General Ideas for Using Lutradur & Evolon – all weights

The ideas outlined are suitable for use with both materials although obviously the results will differ to some extent. Personal taste will also dictate which material you use.

As a general guide:

Evolon - softer, drapes well, is less transparent and is altogether more like a normal fabric

Lutradur – stiffer, semi-transparent, little or no drape, looks like a less dense interfacing

Adding Colour to Evolon or Lutradur

Both materials can be coloured with dyes and paints of all kinds depending on the finish you require. Procion and Brusho dyes work well. Transfer paints or disperse dyes are very effective (see below). Acrylic and water-based paints give good coverage but will make the materials slightly stiffer when dry so use fabric paints if you want the materials to retain their usual feel and texture.

Distressing with Heat

Both Evolon & Lutradur will react to heat from a hot air gun or from an iron. It takes a fair amount of heat to start making changes to the surface of both fabrics so be patient. As with all heat processes it is important to work in a well-ventilated area and possibly a respirator mask. Common sense precautions are all that is required.Lay the material on a heat proof surface before using a hot air gun or put between baking parchment before using an iron.

Making Leaves: (2 autumn coloured leaves sent last week)

  • Cut 2 rectangles of Lutradur or Evolon slightly larger than the required size & paint or dye as desired
  • Bend thin wire into the shape of a leaf with a short stemand put the wire between the 2 pieces making a sandwich
  • Pin the wire and fabric together to keep it still while stitching
  • Use a narrow zigzag and stitch around the leaf shape covering the wire. Turn carefully at the tip and at the base. Stitch down the stem as far as required.
  • Stitch the veins of the leaf by hand, machine or with free-machine embroidery.
  • Trim the material close to the stitching removing the excess.
  • Use a hot air gun or iron to lightly distress the leaf as much or as little as desired.
  • The leaf can be bent and will hold its shape using the wire inside.

Using Transfer Paints & Disperse Dyes

Evolon & Lutradur are both suitable for use with transfer techniques as they will withstand the heat of the iron used to transfer the colour. It is always wise to do a test piece first.

Evolon will give a stronger colour as it is denser whereas Lutradur will be more transparent and is good for layering over other materials.

Each piece of painted paper can be used more than once although they will get gradually paler each time. The second or third transfers are more interesting as textural marks start to appear once the top layer of paint has been removed.

Transfer Printing & Quilting with Evolon:(green disperse dyed piece with quilting and green stitching round the edge)

  • Apply transfer paints to paper or mix up disperse dyes following instructions and either paint or spray onto paper.
  • When completely dry, cut or tear the painted paper & lay it face down on the Evolon
  • Cover with a sheet of clean paper or baking parchment to stop the colour travelling onto your iron
  • Heat set for 1½ - 2 minutes. Heat setting means keeping the iron fairly still and allowing the heat to build up. Wiggle the iron gently now and again to avoid replicating the shape of the iron on the fabric – this is particularly important if using a steam iron as the steam holes will appear as a series of white patches!
  • Continue to transfer colour and pattern to the Evolon as desired. When complete the fabric can be used immediately.
  • Lay the Evolon onto batting or felt and pin
  • Use a toning or contrasting thread to fee-machine quilt around each shape and to fill in the spaces between as appropriate
  • Trim the edges and cut a backing fabric the same size then pin together
  • Set a medium zigzag stitch and stitch round the edges of the quilted piece twice to give a good density of stitching. Stitch round again if desired.

Block Printing on Lutradur & Evolon

Block printing can be done with any kind of paints including water-based, acrylics or fabric paints. Alternatively use other media such as thickened Brusho or Adva Print.

Cut the fabric to the desired size and place onto a slightly spongy surface such as a pile of newspapers, an old towel or blanket or a piece of thermal table protector. A slightly spongy surface gives better contact between the print block and the fabric.

Use a sponge brush to dab colour onto the print block and press it firmly onto the fabric.

Build up layers by changing the colour used or by changing the scale of the printed pattern e.g. large spots mixed with small spots plus a circular motif of any kind. Keeping the pattern largely the same but changing the scale makes the print more visually interesting.

When the printed pattern is dry try adding dye to the background in a contrasting or complementary colour.

Using the Printed Material:(Turquoise Evolon/Lutradur woven together with copper metallic stitching)

  • Cut the printed/dyed material into strips – the width can be varied if a less regular result is desired
  • Weave the strips together either on their own or with another material – this could be a contrasting colour or texture or could be something like fusible film.
  • Pin the pieces into place or use a temporary adhesive like 505 spray
  • Stitch the pieces together on the machine as desired e.g. straight lines of straight stitch to echo the woven pieces or use a flowing stitch to contrast.
  • Add small pieces of the same or contrasting materials and stitch down or stitch areas of free-machine embroidery to give interest
  • When the piece is stitched it can be lightly distressed with a hot air tool or an iron