Add Interfacing To Support Sagging Home-made Handbags. Dress post 757 by Angela Lansbury.



 I wondered what to do to stop my evening bag sagging. I had made the bag from a sequin front top in size 6, which I consider child size. Both the bag and the flat ribbon straps needed support. Firstly for appearance. Secondly for durability.

Advantages of Interfacing

It wasn't long before I discovered the answer was interfacing. This fabric, looks like stiff off-white netting, if you order white, but websites also offered me black. Occasionally it is used only as a second layer of lining. 

Interfacing Colour Choices

The backing in white is clean and fresh and won't dirty or darken light or pale patterned top fabric. Black is less obvious and intrusive inside a black bag or belt or rucksack (backpack) and won't show the dirt. However, as the the name suggests, interfacing is not just a backing but usually an intermediate layer, like stiffer padding sandwiched between, for example, a woven jacket with a silk lining.

Why Interfacing Helps You Make Handbags And Clothes 

Interfacing has many uses. To stop the bag sagging. To stop woven and knitted looser fabrics stretching. To help the garment or bag keep its shape.

Advantages of Iron-On Interfacing

I was instantly attracted to the idea of iron on interfacing. It would stay in place, need no stitching. However, as I immediately decided, you cannot iron sequinned fabric. 

Disadvantages Of Iron-on Interfacing

All my sequinned clothes say do not iron. So ironing would not be advisable. It would flatten the sequins, and melt them. No, I am not going to waste sequins proving this point. I would just end up with mess all over my iron. Even if I were prepared to sacrifice a sequin or two. But to me sequins are like balloons to a baby. The destruction of even only one, in a room filled with several, would make me tearful.

If you search online for interfacing, you will get lots of ads and links.  Interfacing may sound obscure and technical to novice sewers. But Amazon has lots of offers. Add on Etsy. Then fabric houses and bead, sequins, fabric sewing machines and craft sellers. 

Choosing Which Type of Interfacing

All I wanted was a technical guide to which sort to buy. But Etsy was keen to sell me booklets and leaflets and paid for downloads on types of interfacing. Plus patterns for handbags, from sellers of patterns, fabrics and interfacing.

Black, white and coloured interfacing

Most offers were for white interfacing. A few offered all colours. I eventually realised that I needed and could find black, even though it would be hidden and not show, it might peep through.


A Quick Summary Of How To Use Interfacing

For a sequin bag

Interfacing for support.

Sew-on interfacing

Matching colour of the sandwich filling not vital, but satisfying, and safer because it might peep out along seams or be used uncovered in parts of your project.

Useful Websites For Interfacing And Making Belts And Handbags

Suppliers of Bags, Belts and Accessories:

Shein

Discount fabrics:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174949162072?_skw=interfacing+dressmaking

Black interfacing from B R Trimmings 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171075515960?_skw=sew+in+black+interfaci

Instructions On Bag Making

https://www.sewlyjo.com/2024/03/reinforcing-your-bag-for-durability.html

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