What is Bonded Fabric?
In a general way, bonded fabric is Fabric that is attached to another material. You can bond fabric to interfacing, stabilizer, paper, fusible web (adhesive backed with paper), or other fabric.
In the Cricut world, it’s a bit more specific. When people talk about bonding fabric they are either talking about Freezer Paper or Fusible Web, which people call Heat n’Bond or WonderUnder.
What is Freezer Paper?
Freezer paper is a parchment like paper that has a thin wax or plastic coating on one side. When ironed on to your fabric or felt it bonds temporarily for cutting and can be easily removed afterward. The fine point can glide over the paper and cut the fabric at the same time, without getting caught in the fibers of the fabric. Once you peel it off, your fabric or felt will feel the same afterward as it did before bonding
What is Fusible Web?
Often called Heat n’Bond or WonderUnder, Fusible web, is a thin layers of adhesive with paper one or both sides. WonderUnder is a fusible web made by Pellon and Heat n’Bond is a brand name for a range of interfacing, fusible web, and stabilizers.
To use, place the adhesive side on the backside of your fabric and iron it on from the paper side. The paper will stay on while you are cutting it out, and then will be removed leaving behind the adhesive. You can then iron your fabric onto another fabric (called applique) or surface, like paper or wood. On fabric, you can also sew around the edges for decoration or to make sure the edges don’t fray in the wash.
The end product will be less flexible than the original fabric. The adhesive changes the “hand” of the cloth.
Do I need a Bonded Fabric Blade?
Think of a bonded fabric blade like you have fabric and paper scissors. Fabric scissors stay sharp because fabric dulls them much more slowly than paper. So you can get a bonded fabric blade in the pink housing to help you keep track of which blade is the fabric only blade, or you can use any new-ish and sharp fine-point blade.