results.

Also, if you think there is a chance that you have modern faux assuit with plastic threads instead of real assuit with metal threads, the fusible-patch method may not work. An iron that is hot enough to melt the fusible adhesive may also be hot enough to melt the plastic embellishing threads. Test the heated iron in an inconspicuous spot first, and if things start getting melty, then you'd be looking at using some sort of cold-glue method (no reason why a small piece of reinforcing fabric attached with a stingy application of flexible fabric glue couldn't accomplish the same job), or old-fashioned thread darning.

Oh, good point: for anything that has really low melting point materials, it is probably a good idea to keep even a low-heat iron far away - I'd hate to cause anybody to melt their favorite costume item into a piece of stinking, shrivelled-up plastic ;-)

My guess is that the interfacing should work even for most man-made fabrics, the material itself seems to be a kind of polyester. And, the fusing involves not so much heat, but rather steam, one needs to use a wet cloth between iron and the interfacing and keep the iron moving - without the cloth being wet, there is not much fusing happening, and most of it is not to the target piece (I tried by mistake).