How to sew with HeatnBond Iron-on Vinyl – a tutorial

Happy Friday! I enjoyed sharing several products from the HeatnBond family and showing you how they can make your sewing life sew easy.

Today I’m discussing a really exciting product called HeatnBond Iron-on Vinyl. When I knew I had the opportunity to work with this I was really excited as it can be applied to regular fabric. Just imagine the possibilities with your own stash! Also, you can sew through it easily.

There are so many projects that can be enhanced with vinyl. These projects include: lunch bags, baby bibs, placemats, coasters, luggage tags, pouches, tote bags, beach bags, make up bags, bookmarks, crafts, home decor and so much more!

Some fantastic attributes of HeatnBond Iron-on Vinyl

• It protects fabrics.
• It provides water resistance to the fabric.
• You can use your own stash of fabric (as opposed to purchasing vinyl coated fabric).
• Helps to make customizable projects as you can vinyl cover the fabric you want.
• It’s durable.
• Has a UV rated finish.
• The vinyl has a protective backing with grid lines which can be used for accurate cutting and placement.

Some useful tips

• Use a medium setting on your iron (no higher or you will melt the vinyl)
• You must use a Pressing Paper or the backing that is attached to the vinyl to protect the vinyl and your iron.
• You should use an iron without the steam.
• If it gets wrinkly when turning something right side out (ie. a placemat, bib etc. ) no worries you can re-iron it.
• Recommended to use clips instead of pins to hold your project while sewing to eliminate unnecessary holes in the vinyl.
• If you applique a design on your project and are planning to apply HeatnBond Iron-on Vinyl, there’s no need to applique stitch the design as the design will be sealed inside the vinyl.

• Iron the appliques to the right side of the fabric. I used HeatnBond Feather Lite to fuse the appliqued flowers.

• When using the vinyl, there’s no need to sew down the appliques as the vinyl will lay on top of the applique and provide another seal to the motifs. Using the vinyl is a fantastic time saver.  Fabric is from Girls of the World – Single Colorway, by Northcott.
• Cut out the vinyl to fit the top of the placemat. Remove the paper backing and lay the sticky side of the vinyl to the right side of the fabric matching corners.

• Use backing of vinyl laid on top of vinyl to protect iron, ironing surface and vinyl from direct contact.

Caution: It’s important not to have your heat set too high (medium setting) and to make sure the vinyl is protected with the vinyl backing, if it’s not covered, direct contact with your iron will cause the vinyl to melt. 

• Using the paper backing on the vinyl or a Pressing Paper, iron the vinyl to the top of the place mat using a medium heat setting and no steam.
• Press for 8 seconds and move slowly to make sure that the entire surface of the place mat is pressed.
• Pull back the paper backing to reveal your place mat.  I used HeatnBond Iron-on Vinyl luster finish vinyl and this makes the place mat shiny.

• Using UNIQUE quilting clever clips, clip the backing of the placemat right sides together with the top of the placemat. These clips are great with stiff materials or with vinyl as they avoid the use of pins and leaving unnecessary holes in the vinyl.
• Sew with a ¼” seam allowance, leaving a 3” opening, clip corners and turn to the right side. Press again with the vinyl paper backing covering the vinyl front and remove wrinkles from turning. Slip stitch opening closed by hand and top stitch the perimeter of the placemat ¼” from edge.

Other Project Ideas:

I hope you’ve enjoyed this fun week exploring the amazing HeatnBond products and luscious Northcott fabrics.

HeatnBond certainly allows sewists a multitude of potential creative ideas. We would love to hear from you how you used HeatnBond Iron-on Vinyl, leave your comments in the section below.

Thank goodness it’s Friday, enjoy more time to sew, have a great weekend!