Blossie Basket Stabiliser Guide: What Makers Are Using Inside Their Baskets

What makers use in their Blossie Basket

Not all Blossie Baskets need to stand up firmly when empty. A softer Blossie is still useful, squishy, portable and easy to store.

But if you want more structure, your choice of batting, fleece, foam or stabiliser makes a big difference. Based on maker feedback, lighter fusible products are usually easier to sew, while firmer stabilisers and bag foams can create a more upright basket but may be harder to quilt, fold and assemble.

The best choice depends on the kind of Blossie you want: soft and flexible, gently structured, or firm and table-ready.

---

In This Post

• Did you suffer from a case of floppy Blossie disappointment?
• Most Makers Preferred Something in the Middle
• Softer Products Were Generally Easier to Sew
• Firmer Stabilisers Gave Blossie More Structure
• Bag Foam Gave Mixed Results
• Nearly Everyone Used One Layer
• Fusible Products Were the Most Popular
• Most Makers Had Very Few Problems
• So, What Should You Use?
  • For a soft and flexible Blossie
  • For a little more body
  • For a firm and structured Blossie
  • Stitching recommendation
• The Biggest Thing I Learnt
  • Which stabiliser works best?
  • What kind of Blossie do you want to make?

---

Did you suffer from a case of floppy Blossie disappointment? ↑ top

One of the questions I'm asked most often about the Blossie Basket is what stabiliser/fusible batting to use.

The original Blossie was designed as a soft fabric basket using single-sided fusible batting, but I know many of you have experimented with different battings, fleeces, foams and stabilisers to create the finish you prefer. Most of my Blossies have been made using Quilter's Dream Fusible 80/20 Batting and it does result in a Blossie that is flat when empty.... I'm ok with that! I also experimented with Pellon Peltex 71F and those Blossie's do stand up when empty, they're not hard and rigid and will soften over time. I do want to say that a floppy Blossie isn't a fail! It's functional as soon as you put items into it. And when they're empty they store flat and don't take up much space.

Some Blossies are beautifully soft and squishy. Others are sturdy little units that stand proudly on the table, even when they're empty.

So, rather than sharing my own experience, I asked the Blossie-making community what they had used and how it worked for them.

Most respondents had already made at least one Blossie, and around three-quarters had made more than one. That gives us a lovely mix of first attempts, repeat makes and a fair bit of experimenting.

Products mentioned included:

• Vilene H640
• Pellon fusible fleece
• Pellon SF101
• Pellon Peltex 70
• Pellon Peltex 71F*
• Bosal In-R-Form
• Soft and Stable
• Quilter's Dream Fusible 80/20 Batting*
• lightweight fusible interfacing
• cotton batting, felt and other sew-in stabilisers

* I've personally used both of these products.

A few makers had also used whatever batting or interfacing remnants they already had in their sewing rooms, which I fully support. Sometimes the best product is the one already lurking in the cupboard.

Because product names and availability vary around the world, and because some makers could no longer remember the exact brand they used, this isn't a scientific comparison. It is a collection of real Blossie-making experiences, which is exactly what I wanted it to be.

Get the Blossie Basket PDF pattern and optional acrylic template set

Most Makers Preferred Something in the Middle ↑ top

In the survey, makers rated their finished Blossie from 1, meaning very soft, to 5, meaning very firm.

The average result was just over 3, which is also the most common answer.

That tells me that many makers are looking for a happy middle ground: enough structure for the Blossie to hold its general shape, but not so much that it becomes difficult to fold, turn or stitch.

When asked whether they were happy with the finished structure:

• 46% said it was exactly what they wanted
• 32% were mostly happy with it
• 21% felt their Blossie was softer than they wanted

Interestingly, no one selected that their Blossie was firmer than they wanted, although a few people did say that some of the thicker products were hard work during construction.

That is an important difference. You might love the final firm finish, while not necessarily loving every stitch it takes to get there.

Softer Products Were Generally Easier to Sew ↑ top

Lightweight fusible battings, fleeces and interfacings were usually described as easy or very easy to work with.

One Australian maker used Vilene H640 and said it gave her Blossie:

"Just enough sturdiness without making it hard to stitch."

That is a pretty good description of the balance many makers seem to be looking for.

Some makers enjoyed working with lighter products but wished their finished Blossies had a little more body.

Comments included:

"I may try something more stiff on my next one."

and:

"Love it except wish I had used a firmer bodied interfacing."

This is the main thing to keep in mind with lighter products. They are usually easier to quilt, fold, turn and assemble, but the finished basket may soften or fold inwards when it is empty.

That isn't necessarily a problem or a mistake. Blossie was originally designed as a soft fabric basket rather than a rigid container.

But if you are picturing a Blossie that stands firmly on its own, you may want to choose something with a little more structure.

Get the Blossie Basket PDF pattern and optional acrylic template set

Firmer Stabilisers Gave Blossie More Structure ↑ top

Firm products such as Peltex, Bosal In-R-Form and some bag foams produced some of the most structured Blossies in the survey.

One maker used Bosal In-R-Form, rated the finished firmness as 5 out of 5 and said:

"The batting was too flimsy. I've kept using the Bosal."

