There might be some instances where you need to sew foam into a piece of fabric or sew fabric onto a piece of foam. Flexible foam, specifically, makes a great addition to bags for structure and covers for electronic devices.
Foam is a great option because it has a solid foundation without adding extra weight to fabric. So, can I sew foam? Yes! You can definitely sew foam, and I recommend using flexible foam for your project. I’is usually about 5mm thick and a little firmer than regular foam. This will be the best type of foam to use for a sewing project.
Flexible foam will generally have a covering that is similar to fabric on both sides. On generic foam, the netting will be finer on one side than the other, but on flexible foam the netting is the same on both sides. This flexible foam is also really easy to cut and can be done with usual fabric sewing scissors. In this article we go o eve how to properly sew foam, and much more! Let’s read on.
How Do You Sew Foam?
There are a few reasons you might need to sew foam. In some cases, you might need to stitch together the center of a pillow that has been attacked by your cute puppy. Maybe you just have a foam craft that you want to put together with your sewing machine.
Luckily sewing foam is a pretty easy process and isn’t much different than sewing with fabric. Foam is a pretty firm material, but when you use the right needle, you can sew through it. It is recommended to use a 70/10 or 110/18 needle for foam because they are strong. thick, and sharp.
This Pellon Flexible Foam is the one I have used in the past for my sewing projects. It’s durable and super flexible!
To sew the foam, you will need to position the pieces of foam on top of each other as evenly as you can. Take two pieces of wax paper and place them on both sides of the foam. This will protect the foam from getting caught and tearing.
You might need to adjust the pressure foot to fit the foam more easily underneath. You can raise the pressure foot to the height you need before starting, making sure there is enough room for the foam to fit underneath.
Make sure you sew very slowly to avoid any damage to the needle or the foam. When the sewing is complete, slowly tear the wax paper off the seam. Cut off any excess foam, then you are done with your project.
How Do You Sew Foam into Fabric?
Sewing flexible foam into fabric is a very easy process and is similar to sewing just foam. The foam will usually get compressed during the sewing process, and the stitch will work to keep it compressed. The process is pretty simple and similar to just sewing fabric.
You will need to have your sewing machine, the foam you are going to use, paperclips, wax paper that is cut in 12-inch pieces, a variety of needles, the thread of your choice, and a pair of scissors. If you aren’t careful the foam can break your needle, so you need to pay close attention.
I have this Brother Sewing Machine, and sewing foam into fabric was simple, but took some practice at first. You really have to be careful with your needles, but once you get the hang of it, you are good to go!
First, you will need to secure the pieces of fabric you are going to sew onto the fabric with the paperclips. You want to use the paperclips instead of pins or needles because they are going to work more securely and safely.
To position the foam properly, you will want to have it on the opposite side of the fabric that you want facing out. In other words, place the side of the fabric that you want to see facing towards you, not towards the foam.
After you prepare the foam and secure the fabric, you are going to need to get the wax paper. Place the wax paper both on the top and the bottom of what you are sewing. It is important to sew very slowly. The bottom piece of wax paper will prevent the foam catching and getting stuck.
There are two stitches you can use on foam. You can do a straight stitch or a zigzag stitch. If you want to use a straight stitch, you will want the seam to be slightly smaller than what you are wanting for the project. For example, if you want a 1-inch seam, sew at 3/4-inch instead.
If you want to use a zigzag stitch, you will want to set the stitch to have a large width and a small length. A larger width will work to flatten the foam in the seam. You can test out which stitch will work better for you and your project before determining which one you want to use.
You might need to raise the pressure foot to allow the foam to feed more easily through the sewing machine. If the foam is thicker than half an inch, it can be beneficial to cut out some cardboard from a cereal box to help press the foam down on both sides of the stitch.
When you are finished sewing, take the material off the sewing machine and very gently tear the wax paper away from the seam. It is important to be extra careful to avoid pulling the stitching loose.
Can You Sew Foam Sheets?
You can sew foam sheets, and they might be the best option for sewing. Foam sheets are available in several different colors, sizes, and thicknesses. This material is pretty inexpensive to buy and can even be purchased in bulk.
I recommend using this EVA 100 pack Foam Sheet Set. It’s amazing quality and you have tons of colors to choose from as well. This set and brand is my favorite foam sheets because they are durable and super affordable.
Due to their versatility, foam sheets are easily manipulated. This makes them the perfect candidate for being sewn together. You can cut them, stamp them, and punch pieces out of them. Sewing foam sheets is just as easy as sewing fabric together.
When you use foam sheets for a project, you can easily mark on the sheet with chalk to work as a border for your design. The chalk will easily wipe away from the foam sheet after you cut out the foam sheets. This will make it easier for you to sew without needing a pattern or a permanent marker.
In addition to sewing foam sheets together, you can also use it for embroidery. This is a great way to create a project with dimension to your foam background. Usually, you will want to use a very thin needle for embroidery, but you can use larger needles if you want the foam to tear like a perforation.
Final Thoughts
Sewing foam is doable and pretty simple. Foam is pretty thick, but it just about follows the same rules as sewing. If you are sewing just two pieces of foam together, you can get right into using your sewing machine. As long as you use the right needle, you will be fine.
If you are sewing foam onto fabric, you will need to place the fabric side that you don’t want to show on the foam and the side you do want showing facing away from the foam. In most cases, you will need to raise the pressure foot for the foam to fit underneath properly.
There are different stitches you can use when sewing foam, and the best way to determine which one to use is to test them out and decide which one you like better. You will also need to use some wax paper on each side to prevent the foam from getting caught and stuck on the machine.
Make sure to follow my tips and recommend products to ensure your sewing project turns out amazing! Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your sewing Q&A’s. Happy sewing!