My Foam Stabilizer Tests & Results! Part 2

Welcome back!  This is part 2 of a series I’m writing about foam stabilizers.  If you would like to read Part 1 click HERE.

A brief recap.   I decided to make three bucket bags, each using a different kind of foam stabilizer. The buckets were labeled “A”, “B”, and “C”.  At the end of yesterday’s post, I started to share my findings on bucket A. I went over the general look and feel of the foam as well as some fraying I noticed after I cut.

So here is the finished bucket “A”.  There was minimal foam bulges or wrinkles. I did notice that finished bucket A felt lighter than B and C but also felt thinner, even though they are all roughly 1/4″ thick.

Because these interfacings are polyester they can be ironed if they get folded up or bent during construction.  On a medium iron setting I was able to get out the wrinkles for this foam, but I did notice a slight odor. It was short lived, but I also noticed it in the other foams too.

My verdict – Foam A:  Great!  I think it had the least amount of visual bumps on the finished bucket and gave the bag a nice polished look.  My only concern with this foam is that because it had a softer feel it often slouched before I added the interlining.  So while I am not sure I’d use a big sheet of this for a large tote, I’d use it in a heartbeat for smaller projects requiring foam or even larger ones where multiple pieces needing foam are involved.

Onto Bucket B:

Bucket B’s foam looks totally different than the bucket A foam.  A close up of this foam shows a foam center with a top/bottom that has a faint fabric-like covering.  This has the same softness of foam A, but feels a bit thicker and is heavier than the others.

Foam B is in the middle in the above photo. All three foams are very easy to sew through, but as your assembly goes on don’t be surprised to see some seams get a bit bulky.  Not to worry though! A simple trim down of excess material can help with this and it won’t affect the look of your bag.

Bucket B did show a few more bumps than bucket A, but as I said before, it ironed out perfectly.  This foam had no issues with slouching and kept it’s shape almost too well.  Turning the bucket right side out took a bit more wiggling with bucket B because the foam has more structure.

One thing I always tell people when using this type of foam is to always make sure you stitch baste it to the fabric pieces before you assemble the bag.  This will ensure the foam  and fabric will not wiggle around while you are assembling the bag.  A walking foot is also a good idea when sewing with foam.

My verdict – Foam B:  Awesome!!  If you are looking for a stiffer foam that really molds well to the pattern and gives it some weight this is the one for you.  I would have no problem using Foam B for a larger or smaller bag.  My finished bucket B was smooth, soft and very sturdy.  If I can find any fault, it was that with all this smooth/sturdy/softness comes a little extra weight that people may feel adds too much bulk to their project.

Coming up on Thursday:  Bucket C’s  foam test, my final thoughts and the BIG REVEAL of which foam is in which bucket!  Any guesses yet?  As always feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions or tips to add. I’d love to hear from you!

** This is a fun experiment that I created and made myself. I have not been paid to do this nor have I been given product for review. All materials were purchased by myself. Opinions and thoughts are my own. **