easier to sew with, while fine silk andsatin are very slippery. Natural dupion silk
is sturdy, has a lovely soft-sheen and an
interesting texture from the small slubs in
the fabric. Shimmery satin fabric makes a
glamorous lining in an evening bag. Use a
fine sewing machine needle when sewing
with silk or satin. Try using silk or satin for
any special occasion bags and purses.
Getting Started
Faux/real suede Usually used for the exterior of bags,
faux suede is similar in nature to velvet. Real suede
is dense and harder to sew through than woven faux
suede. If you feel that suede is too fragile for your bags
it can be strengthened with interfacing. Be sure to use
a leather needle for sewing suede. Try using real suede
for smaller special occasion bags and small handbags.
Real and faux leather is similar in its uses to suede but
has a shiny surface, often requiring a non-stick sewing
machine foot.
Fabric Preparation and Cutting
There’s nothing like making a start on a new sewing
project. But before you rush in with your scissors it’s worth
taking time to prepare and cut your fabrics in a methodical
way. The following tips will help you speed up the cutting
process and end up with a more professional-looking bag.
Fabric preparation tips
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If you want to be able to wash your bags, you
will need to pre-wash your fabric to prevent the
fabric from shrinking during washing. Put your
fabric in a mesh bag to help prevent the raw
edges fraying in the washing machine.
Note: I don’t pre-wash my fabrics because I
don’t think it’s a good idea to wash bags. I
prefer to ‘spot wash’ by dabbing the affected
area with a moist cloth and a mild detergent.
Rather than washing your fabrics, you could
try using fabric protector sprays instead to help
repel dirt and block stains. Always read the
instructions and test the spray on a small piece
of your fabric first to ensure it is suitable.
Always iron your fabrics thoroughly before
cutting them.
Speed things up by ironing woven fusible
interfacing (if using) to the wrong side of fabrics
before cutting out. See Fig a.
A finger presser is a handy non-heat tool that
can be used in place of an iron. The flat surface
is angled so that it can effectively flatten seams
open or make folds in fabric – perfect for when
working with laminated cloth or for ‘quickie’
ironing jobs during sewing.
It is always a good idea to use a pressing cloth
when ironing onto the RS of your fabrics. A
pressing cloth will protect your precious work
from dirt, scorch and water marks from your iron.
Getting Started
a
b
Fig a Wherever possible iron fusible interfacing (if using)
onto the WS of fabrics before pattern cutting. This saves the
bother of having to match up and iron an interfacing pattern
piece to the fabric pattern piece.
Fig b A rotary cutter makes cutting straight edges so much
faster and neater. If you have a steady hand, a rotary cutter is
great for curved edges too. Always use a rotary cutting mat
– they not only protect your table, they also help keep the
blade sharper for longer.
Fabric cutting tips
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Always cut on a flat surface and clear the decks
before you get cutting.
Always use sharp scissors or a sharp rotary
cutter for cutting your fabrics. This will ensure
that you get clean and accurate cuts every time.
If you are using a rotary cutter ensure that you
