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Things to do with Lutradur

Lutradur is a spun bond non woven fabric that comes in various weights. It has a matt finish and doesn’t fray. I tend to use and sell two weights  ~ the heaviest and the lightest.

Because of the way it is manufactured the thinner weight is quite lacy and is wonderful for over laying and zapping through with a heat gun. The heavy weight is very suitable for projects that need strength. Though not as heavy as pelmet Vilene it is still very useful for transfer printing, painting and also makes excellent small boxes and both book covers and pages. Lutradur can be treated the same as pelmet Vilene but has the added advantage that it can be zapped with a heat gun.

A soldering iron will slice through Lutradur like a knife through butter giving an excellent sealed edge. Lutradur will not give off fumes when you heat it unless you introduce solvent based colouring media. Anything water based is fine – procion dyes – acrylic paints; you aren’t going to wash the Lutradur so use what you like. My favourite way is to transfer print it using (disperse dyes)– Fantastic!

When using a heat gun it is always important to work in a well ventilated room. Lutradur can be hand or machine stitched. The heavy weight will not need a frame if you wish to try free machine embroidery.

Lutradur is a joy to iron transfer dyes onto. Cheap paper bags that are made from paper used to clean the rollers in the printing trade are a great free source of colour. The bags look quite dull but be prepared for a surprise when you iron them off. They can be ironed directly onto Lutradur/Evolon/Pelmet Vilene and Lamifix in the same way as you would transfer paints. When ever you iron transfer painted papers/paper bags don’t forget to protect your ironing board and iron with baking parchment.

Try tearing strips or cutting shapes. You will probably be able to get two prints from each piece of paper. These dyes are translucent so overlapping the papers will create beautiful shadow effects. Keep building up the colour until you are happy with the coverage. You can than start to zap your Lutradur.

Tear the Lutradur apart and layer it. You could introduce a toning polyester organza as well if you wished. The rest is up to you.

Two layers of Lutradur heavy have been painted with procion dye.
The top layer has been decorated with painted Bondaweb. The two layers were then stitched together and the top layer was zapped with a 350 watt heat gun to expose the bottom layer.

A fantastic ‘crunchy’ effect.

Use the lightweight Lutradur on top of other patterned cloth without the handling problems of voiles and other lightweight fabrics.

• An exciting product that can be treated and coloured the same as pelmet Vilene but can then be zapped with a heat gun to create amazing textures.
• The Lutradur heavy is firm enough to use for small boxes and book covers.
• Great for 3d work.
• Can be cut and carved with a soldering iron.
• Try layering Lutradur with polyester organza, stitch the layers together, then zap with a heat gun to reveal different layers and colours.
• Lutradur is a wonderful base for painted ‘Bondaweb’.
• Lutradur can be transfer printed.

Lutradur heavy has been procion dyed and zapped with a 350 watt gun.

Lutradur Light, transfer printed, then zapped with a 350 watt heat gun.

More exciting images coming soon!

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