Today we're bringing you a very simple post to help you apply a new technique to your projects and crafts. We're going to see how to waterproof fabric with a material we just added to our store, opening up a whole new world of possibilities. Its name is Fliselina Lamifix Vlieseline, and it's here to make life a little easier.
Its main feature, and the one that interests us most, is that it can waterproof fabric while keeping it flexible, so the fabric doesn't become stiff and retains a pleasant feel that allows us to work with it.
Let's see how to use it!
How to waterproof fabric with the interfacing.
When you have the interfacing in your hands, you can clearly see that one side is shiny and has a very smooth texture, while the other side is matte and has a satin-like feel. This matte side is the one we apply to the fabric because it's the one with the “glue,” so to speak.
The interfacing is a heat-adhesive material that sticks with heat. And as you already know, that means we'll use an iron to attach it. But we won't place the iron directly on it; instead, we'll put a dry cloth on top and iron over it.
The process would be as follows:
1. Cut the fabric you're going to use, and cut the interfacing in the same shape, but slightly larger, so there is a small excess and it's easier to position.
If it's too close-fitting, it may move around and not turn out well. The fabric you're going to laminate should be completely smooth and ironed. It's also a good idea to make sure the interfacing is lint-free by wiping it with a microfiber cloth or something that doesn't leave any residue.
Another way to do it would be to iron the entire sheet of interfacing directly onto the piece of fabric you're going to use before cutting, but that wastes more interfacing.
2. Position the piece of interfacing over the piece of fabric and iron gently (without steam), selecting a delicate setting on the iron, such as wool or silk. One trick to keep the small excess edge from sticking to the surface underneath while you iron is to place parchment paper under the fabric.
3. Once this first gentle ironing is complete, trim the excess interfacing from the edges.
4. Now we're going to iron it again, but with more heat. Turn the iron up to medium temperature, place the “intermediate” cloth over the treated fabric, and hold the heat in place for about 8 seconds. You can leave it a little longer to make sure it stays firmly attached.
And that's it! The fabric is now perfectly laminated and waterproof.
This technique is very useful for fabrics that are highly likely to get stained, such as table mats or aprons, for example; or for items that will hold liquids and creams, such as toiletry bags, to prevent a spill from turning into a disaster. Just look at how great our toiletry bag turned out!
It also gives our projects a different, shiny texture, with a very pretty vinyl-like appearance. So now it's time to experiment and see what ideas you come up with to get the most out of the interfacing, both for waterproofing fabric and for playing with its new look.
Get yours from our store and… iron awaaay!
To make it even easier for you, here's a video tutorial made in Lulú where you can see how to laminate the fabric and work with it to make this very practical and, above all, sooo beautiful toiletry bag. Enjoy!