Hair Canvas/Hymo Substitute?

[TheBrus]

I just bought Pellon Peltex #70 Ultra Firm Stabilizer at my local Hancock Fabrics. It's a white polyester sheet good that is non-fusable, machine wahsable, and is "easy to cut/sew--even when sandwiched between other fabrics." The material's literature claims that this will not flatten out or be distorted by steam pressing and can be washed or drycleaned.

Will this work in place of Hymo or hair canvas? The cutter at Hancock's had never heard of either, but I explained their purpose. She said I could return this, if it's the wrong stuff. I'm just hard pressed to spend $10.95/yd plus $12+ in freight, if I can get a suitable substitute locally. Your thoughts?

[Dixiecat]

I just bought Pellon Peltex #70 Ultra Firm Stabilizer at my local Hancock Fabrics. It's a white polyester sheet good that is non-fusable, machine wahsable, and is "easy to cut/sew--even when sandwiched between other fabrics." The material's literature claims that this will not flatten out or be distorted by steam pressing and can be washed or drycleaned.

Will this work in place of Hymo or hair canvas? The cutter at Hancock's had never heard of either, but I explained their purpose. She said I could return this, if it's the wrong stuff. I'm just hard pressed to spend $10.95/yd plus $12+ in freight, if I can get a suitable substitute locally. Your thoughts?

It's not surprising that the cutter at Hancock's hasn't heard of Hymo. It's a brand name that's not generally found at large retail stores in North America. It's easier found at tailor/dressmaking supply shops here.

However, hair canvas is a different story. It's used more for men's tailoring than for women's but should be easy enough to find. Try a JoAnn, Michaels or HobbyLobby. Or, ask if they'll order it in for you, it's Pellon HC110.

I wouldn't use the polyester interfacing you found. It will eventually wear over time. As it's not a woven product, it just doesn't stand up to the strain from the weight of the wool. It also will crease easily where hair canvas has a natural spring and flexibility that resists creases. Hair canvas also breathes where the polyester doesn't.

If I couldn't get hair canvas, I'd sooner use a double layer of stiff woven sew-in interfacing, with the grains placed opposite each other, than use a polyester interfacing.

[TheBrus]

Excellent advice. It's mostly quilters and such you find around here. I'll see if they have that and exchange/order. Thanks!

[NorCalPiper]

My Grandmother recently passed away, and I inherited her kilted skirts and some unfinished kilts in hopes I could reuse the fabric, etc. One thing I noticed is that she used not hair canvas, but pillow ticking-Looks exactly like this-

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/tic...fabric-47-.htm

-Seems to do the job, and after so many years the stuff seems to still be stiff. I went to JoAnnes and looked at it and its EXTREMELY heavy and stiff. Anyone ever used this as a substitute?

[Dixiecat]

My Grandmother recently passed away, and I inherited her kilted skirts and some unfinished kilts in hopes I could reuse the fabric, etc. One thing I noticed is that she used not hair canvas, but pillow ticking-Looks exactly like this-

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/tic...fabric-47-.htm

-Seems to do the job, and after so many years the stuff seems to still be stiff. I went to JoAnnes and looked at it and its EXTREMELY heavy and stiff. Anyone ever used this as a substitute?

I use pillow ticking as my lining for my kilts. Not the pinstripe duck, but the white cotton ticking. Since I generally make kilts for dancers, having white lining is best. One word of caution, pillow ticking will soften over time, unlike hair canvas, but it stays very dense. It takes a very sharp needle to sew through this stuff. I'm sure I posted a pic in a DIY thread sometime ago about how I used it. I'll dig and post thread link.

Here it is:
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-lining-51117/

[TheBrus]

Are we talking about the lining (the part that you see inside the kilt) or the interfacing (between the wool and the liner)?

[NorCalPiper]

I'm speaking of interfacing, although this would be great stuff for a heavy duty lining for an X kilt or something.

[TheBrus]

@ NorCalPiper--that's what I thought, but I guess I was confused by the photographs that Dixiecat posted. I've found a source of hair canvas online, but you have to order 3 yards. Since I'm paying as I go, I'm going to have to wait a week or so. I've got a spreadsheet that I keep my chequing account on, and I do a think like Bank of America's "Keep the Change." I round up my chequebook ledger and spend the change on my project.

Thank you all for your kiltmaking tips. I really appreciate all of the support.

JB

[Dixiecat]

The ticking Norcalpiper posted is what's called duck or ducking in these parts. You'd use that for feather pillows or mattresses, and it can be used for interfacing. The ticking I used for lining was the one for lighter feathers or down. I guess I should've checked out Norcal's link.

Even still, I'd use hair canvas if I could, it's thinner and just works so much better. Too bad I don't have much on hand or I'd pop it in the post for you.

[TheBrus]

I ordered my hair canvas from www.shoppellon.com. You have to order 3 yards minimum, so if anyone needs some in short order, I have some extra.