1/2009 Update: Timtex is back and being manufactured and distributed by C&T Publishing, the distributors of Fast2Fuse. My thoughts on all this another time!
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In the wake of the demise of Timtex I’ve been doing a little stabilizer research. I purchased a several online and played around with some from JoAnn’s and I’m posting my findings here. The contestants:
1) Peltex 70. Available at JoAnn’s for under $5/ yard. It comes in 22″ width. This is a nice product, but thinner and more flexible than Timtex. When I use this in the bottom of a bag, I’ll often sew 2 layers together for the stability that I want. Peltex 71 is fusible on 1 side and Peltex 72 is fusible on 2 sides. They get thicker and pricier as you add a layer of glue.
2) Stiffy. This is not a comparable substitute for Timtex. It is very similar to Peltex 70. It is so very cheap at less than $2/yard but you’ll have to pay shipping if you can’t find it locally which brought my order to about $4/yard. It comes on a roll and is about 20″ wide. One drawback is when I ironed it, my sewing room started to smell like a barnyard. 😦
3) Fruedenberg. I’ve only seen this product at JCarolineCreative.com for $4.75/yard. It is similar to Peltex 70, but has a stiffer, more papery feel. It isn’t a good substitute for Timtex but I can see some great uses for it, like drafting my pattern pieces on it. It comes on a 57″ roll so expect the package at your door to be VERY tall.
4) Fast2Fuse. I purchased this online and it was VERY expensive – around $17/yard. When it arrived I was really disappointed. It came all folded up which suprised me because I can’t press it flat because it’s fusible. I purchased 2 thicknesses – regular and heavyweight – and quite honestly, I can barely tell the difference. It’s hugely expensive for a stabilizer and is comparable to Peltex 70.
6) HTCW’s FlexiFirm single-sided fusible available at htc-retail.com. This is great stuff! Thanks to Quenna and Marcea for telling me about it! It’s 30″ wide and is lightly glued one 1 side. It has some extra umph that Peltex doesn’t have and is affordable.
And the winner in the Timtex look and act alike contest?
Number 6: FLEXI FIRM!
This is a great stabilizer by itself, or if you need stronger support, double it up. This is my final solution for the Car Organizer and I couldn’t be happier. Well, I guess I could be happier if Timtex came back, but for now, I’m at least feeling very relieved!
CraftApple 
Oh no, I didn’t know they weren’t selling Timtex anymore…I have an entire bolt of it that I’ve been hoarding and afraid to use, minus one small piece. Now I’m REALLY afraid to use it!!!
Wonder if you saw my parents at First Monday. My dad has been taking car parking money and my mom working for one of the vendors for a few years now to give themselves “spending money” for the month now that they are retired.
Isn’t First Monday great! There is probably nothing you couldn’t find there if you wanted to. I’m just sorry I now live 1200 miles away.
And when I remember all the wooden spools which got thrown away while I was growing up! Mom could be a millionaire now.
Timtex has always been something that I have never even seen. I don’t know what the alternative for it in australia is but I always just use something that “looks like it would do the job”. Just keep in mind that using something not brand name is generally easier to find.
Have you thought of Peltex and canvas as a substitute? I have a AB bag pattern calling for timtex and I am going to try that combo.
Thanks for the great information!
I have used a thick product that I found at Joanns which is VERY sturdy just like Timtex my only problem is sometimes my needle breaks. do you use a special heavy duty needle when using something this “strong”/”thick”?
I had not heard Timtex was no longer being made! I’ve only used it once and found it a bit unwieldy. But your car organizer is so cool, I’ll use whatever you rec!
That’s a good comparison to have handy. Thanks!
Yikes – I did not know we lost Timtex – I immediatly went to my last supplier – Fabric.com and sure enough, no Timtex. I have been considering Buckram. Have you tried it?
It seems I was out of it too – No more Timtex? I was wondering why my local store didn’t carry it anymore… I find that the heavyweight Peltex does the job pretty well (maybe the 70? Dunno). I actually like that it’s a bit more flexible. I don’t love the fusible stuff though!
I’ve never used Timtex but can’t imagine why something that seems to be so popular would be discontinued. I ordered some ‘stiffy’ and was surprised at how flimsy it was! For my purse bottoms I use inner-fuse (found at Joannes in the notions section). It’s very stiff and fusible on both sides. It’s what people make those fabric bowls from but the package also says it’s for purses. I only buy it when I have coupon as it’s expensive. I sandwich it between 2 pieces of fabric and iron the heck out of it. I then drop it into the bottom of a finished purse for a removeable bottom. I use fusible fleece for my bag bodies. It adds structure without weight but I don’t know if it would work for your car organizer.
I’ve never used Timtex, so I may not know what I am missing. I will have to bookmark your report for future use. Thank you, Linda.
I’ll be interested in your thoughts on the fast2fuse. Have you looked at Flexi firm fusible (single or double)? I heard it was slightly thicker than the fast2fuse. I’m researching them as a possible interfacing for kid-sized overnight bags.
Wow, that is some serious thickness! Is Timex that thick? My machine would lose.
I love the bag! I love the design, and I love the fabric. Just fabulous!
Cookie
Thank you for sharing this info – I’ve only used the Peltex.
Thank you for your review of the stabilizer! I went to the fabric mill by me, and checked out the various stabiliers they have. I bought their very last yard of Timtex. Whoot! They had Fast2Fuse there, too, and what they had didn’t seem as stiff as Timtex, but still it was pretty stiff (and expensive!)
Hello, have you tried htcw’s flexi-firm? It is a great, firm product, with a nice even consistency.
