Just in case you have ever wondered, I have gathered together for you information on interfacing versus wadding and the difference between biodegradable interfacing and cotton wadding.
Interfacing is the thin layer of 'fabric and glue' used behind most products we wear and use made out of fabric, both natural and synthetic. Your button down shirt will have a layer of 'interfacing' or 'fusing' ironed or stitched into the band of cloth, where the buttons, button holes and cuffs are. The interfacing is what gives the fabric a bit of stiffness and strength to withhold the extra work and wear these parts of your clothes are exposed to.
Interfacings can be 'sew in' or 'iron-on'. Iron-on means there is some glue involved, which is adhered by ironing it at a high heat, melting the little globs of glue and fusing them to the fabric which needs strengthening.
Recently, in my eternal search for healthier alternatives, I came across a fairly new product called Biodegradable fusing. This product is a 'first of its kind'. It is a super thin layer of cotton (as you know, I try to only work with cotton), and a biopolymer adhesive. This product is fully biodegradable, given the right bacteria in landfill, as well as ecotoxicologically harmless. [Ecotoxicologically - means the harmful effect of toxic pollutants in an ecosystem, for us non-scientists!]
I am still trying to find more information on this fusing, however, the pieces I have here perform beautifully in pouches and bags.
Recently I have found and purchased interfacing which is 100% cotton fabric with a thin layer of adhesive, it feels and performs beautifully and has no 'glue smell' as I find in some of the 'bargain' (aka cheap n nasty) interfacings. These higher quality products have that higher quality price tag, but so well worth it, in my opinion.
Wadding, or batting, on the other hand, contains no glues, resins, sprays or bonding. It has a super fine layer of cotton to hold the 'cotton stuffing' like material together. It is my number one preference in adding strength and stiffness to a sewing project. It just takes a lot more sewing, cutting, measuring and general 'fiddling' to use it instead of interfacing. A lot of the time I also pre-wash this by hand, to ensure there is minimal shrinkage should you wish to wash (hand wash preferred) your sewn item later on.
Just as with my search for interfacing, I also try to source the best wadding on the market. Australia makes the wonderful soft, perfect thickness, 100% pure cotton wadding I use in all of my hand-sewn products. So nice to be able to source and use Australian-made products as a raw ingredient!
Hopefully this little snippet of the basics of what is behind the pretty fabric has helped. Many times, when you place an order with me, I will ask if you would prefer interfacing or wadding for stiffness (or 'umpf'); would you like a 'glue free product'?
The overall feel of the end product is only slightly different, but the time it takes to make differs slightly, as do the ingredients. At a time where some people are beginning to question that 'list of ingredients', this may matter. If you or the recipient of what I have sewn has skin sensitivities, or chemical sensitivities, this may also matter, and I hope I can offer a better alternative.
As always, you can request fabrics made in Oeko Tex Standard 100 fabric, or Certified Organic Cottons. Please note, however, that it is just about impossible to find Certified Organic Cotton interfacing. Organic Wadding is available, but I have not ordered it (yet). It is not always available in the shop I trust and buy from to be wholly organic, and it is also not available in smaller quantities. But if you wished for a 100% organic product, we can always find a way.
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