Didya Miss Me?
DISASTER!!
This stuff is even worse than any of the previous bolts I have used. I thought I had found a solution where I could at least peel off the fusible and use the teflon pressing sheet to adhere the fusible to the fabric...BUT NO! In this case the fusible crumbled in my fingers before I could peel it off.
My stock photo shows how in the past I have been able to release the fusible from the paper and then place the stuff on the fabric in order to fuse it with a pressing sheet.
I immediately went online to the Pellon site and found the customer service url and wrote a panicky email. I sent pictures!
Then I thought for a minute and decided to call them.
A nice manly voice picked up and I asked for someone who could help me with Wonder-Under problems. He was the guy! His name is Rolando. O really?
Rolando to the rescueI poured out my heart to this guy and he calmed me way down. He promised to send me four bolts of the "GOOD STUFF" directly to my classroom overnight UPS.
And I promised him that I would ask, nay, beg you Dear Reader to go out and buy a 1/4 yard of Wonder-Under from your local Joann's or Wal-Mart or where ever and test it to see if it is the bad stuff...WHICH WE ALL KNOW IT IS and then return it to the shop for a refund. They need to know that it is bad and we are the only ones who will tell them. They need to send it back to their supplier who in turn will get a refund/replacement from Pellon.
My supplier is Brewer Sewing Supplies in Chicago and they called me back after I called them for a return ticket. They have over 100 bolts of the bad stuff in their warehouse and all of it is going to be returned.
How will you know it is bad?
1. cut a strip of the wonder-under and using a hot hot iron, fuse it to the fabric.
2. Wait til it is completely cool.
3. try peeling the paper off. It should just lift off perfectly easily. If it is sticky or still melty it is the bad stuff. The good stuff cools off fast and peels off fast.
Well, I couldn't make it to Chicago this weekend and decided to have my own Quilt Expo Weekend. Bought 5 yards of wonder under. And it's cra*! Went on-line to e-mail them what I think of their product. And lo and behold! Can't get through to their site. What's going on? I'm going to have to find another product. Sad here in Watertown, WI.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, I wanted to get my comments in to you on this. I worked in the fabric industry for more than 20 years, and this product is one of the worst. In all the years of quilting and both clothing and home dec sewing, we would NEVER use this product. We also found out that there is a sort of shelf life to it, that older stock can become brittle and not fure peoperly.(Which may be the problem you are experiencing now.) Also, things such as excessive humidty can also effect how it bonds. We've found ways around it by using other products such as Heat'n Bond Fusible, spray glues, glue sticks, and things of that nature. For me, personally, would not use this in my own quilts or artwork for the very same problems you are experiencing.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see, I DO get very worked up over this issue because I've had the same problems, and it IS very frustrating. And, in your case, your reputation as a professional can be questioned because of this.
Best of luck.
Dave
Thanks to your suggestion to peal the fusible off of the paper and then using the teflon sheet, I have been able to use my "bad" WU. But your new bolts seem to have gone from bad to worse. I had my bolt shipped from Joann's; it took almost three weeks to get to me . . . otherwise I might have actually returned it. Once the darn stuff is fused, I do like it much better than heat n bond.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Mel, I actually purchased a yard of wonder under from the local Joann's last Friday and did that very thing. Amazingly enough it was good! I ran back and bought the rest of the bolt! (16 yds).
ReplyDeleteSarah in NJ
Sigh.....I have two bolts I ordered (hope I can find the invoice because I can't even remember who I ordered it from). I will test it today.
ReplyDeleteMr. Daniels, you are barking up the wrong tree here. We have all been using WU for a long time (and in LARGE quantities) without any (or very few) problems until this latest fiasco. Unfortunately THIS has turned into a major, far-flung problem. But the folks at Pellon (well, Rolando) have been responsive.
Thanks for leading the charge, Melody.
teri
Thank you Mel. I am just sick that this continues to be a problem and I'm skeptical about how it's going to get resolved. Nothing is worse when you are in the zone in the studio to be faced with techinical problems beyond your control. I'm with Teri with her comments to Mr. Daniels. That annoyed me too.
ReplyDeleteI just convinced my little quilt store here at Lake Tahoe to buy wonder under and it's selling...first bolt fine..I bought 10 yards. Next bolt a nightmare, I tried it out...she couldn't remember immediately if she'd gotten it from Brew or Schenk...both good to work with and they will go back. I tried navigating and got Rolando's voice mail. Hope this is over soon!!! Judy
ReplyDeleteI am ready to move to Misty Fuse and parchment paper! I have 5 yards that I borught here to Portland and it is baaad! I really cant take it back now so I will try peeling it and using the teflon sheet. I am going to need a ton of fusable soon. And Dave - you are wrong - WU can be the greatest product. the problem is in the production when they don't get enough of the silicone release stuff on the paper.
ReplyDeleteHi Mel, I bought 2 yds last week and it's crap. Took it back to JoAnns in Westbury which is no small trip for me. They took it back and explained the problem. They hope to have some new WU in soon. We'll see how it goes. Wonder of Wonder Under, when I got home I found some older stuff in my disorganized closet that still worked. Nothing works like good WU.Patience is not one of my best virtues. Hope all goes well for your class. Dee
ReplyDeleteFYi. I heard that after you fuse your fabric with the bad WU, you can throw the fabric in the freezer for about 5 minutes and the parchment paper will release easily. Unfortunately, I haven't tried it yet, since I haven't run into the bad WU. But someone should give it a try and let everyone know. Sherrie
ReplyDeleteWell, reporting back. Neither of the full bolts I bought are bad. Whew....dodged THAT bullet.
ReplyDeleteI am SO sorry this is happening to you, Mel but, in a way I am glad it DID happen to you. With the huge amounts that you use, Pellon HAD to listen to you.
teri