I prefer the 9290, non fusible interfacing. It is difficult to get the 60″ width that I look for with a baby product that I am working to manufacture. They also offer a designers discount if you are buying in bulk/ wholesale at expertstitch.com.
It is a great product, but I admit I am frustrated trying to reliably source it.
good luck!
I only just found out about timtex, before discovering it was being discontinued. Thanks for this info!
Wow, great research. Thanks for sharing your finds. It will be helpful.
I just want to thank you for all the great info that you continuously share on your blog. Not only are your project terrific but I have truly learned so much here.
Renee
Interesting news. Thanks for the review of substitutes! I have only used timtex once and found it to be a bit of a pain, but you’ve got to have stabilizer sometimes.
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thanks so much I bought the winner and couldn’t be happier , thanks for the research..Jennifer
Thanks for the helpful information. I googled Timtex to find out if I had the correct name for the product I’d been given a sample of a few months ago. I just used some and wanted to blog about it. Now I know it’s gone. But I, too, like HCTW and I know what else I can try.
TimTex is Back!!! and it’s all NEW! They have a new distributer now.
I think it comes out in November.
I have used Peltex Pellon 70 for years and have felt like I can’t use regular cotton so I use Home Decor for my bags. I hope the last comment is true because I am curious to try Timtex. I might try your #6
Hi, I saw your posting on Timtex and thought you might be interested to know that it is back. Here is the press release about it:
C&T Publishing announced today that Timtex™, the firm, flexible interfacing mourned by so many crafters when it went out of production in 2007, will return in early December with a new and improved formula, and will now be manufactured and distributed by C&T Publishing.
New Formula Guarantees Uniform Thickness
The new Timtex is 100% polyester, which guarantees consistent thickness throughout every bolt. The old formula’s polyester/rayon blend produced considerable variations in thickness.
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Stabilisers haven’t caught on in the UK. I can find two sources for Flexifirm, one charges £15/metre, one charges £11/metre. I can’t find single-sided Peltex anywhere, but double-sided is £8 metre. If I’m doubling them up and adding postage, that’s expensive!
Do you know whether doubled or tripled up heavy Vilene (the best readily available fusible interfacing here) would do for the car organiser? I meant to make it for a wedding present, but those prices are scary.
Barb, that is VERY expensive for stabilizers!
I am so sorry, but I do not have any experience using Vilene.
Here is a link to U-Handbag’s discussion of interfacing, including Flexifirm and Vilene. From the picture on her site it looks very similar, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending it since I haven’t used it before. Here shop site is here. I am hopeful that she can help you! Contact info.
I hope this helps.
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I hope you don’t mind if I pick your brain for a moment … I am making lunch totes for my little fellas and I’m trying to find the ‘right’ stablizer … I remembered this post so I popped in 😉 What I want is something that is stiff enough to help the tote stand on it’s own and provide some insulation to keep food cool with out adding too much bulk or make it difficult to sew together. I’m thinking I want a sew in but I’m not sure. It’s kinda overwhelming. I was leaning toward the heavy duty one JCaroline has but since I can’t see it I”m afraid it’s more than what I need. What would you do Ms. Craft Apple 😀
Thank you four your time!
You should try Bosal Style 336 Craft-Ease Medium Weight nonwoven stabilizer or Style #337 Craft-Sewin Heavy Weight Nonwoven Stabilizer. Both would be great substitutes for Timtex and retail for $4.99 / Yard for 27″ or 20″ respectively or $5.99 each for a 13.5″ x 3 yard roll or 15″x 3 yard roll. To find out where to buy check out http://www.bosalonline.com.
Hi all,
I just purchased some Timtex at Amazon,,,, it was a bit expensive but it is SO sturdy!! I am purchasing other products suggested here (e.g. Flexi Firm) to see how it “holds up” in comparison, but I’m pretty impressed with the timtex.
Hi stacy, Thanks so, much for the comparisons. What have you used the flexi firm stablizer in? And, I think the flexi firms price is awesome – I got mine for 6.99.
Over here in Malaysia, interfacings are sold in factory rolls/bolts without brands to differentiate them. Oh how I wish I know which one in my stash is equivalent to Timtex coz I’m having a hard time everytime I use Western bag making pattern. Love your blog and your designs! 🙂
thank you so much for this post! I just ran out of Timtex and was trying to re-order when I ran across your review, so I am going to try the Flexi firm.
Hi Karen,
Since I wrote this post, expertstitch.com is no longer. Their new site is: http://www.htc-retail.com/ There is a wholesale site as well, if that is what you need. Unfortunately they discontinued the fusible flexi-firm, but they still have the regular flexifirm which I like to use.
Linda
thanks Linda, I ordered some Flexi from the Fabric Depot, but I’ll order wholesale next time from the HTC site.
Just wanted to let you know that FlexiFirm is discontinued 😦
http://www.htc-retail.com/product-list.php?pg4-cid37.html
Unfortunately you are sort of right. Flexi Firm fusible is discontinued, but non-fusible Flexi Firm can still be purchased here: http://www.htc-retail.com/product-info.php?pid177.html, however I can only see it sold by the bolt. I have purchased it by the bolt, but I don’t know that a lot of crafters would.
Thank you very much for the info. I have a roll of something which I cant remember the name of but is a Floriani product bought at a show in the UK several years ago and wondered it would do instead of Timtex…so now I know. It was expensive but was on special if I bought the roll. It has adhesive on bothe sides which is a bit of a problem.
Im confused I just ordered timtex on line. Is it just not in stores?
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