We have had more than a few questions about which Interfacing should be used for crocheted/knitted bags or even old jumpers which have been up-cycled into bags. So below is our first Bag Doctor on call and with The Knitting and Stitching Show this coming 11 to 15th October 2017, we hope these helpful hints and tips will give you some inspiration for the show to come.
The Basics
When making a bag from a woollen/knitted product we recommend that you first make an inner bag that you will attach to the top opening of your knitted bag. This will help in several ways. It will stop the wool/yarn from stretching and becoming misshapen and it will make it easier to attach closures (such as zips or magnetic snaps) to the inner bag. We also suggest that if you are using a more open (holey) knit, you double the inner bag and turn it inside out, which will ensure that the interfacing and seams are hidden within the inner bag.
Frames and Handles
* If you are using a wooden frame or Handle you can knit around the frame, which will give stability to the top of your bag. We can also recommend using flexi-tube to get a similar effect, which, if you are knitting the bag from scratch, you can also hide within a knitted handle. This will give your handle strength and stop gravity from pulling it out of shape.
* Pre-made handles are another quick, easy, decorative alternative to make your woollen creations look great. Again, we recommend attaching these to either the top of the inner bag or use sew on handles and stitch through the wool and the lining (if you are using Decovil or similar).
* Webbing or strapping handles with or without adjustable straps can easily be attached to the inner bag and make for a very smart and polished look, see our Make Your Own Handles collection for everything you will need for this.
Interfacing and Bag Structure
Dependent on the finish you are after, there are several interfacing solutions you can use on knitted bags. We recommend the following:
* Decovil Fusible is great for stability and a more rigid stand-alone structure. Fuse it directly onto close weave knits and it would also be great to use with sew-on pre-made handles.
* Thermolam Plus Fusible or sew-in Thermolam both have a felt-like feel to them, and they give a soft, thicker, spongy, padded feel with medium support.
* Medium Loft 640 Fusible gives a squishy feel with a similar support to the Thermolams, but not quite as thick, making it ideal for use with sew-on frames. Great for an evening clutch with Finer Yarns for that extra special luxurious look.
* 2VG700-10 Woven White Iron On is a much less bulky alternative to Medium Loft, again for use with finer yarns and it won’t disturb the drape of your bag.
Please read the individual interfacing/lining product descriptions to better understand what each of them will achieve or read Lisa’s blog on interfacing here to get an in-depth guide on the all interfacings we sell.
