What Fabrics Should You Use For Bag Making?
What fabrics should you use for bag making" This question is asked by many individuals who are considering starting up a bag or pouch business. There are so many types of fabrics in the market that it gets confusing when choosing which fabric to work with.
This article aims to shed some light on this topic by highlighting the most common fabrics used for bag making.
1) Garment-weight Fabric (100% Weight)
This type gives an extremely smooth finish, has low opacity, very durable, wears well under stress & abrasion, does not fray much at edges but frays easily in the machine itself, works well with most machines (home or industrial), and can be washed. These types of fabrics work best for bags which require structure & firmness like laptop bags, tote bags, handbags, etc.
Garment-weight fabrics are strong enough for many uses so it is perfect for items that need to stand up to wear and tear. Garment-weight fabrics also do well when containing shape or holding their form. This type of fabric should not be used for clothes because the weight can cause them to hang awkwardly because they are too heavy for lighter body types. If you use garment-weight fabric for clothes then they could bunch up in areas instead of drapingsmoothly because this fabric does not stretch or give at all (perfect for non stretchable items).
For clothes and tote bags without structure and firmness, the fabric is very stiff and difficult to move.
2) Non-Woven Fabric (100% Weight)
Non-woven fabrics are made of synthetic fibers that have been molded into a single sheet. These types of fabrics give a soft finish with medium opacity, less durable than garment-weight fabric, frays easily in the machine itself but not at edges, works well with most machines (home or industrial), can be washed & dry cleaned. These types of fabrics work best for laptop sleeve covers, tote bags, pencil cases etc. because it gives them a unique look and feel and may add function and convenience. This type should not be used for clothing because it does not drape like regular fabric.
Non-woven fabrics are good for items that do not need much structure or firmness because this type of fabric has no natural shape or form at all.
3) Woven Fabric (100% Weight)
frays easily in the machine itself but not at edges, works well with most machines (home or industrial), can be washed & dry cleaned. These types of fabrics work best for everyday bags and backpacks because it is strong enough carry heavy loads without tears or holes.
Woven fabrics are easy to work with and gives good shape and form, which is why they are the ideal fabric for most clothes and backpacks.
4) Knit Fabric (95% Weight)
machines (home or industrial), can be washed & dry cleaned. These types of fabrics work best for bags where you want durability plus flexibility because it does not crease easily.
The only downside about knit fabric is that it is difficult to work with when sewing if you are not used to doing it because the fabric stretches too easily. Knit fabrics are good for bags that need shape and flexibility like laptop backpacks, messenger bags, sports bags, etc. because this type of fabric moves well in all directions without creasing or restricting movement.
Since knit fabrics stretch so much it can be difficult to achieve firmness because the fabric will pull in every direction when you tryto make something firm out of it (e.g., yoga mats). And, because of how stretchy this fabric is it only works well for bags that require flexibility.
5) Felt Fabric (100% Weight)
Since felt does not stretch very much this means that it is difficult to make firm items out of felt (e.g., yoga mats and bags).
Felt is good for flexible items like yoga mats because it can be pulled in all directions without creasing or tearing. This means that the fabric remains malleable during exercise.
6) Jersey Fabric (95% Weight)
drapes very nicely over the body and the fine surface of the fabric makes for very comfortable clothes.
Although jersey fabrics are stretchy they do not give much shape or form to items that are made out of it because it is difficult to create something firm out of this type of fabric (e.g., yoga mats).
Jersey fabrics are good for clothing like t-shirts because they drape well over the body and feel soft against the skin. This type of fabric does not restrict movement either, which makes it ideal for active wear.
7) Jacquard Fabric (100% Weight)
Jacquard fabrics are created by weaving a decorative pattern onto a warp faced textile before dyeing & finishing it in such a way that when you look at the reverse side you still see the same pattern (only reversed). These types of fabrics give low opacity, strong and durable against abrasion & stress but not against pilling and water, frays easily on edges but not on the machine itself, works best with industrial machines or sergers, can be dry cleaned or handwashed. This type of fabric work good for yoga mats because it is strong enough to hold you up while still being flexible so that your movement isn't restricted during exercise.
Since jacquard fabrics stretch very little it is easy to make firm items out of this type of fabric (e.g., yoga mats and bags).
Jacquard fabrics are good for yoga mats because they provide strength without restricting range of motion. The on the fabric also adds a bit of visual interest.
8) Lace Fabric (100% Weight)
Lace fabrics are created by creating a pattern on a mesh fabric and then filling the spaces in between the threads with something that is lighter weight than the threads themselves. These types of fabrics give low opacity, slightly sheer & drapes easily but frays easily at edges, works well with most machines (home or industrial), can be washed & dry cleaned. This type of fabric work perfect for lingerie because it falls nicely over the body and creates a sexy silhouette without restricting movement. Although lace fabrics do stretch they do not offer much flexibility as far as thickness goes.
9) Canvas or Heavy Cotton
Canvas is a very durable material that can be used for bags of all sizes, from shopping bags to laptop bags. It comes in different weights and has variations in durability depending on weight. A lighter weight canvas will be more prone to tearing compared with a heavyweight one.
However, lightweight canvas makes the best choice when it comes to dyeing because of its porous nature. Canvas is ideal for men's travel
bags since it can withstand heavy use without tearing apart easily. On the other hand, heavy cotton is more suitable for women's handbags because it adds glamour while also being easy to maintain and clean.
10) Nylon
Nylon is another common material used in bag making due to its durability and water resistance. It is also a good substitute for canvas when you want a lighter weight fabric, although it lacks the stiffness of canvas. It is best used for sports bags because of its strong properties.
Moreover, it has a shiny surface that gives off a metallic look. This makes it perfect for your regular office bags as well as casual evening bags. As an alternative to nylon, you can use twill which has similar qualities but will be easier on your hand because of its softness compared with the stiff feel of nylon. This will also comes in different weights depending on weave density and is available in many colors.
Remember you can always visit our fabric Store in UK or check out our website - www.darbari.co.uk for more info on any of our fabrics!
Have a great day friends!
