# Peel-and-stick fabric interfacing **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849 "2023-03-29T17:26:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/1 "2023-03-29T17:26:04Z")
My husband sews, and saw this stuff on a sewing video from Malaysia, and now he wants some. As sewers will know, interfacing available in the US (and most other places, I guess) is iron-on, which he finds to be clumsy and chancy\* (iron must be the right temperature, or the interfacing either won’t stick or will melt). I tried various searches, and the only thing I found was one product from Malaysia on Shopee. He doesn’t want to order from there, at least not yet. \*Please note, he’s very experienced while I know next to nothing about sewing, so these are his views. Lessons on how to use iron-on interfacing would probably be wasted. Have folks heard of this kind of interfacing, and is it going to be the next big thing in sewing, or is it likely a regional quirk or maybe from just one manufacturer? Also, if I decide to surprise him by buying some of this from Malaysia, is Shopee safe to shop on? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/2 "2023-03-29T21:24:07Z")
My wife gets hers from Joann fabrics, although it’s carried by a number of providers in the US including Hobby Lobby. A couple of different varieties, so if it’s a specific size or type your spouse might need to consider other options. Tape type - > **[Are You A Bot?](https://www.joann.com/heat-n-bond-ultrahold-3-8in/1002617.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjww4-hBhCtARIsAC9gR3YkdQzfGkStM4VN1IB9biatrEgMmM6C7dC6c_U62XNC6lbCwySKWXoaAt6lEALw_wcB)** > > You’re seeing this message because some of your behavior on the site looked a little odd. To continue on through the site, help us verify that you’re a real person. or > **[Peel n Stick™ Fabric Fuse Sheets | Michaels](https://www.michaels.com/product/peel-n-stick-fabric-fuse-sheets-10113788?cm_mmc=PLASearch-_-google-_-MICH_Shopping_US_N_Fabric%2BShop_N_PMAX_BOPIS_N-_-&Kenshoo_ida=&kpid=go_cmp-18514199921_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-10113788&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4-hBhCtARIsAC9gR3YooEIG3sXX6pn8jKzFAYmzP3O5C18m3W2ghqMsV_2-giEoE0m8T8AaAlnIEALw_wcB)** > > Find the best Iron-on Adhesives for your project. We offer the Peel n Stick™ Fabric Fuse Sheets for $6.99 with free shipping available. So, yeah, I’d expect to be able to get from a safer source since I chose to list from two different stores (Joann and Michaels). Or if I’m absolutely misunderstanding and not communicating properly to my sew-ey wife let us know! ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/3 "2023-03-29T21:36:31Z")
The peel and stick that I’ve used still has to be ironed on for “permanency.” You can just stick it down using the adhesive while you’re working with it. I’ve primarily used it for appliques, so I’d stick the smaller piece on one side, cut it to final shape, iron on, then stitch around the outside (because it never stays stuck down). ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/4 "2023-03-29T22:10:10Z")
Just for the record, I presume this is what the OP is talking about, or at least similar: [https://shopee.com.my/Self-adhesive-Stick-on-Fusible-woven-interfacing-batting-fabric-patchwork-cloth-kain-i.11395000.2274645161](https://shopee.com.my/Self-adhesive-Stick-on-Fusible-woven-interfacing-batting-fabric-patchwork-cloth-kain-i.11395000.2274645161) ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/5 "2023-03-29T22:48:51Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Just for the record, I presume this is what the OP is talking about Yes, that’s what I found, he wants the thin version. It doesn’t say how large the thin sheets are, but the thick ones appear to be about 1/2 yard or 1 yard. @ParallelLines both of those items are too small for what he wants to use them for, but I appreciate you finding them. Currently, for example, he is making a tote bag that is about 15" x 10" by 3", and the whole thing has to be interfaced (he’s already done this one with the regular fusible interfacing). I think he is also wanting to use them on garments, like jackets, where the fabric has to be stiffened. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/6 "2023-03-30T01:48:57Z")
I’m looking for something like this now. I bought several pairs of drawstring pants to wear around the house, but unlike the ones I currently own the size option on the new ones did not allow me to select for inseam length. While they fit fine around my waist the legs are about 6" too long, so I need to cut them down and hem them. I don’t have either a sewing machine or an iron, so I need something that will be permanent in cold water washing that doesn’t need to be sealed with an iron. (I do have a steamer, if that would work instead of an iron.) ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/7 "2023-03-30T02:37:26Z")
