Bag making for newbies. Part 2 - Choosing Fabrics & Interfacings

Bag making for newbies. Part 2 - Choosing Fabrics & Interfacings

Bag making for newbies. Part 2 - Choosing Fabrics & Interfacings

How to make a bag of cotton fabrics - This is another "Lisa tries to answer one your "Bag Making Queries" posts.  I'll keep an eye on that post to check out your queries and try to answer some maybe once or twice a week (depending on how my rabid inbox is looking...).

**Find Part 1 (Sewing Terms) Bag Making for Newbies here**

We are sooo lucky when it comes to fabrics, we're so spoilt for choice it aint true! From funky printed quilt cottons, to cute Japanese linens, from vintage table cloths to second hand jumpers, from home decor weights to delicate silks and so on.  The groovy thing about bag making is that we can use nearly any fabric we like as long as we use the appropriate interfacing (stabiliser - more about that in a minute) and apply a few construction rules and techniques.


What in the blazes is interfacing (stabiliser) and why do I need it?

I admit interfacing isn't much to look at (skeletons aren't either, but where would we be without them?) Interfacing provides structure, without it (most) bags just won't look or work great.  Interfacing gives us the flexibility to use most any fabric we want in our bags. It supports and strengthens fabric and it can even make fabric stand up stiff and straight (great for when we want our bags to stand up by themselves).  You'll soon notice that effective bag making is very dependent on picking the appropriate interfacing for the fabric that you want to use.  I have written a fuller guide to interfacing which I hope you'll think is useful.  Do have a read of it (if only) because it took me an aaaage to write.

Whilst there isn't really a right or wrong choice of fabric for a bag; as a newbie you will certainly make life easier if you stick to a few common sense fabric choices for different types of bags (as you get more experienced you can then hang out with the bad girls and break bag making rules - all in good time!)



 Bag making fabric and interfacing combo suggestions

Here are a few fabric and interfacing suggestions for different types of bags.  As you become more experienced and confident with how to combine fabric with the appropriate interfacing you can go wild and choose a whole gamut of other fabrics besides the ones I have suggested here.  **Disclaimer**: These are just my suggestions and not necessarily what was used in following bags. Also I haven't named the creators of some of the bags in case they wish to remain anonymous:


My design, Basket Style bag - this bag has a Free Tutorial.

Bag Type = Firm structure boxy handbag
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts and some stiff Ultra Firm Fusible on the exterior and Heavy Sew-in in between the exterior and the lining fabric, also there is a stiff grid bag bottom on the base.



Amy Butler's Swing Bag, a great choice for newbies.

Bag Type = Soft structure shoulder bag
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts and some Heavy Sew-in sewn in between the exterior and lining fabric.



Amy Butler's Birdie Sling, another good choice for newbies.

Bag Type = Soft structure shoulder bag
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts and some Heavy Sew-in sewn in between the exterior and lining fabric.



Cute and practical Messenger Bag.  Amy B has a fab pattern for this style bag.

Bag Type = Soft structure shoulder bag
Fabric = Denim, linen, canvas, or upholstery/home dec weight fabric.
Interfacings = Woven fusible on all bag parts and some Compressed Fleece sewn in between the lining and exterior.


Pleased band bag
Pleated yumminess with yoke

Bag Type = Soft structure body with firm structure top yoke/band
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts, some Heavy Sew-in sewn in between the exterior and lining on the bottom part of the bag and some stiff Ultra Firm Fusible ironed onto the top band.


My design, roomy shoulder bag with darts.  I'm working on a PDF pattern for this right now...

Bag Type = Soft structure shoulder bag
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts and some Compressed Fleece sewn in between the lining and exterior.



Another one of my designs: Firm Boxy Clutch purse.

Bag Type = Firm structure boxy hand clutch
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton, linen, wool, heavy satin/silk, denim or canvas
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts and some stiff Ultra Firm Fusible ironed onto the exterior .



Amy Butler's Weekender Bag (at back) and Sophia Bag

Bag Type = Firm structure hold-all bags
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton, linen, wool, heavy satin/silk, denim or canvas
Interfacings = Woven fusible on all bag parts and some stiff Ultra Firm Fusible ironed onto the exterior and Compressed Fleece sewn in between the lining and exterior.


Wrist
Delicious Zippered Wristlet.

Bag Type = Soft structure zip purse
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts and some Compressed Fleece sewn in between the lining and exterior.



Groovy retro bag with darts

Bag Type = Medium firm structure shoulder bag
Fabric = Upholstery/Home dec weight fabric
Interfacings = Woven fusible on all bag parts and some stiff Ultra Firm Fusible ironed onto the exterior and Compressed Fleece sewn in between the lining and exterior.



Pretty pleated wristlet with yoke.

Bag Type = Soft structure zippered purse
Fabric = Quilt weight cotton
Interfacings = Medium Fusible on all bag parts, some Heavy Sew-in sewn in between the exterior and lining and 2 layers of Medium Fusible ironed onto the top band.


Right, I think that covers a fair few bag making bases!

**Find Part 1 (Sewing Terms) Bag Making for Newbies here**


Next time: Part 3 of bag making for newbies ...Well how about you tell me what part 3 should be about?  Leave your suggestions in your comments and I'll pick one or two.  If no one has any suggestions I'll think of somethin'


With the information we provide about  How to make a bag of cotton fabrics

, We hope you can be helped and hopefully set a precedent with you . Or also you can see our other references are also others which are not less good about Yes, we still exist. No, we are not taking any more new projects

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open tutorial sew  : http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2009/01/bag-making-for-newbies-part-2---choosing-fabrics-interfacings.html