Choosing Bag Fabrics

The fabric you choose for your bag will have a big impact on how it looks and how long it lasts. You need a sturdy fabric that looks good and can cope with repeated washes.

The most important thing is to press your fabric flat before cutting. This is because rumpled fabric will not cut accurately on your rotary cutter.

Cotton Velvet

Velvet feels good against the skin, which is why it’s so popular in dresses, bath robes and other clothing. It also has a distinctive visual allure that enhances interior decor. Typically, velvet is made from silk or wool and has a soft, luscious appearance. However, cotton velvet is also a beautiful textile that can be used in bags and other accessories.

When shopping for fabric, make sure it is a high-quality velvet. Look for a densely woven velvet, and check the backing of the fabric. A densely woven velvet is less likely to pill or bleed, and it will also resist wrinkles better.

If possible, avoid synthetic velvets that are derived from petroleum. These fabrics have major impacts on our planet, and they are often treated with chemicals that pollute water supplies. Instead, choose a natural-fiber velvet that does not require the use of toxic chemicals. Also, consider purchasing fabric that is dyed with nontoxic dyes.

Corduroy

With its warm texture and durable build, corduroy is a popular choice for clothing items like dungarees and skirts. It also makes comfortable upholstery fabrics. The fabric's raised parallel ridges trap heat and make it cozy to wear in winter.

It's usually made from cotton or a combination of cotton and polyester, although wool is sometimes used. The textile can be woven with either a plain or twill weave. Textile manufacturers sever the weft threads of corduroy with special blades to create the fabric's characteristic wales.

To sew corduroy, use a needle size appropriate for your project's weight. Press seams open, and consider mitering corners to reduce bulk at places where many layers meet. Since the cut edges will fray, add a sturdy finish to all seam allowances on unlined garments.

Furnishings

Fabrics used for furnishings such as cushion and drapery fabrics have a lot of structure and are thick enough to make good sturdy bags. They are often hard wearing and come in a range of colors and designs. The fabrics can be easily cleaned and are often wipe-clean. They can be sprayed with waterproof fabric spray to add to their life.

Oil cloth or twill fabric is also a very popular bag making fabric - it was traditionally close woven cotton or linen with a coating of boiled linseed oil which has now been replaced by PVC and gives a smooth wipeable surface. It is thick and long-wearing but needs a bit of interfacing to make it stand up well.

Felt is another natural bag material, made from wool fibres which are compressed and then bonded together into sheets. Felt can be recycled or biodegradable depending on how it is created. Non-woven polypropylene and RPET are also a green alternative to paper shopping bags.

Canvas

Canvas is a coarsely textured, tightly woven fabric that can be crafted into anything from tents to casual shoes. It’s a sturdy material that’s easy to oil (to make it temporarily waterproof) and can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth, making it ideal for bags that carry a lot of food items or other messy materials.

Embroidery, painting, prints and more can all be added to a canvas bag to make it unique and even more appealing to its owner. Many of these adornments won’t be compatible with machine washing and may require a bit of manual TLC instead. Before proceeding with a manual wash, double-check the bag’s tag for washing safety recommendations.

If you determine that the bag can safely encounter warm water, submerge a soft-textured white cloth in it and gently wipe down the entire surface of the canvas bag. Be careful not to touch the sensitive adornments. If you’re not sure what to do with the metal pieces, try a small amount of metal cleaner to reinvigorate their shine.