Another maker used Pellon Peltex 70 and achieved a very firm basket. Because the stabiliser would have made the usual turning method difficult, she changed the construction and completed the final assembly from the outside.

Pellon Peltex 71F also produced a firm, structured result for one repeat Blossie maker, who said:

"The final result is great. I like the way the basket holds its shape."

However, she also found it much harder and more time-consuming to hand quilt through, and a little awkward during the final assembly.

This trade-off appeared several times in the survey.

A firmer product may give you a Blossie that stands beautifully when empty, but it can also make the project:

• harder to hand quilt
• more difficult to fold
• bulkier at the joins
• trickier to turn right side out
• slower to assemble by hand

Firm and fabulous can sometimes come with a bit of wrestling.

Bag Foam Gave Mixed Results ↑ top

Bag foams were generally chosen by makers who wanted a more structured Blossie.

Several makers were happy with products such as Bosal In-R-Form, Soft and Stable or a single-sided fusible foam. These products often produced firmness ratings of 4 or 5.

However, not all bag foams are the same.

One maker said an older foam purchased from Joann was too thick for the pattern, while another described Soft and Stable as "way too thick and hard" for the finish she preferred.

One useful suggestion was to complete as much of the hand stitching or quilting as possible before fusing a thick product into place.

Bag foam may be a good choice if structure is your main priority, but thickness, density and fusibility all make a difference.

Nearly Everyone Used One Layer ↑ top

Nearly everyone used one layer of their chosen product, with 96% of responses reporting a single layer.

Only one maker used two layers. She used two layers of Pellon SF101 in an enlarged Blossie, machine stitched the construction and was happy with the medium level of firmness she achieved.

Based on these responses, changing the type of product may be more effective than simply adding more layers.

Extra layers can quickly create bulk, particularly around the folded edges and joins, which are already doing plenty of work.

Get the Blossie Basket PDF pattern and optional acrylic template set

Fusible Products Were the Most Popular ↑ top

Most makers used a fusible product:

• 71% used a product that was fusible on one side
• 11% used a product fusible on both sides
• 18% used a non-fusible product

Single-sided fusible products were by far the most common choice.

One maker who preferred double-sided fusible fleece had made ten Blossies in three different sizes and said she "can't quit making them", which may be my favourite survey comment!

She did experience some wrinkling on her first attempt, which she believed was caused by over-ironing. Her second attempt fused much more smoothly.

This is a good reminder that the final result is not only about the product itself.

Fabric, iron temperature, pressing time and how the product is fused can all affect the finished panels. I recommend reading the instructions that come with your fusible product, so you get the best result possible.

Most Makers Had Very Few Problems ↑ top

Most respondents reported a smooth construction experience, with 86% reporting no major problems.

The handful of issues mentioned were mostly connected to firmer or bulkier products:

• difficulty hand stitching through the layers
• bulk at the joins
• resistance when folding or turning
• wrinkling during pressing

Even with those challenges, 57% said they would definitely use the same product again, while another 25% said they might.

The survey also made one thing very clear: we do not all want the same Blossie.

Some makers love a soft and squishy basket. Others want tall sides and a firm shape. One maker said she had created Blossies ranging from "soft and squishy to tall and firm", depending on the materials she used.

That really is the heart of it.

So, What Should You Use? ↑ top

Before choosing a batting, fleece, foam or stabiliser, it helps to think about how you want your finished Blossie to behave.

For a soft and flexible Blossie

Choose a light-midweight fusible batting, fleece or interfacing.

This should be easier to hand quilt, fold, turn and assemble. Your finished Blossie may soften or fold inwards when empty, giving it more of a relaxed fabric-basket finish.

For a little more body

Choose a medium-weight fusible fleece, a denser batting or a moderately firm interfacing.

This seems to be the sweet spot for makers who want some structure without making the final hand stitching too difficult.

Vilene H640 received some lovely feedback for this type of finish, although makers using the same named product did not always achieve identical results.

Fabric choice, pressing and personal expectations can all affect how firm a finished Blossie feels.

For a firm and structured Blossie

Choose a firm stabiliser or bag foam such as Peltex, Bosal In-R-Form or a similar product available in your country.

These products can help your Blossie hold its shape when empty, but they may also be more difficult to hand quilt, fold, join and turn.

With very firm products, you may need to adjust your construction method, reduce bulk where possible or complete the final assembly from the outside.

Stitching recommendation

When adding quilted or decorative stitches and a firmer fusibile, foam or batting, take your needle through the fabric and just into the fusible product just catching it. This will still give some quilted texture and will save you wrestling with pushing a needle through bulk.

The Biggest Thing I Learnt ↑ top

The most useful question may not be:

Which stabiliser works best?

It may be:

What kind of Blossie do you want to make?

Do you want a soft basket that can be squashed into a project bag?

Do you want something with enough body to hold your sewing supplies while still being pleasant to stitch?

Or do you want a firm, structured Blossie that stands upright on the table?

Once you know the finish you want, it becomes much easier to choose a product that gives you the right balance between structure, softness and ease of sewing.

Get the Blossie Basket PDF pattern and optional acrylic template set