Considering the deliberate enshittification of google and amazon searches, I’m not having an easy time finding bigger pieces. I might suggest going old school and calling your local fabric / hobby / sewing store and see if they have any larger examples. I mean, that’s how we used to do it. And hopefully their internal options are less deliberately off than the customer facing ones! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/8 "2023-03-30T03:32:02Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > And hopefully their internal options are less deliberately off than the customer facing ones! Excuse me, but I cannot help but laugh at this, long and loud (not at you, just the situation). One, that they have an internal system available to anyone but possibly the purchasing department that has any different information; two, that anyone I might actually be able to reach is bright enough to understand my request and willing to try such a search; and three, repeat #2. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/9 "2023-03-30T06:50:42Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > While they fit fine around my waist the legs are about 6" too long, so I need to cut them down and hem them. I don’t have either a sewing machine or an iron, so I need something that will be permanent in cold water washing that doesn’t need to be sealed with an iron. To be honest? I think you can probably just learn to hem the legs by hand with a needle and thread in far less time than it’s going to take you to work out a wash-durable adhesive hem tape hack. To wit: Mark desired new length on pant legs, cut off excess leg 1.5" below marked line. Turn pants inside out, turn up the raw (cut) edge 0.5", then turn up again 1" so that the raw edge is hidden inside the double fold and your marked line is now the new lower extremity of the pant leg. If you had an iron you could now press these folds before sewing, but you are just wearing these around the house anyway so who cares?? Put in pins (straight, safety, diaper, hat, lapel, doesn’t matter what kind as long as it’s got a sharp point) to temporarily hold the folded edge in place against the pant leg. Thread a needle, knot the end of the thread, and stab the needle in and out of the pants hem all around the leg until the thread holds the folded edge to the pants leg sufficiently securely. This can be done with a blind-hem stitch, catch stitch, or even just a running stitch, if you want to look up a tutorial or something on how to stitch a hem neatly, but if you are just wearing these pants around the house then who cares?? Make a big stitchy mess and just call it “visible mending”, that’s all the rage nowadays! Just keep thread-binding the folded edge to the adjacent pant-leg fabric with your stabby needle somehow so that it stays put (making sure to keep the leg opening free of thread so you’re not sewing the legs closed and making footy-pajamas, of course). Then stab the needle into and out of the same spot a lot of times to get the thread all knotted up there so the stitches won’t pull out, and cut off the thread. Remove pins. Repeat for the other pant leg, turn pants rightside-out, and ta-daa! You have wearable pants AND a useful skill. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/10 "2023-03-30T11:03:47Z")
What is the fabric of those drawstring pants? Woven or knit? If it’s woven (like jeans material) you can just buy some stainless steel safety pins. Start as above, trimming and folding. Fold up the excess fabric inside the leg, and safety pin it in place. Wear garment, safety pins and all. Put through wash, safety pins and all. I had a pair of jeans when i was younger that i did this to. I initially planned to hem them, but the safety pins worked so well i never got around to it. When the crotch wore out, i reminded the safety pins for later use before discarding the pants. Knit garments may run unacceptably in the wash if you don’t hem them, though. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/11 "2023-03-30T20:26:06Z")
The pants are 100% cotton. I do have some basic sewing supplies; I have sewed patches on clothes and done some minor repairs (like stitching up split seams) but am daunted by the idea of trying to hand-sew a hem. However, as both **Kimstu** and **puzzlegal** have pointed out whatever I do doesn’t have to look professional, as nobody’s going to be seeing it except me and the one friend who occasionally visits. So what I’m probably going to do is buy a bunch of safety pins and use them as **puzzlegal** suggested, and maybe some time later when I’m feeling adventurous I’ll try **Kimstu** ’s “visible mending” method. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peel-and-stick-fabric-interfacing/981849/12 "2023-03-30T21:30:49Z")
There are some great instructional videos for sewing stitches on YouTube. I just used one last week for a particular embroidery stitch I needed for a repair job. Bet there is a good one on pant hemming. Don’t know about where you are, but in my 250,000 pop Midwestern town there are monthly Repair Cafes that people volunteer their skills for, share tools (like a sewing machine) and that anyone can bring something to to be repaired, like rewiring a lamp or altering clothes. Look to see if anything like that is offered near you. You can make it an exchange by lending a skill you have. Your local librarian would be a good resource for finding a Repair Cafe. I have seen many offered in libraries. Libraries often sponsor sewing, knitting, etc classes so try yours. I’d be happy to hem someone’s pants if they could fix my computer, for instance.