If you are looking to work on a new sewing project at home, you can often be stuck for choice on what to make next! Here at Fabrics Galore, one smaller project we always recommend to our customers is designing your own bags.
Depending on whether you want a matching bag for an outfit, a practical tote for shopping or even a school shoe bag to make with your kids, there are so many different fabric options to design and create a bag, you can really let your imagination run wild. Bag making isn’t only a fun project, but they are also a very practical addition to your everyday life, and can be designed in many shapes, sizes, and with all kinds of fabric prints. If you would like to learn more about how to make your own, and what fabrics you should use for bag making, feel free to continue reading.
Cotton fabric
Cotton is always such a versatile material and can be used for so many different projects - including bags! One of the delightful aspects of this fabric is that it is available in so many different prints and colours, so you can really create a bag design which truly reflects your personality. 100% cotton is also a very durable fabric, which if you look out for the OEKO-TEX label is sustainable and good for the environment, as well as machine washable. People often make tote bags with cotton panama fabric, which is heavier weight than a standard cotton as they are perfect for everyday shopping purposes and can easily be folded away when not in use.
Canvas and water repellant fabric
Typically made out of cotton, canvas is a strong and durable plain-woven fabric which is the perfect material to use when making a bag. It’s generally an inexpensive purchase, as well as easily available in various colours and patterns; we have a wide range available on the Fabrics Galore website for you to take a look at. Because it’s quite a weighty fabric, canvas is excellent for bags as it can be used to design so many different bag shapes, but still creating the strong structure you desire from an everyday accessory. If you are worried about having a waterproof bag, shop from our range of cotton coated water repellant fabrics which will work well in wet weather.
Tapestry fabric
This home furnishing fabric may not be the first material to come to mind when you are looking for bag fabrics, but is a great option nonetheless. Tapestry fabric is a type of heavyweight cotton and is one of the oldest forms of woven textiles. It is often used to make cushions and curtains, but it can also be used to design wonderful tote bags which really stand out from the crowd. As tapestry fabrics come in so many different patterns and materials, you really have endless opportunities to express your personal style using lots of colours! Although it may be a little bit more expensive than your everyday cotton, it really is worth every penny if you want to design something a little different.
Tweed fabric
Tweed is a timeless material, which can be used for so many different purposes - including creating wonderful bags. Tweed has often been showcased across bag collections before, including the iconic Chanel 2.55 bag which was released in 1955, and since then this legendary fashion house has dominated the tweed bag market.
At Fabrics Galore, we have wonderful Abraham Moon tweed available who use a very highly skilled process in order to dye the wool in over 500 different shades and colours. It’s a very durable material which is still breathable and moisture resistant, making it perfect for an everyday bag.
Would you like to buy bag fabrics?
At Fabrics Galore, we have a variety of gorgeous materials available which are perfect for bag making projects. The Fabrics Galore range really does have a fabric for every design,whether you are looking for botanical, florals, geometric, striped or animal fabric designs. We also supply bag strapping and pomp om trims to jazz up your designs. To understand what makes a suitable fabric for bag making in more detail, feel free to contact a member of our team who would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
