What Interfacing Should I Use for Bag Making? A Complete Guide

Choosing the right interfacing for a bag can make the difference between a finished project that looks beautifully structured and one that ends up a little too floppy.

But with so many different interfacings and stabilisers available, knowing which one to use isn't always straightforward.

Should you use H250? G700? A heavier stabiliser? Woven interfacing? Or perhaps more than one layer?

The answer depends on the type of bag you're making, the fabric you're using and, most importantly, how much structure you want the finished bag to have.

In this guide, we'll look at the different types of interfacing commonly used for bag making and help you choose the right option for your project.

Why do bags need interfacing?

Unlike a dress or blouse, where maintaining the natural drape of the fabric can be important, many bags need some additional structure.

Without interfacing or stabiliser, a fabric bag can:

• Lose its shape
• Collapse when empty
• Feel too floppy
• Stretch during construction
• Have less body
• Make pockets and handles harder to construct

Interfacing gives the fabric additional body, stability and support.

However, you don't necessarily want the stiffest interfacing you can find.

A small fabric pouch and a large structured handbag have very different requirements.

What is the best interfacing for bags?

There isn't one single "best" interfacing for every bag.

A useful way to think about it is:

These are starting points rather than hard rules. Always consider the fabric and pattern instructions before choosing.

Vlieseline H250 for bag making

Vlieseline H250 is a non-woven fusible interfacing that can be particularly useful when you want to add body and firmness to fabric.

It can work well for:

• Tote bags
• Pouches
• Small bags
• Fabric baskets
• Accessories
• Bag pockets
• Bag flaps

One of the advantages of H250 is that it can give fabric noticeable additional structure without necessarily requiring a specialist bag stabiliser.

If you're making your first fabric bag, H250 can be a useful product to experiment with.

Tip: If your pattern recommends H250, follow those instructions rather than automatically substituting another interfacing simply because it looks similar.

Is woven interfacing good for bags?

Yes.

Woven interfacing can be an excellent choice for bag making, particularly when you want to support the fabric without making it feel excessively rigid.

Vlieseline G700 and B700 are examples of woven fusible interfacings.

Because woven interfacing behaves more like fabric, it can be particularly useful where you want the finished bag to retain some of the character of the outer fabric.

It can also be useful for lighter bags and fabric accessories.

G700 for bag making

Vlieseline G700 is a woven cotton fusible interfacing.

It can be useful when making bags where you want:

• Additional support
• A fabric-like feel
• Less stiffness than some heavier stabilisers
• A more natural drape

It can work particularly well with cotton and other lightweight to medium-weight fabrics.

However, if you're making a very structured handbag, G700 alone may not provide enough structure.

That's where a dedicated stabiliser or heavier interfacing may be more appropriate.

B700 for bag making

Vlieseline B700 is another woven cotton fusible interfacing.

It's particularly interesting if you're looking for a woven interfacing with biodegradable properties.

B700 is 100% cotton, 90gsm and 90cm wide, with a biodegradable adhesive.

Because it is a relatively lightweight woven interfacing, it is better thought of as providing support and stability rather than turning a soft fabric into a rigid bag.

That can be useful for softer bags where you want the fabric to retain some flexibility.

What about heavier bag stabilisers?

Sometimes ordinary interfacing simply isn't enough.

If you want a bag that:

• Stands up by itself
• Has very defined sides
• Holds its shape when empty
• Has a structured base
• Has a more professional, rigid appearance

you may need a dedicated bag stabiliser or heavier interfacing.

These products are designed specifically to introduce significantly more structure.

However, there's a trade-off.

The more structure you add, the more difficult some parts of the construction can become.

Very stiff materials can make:

• Turning the bag more difficult
• Sewing through multiple layers harder
• Corners more difficult to manipulate
• Topstitching more challenging
• Handles and seams bulkier

So don't automatically reach for the heaviest stabiliser available.

Should you interface the whole bag?

Not necessarily.

This is something that can easily get overlooked.

Depending on the pattern, you may only need interfacing on particular sections.

For example:

• Main outer panels
• Bag base
• Handles
• Pockets
• Flaps
• Straps

The pattern instructions should normally tell you which pieces need interfacing.

If you're designing your own bag, you'll need to decide how much structure each component requires.

Should bag handles be interfaced?

Often, yes.

Handles experience considerably more stress than the main body of the bag.

Without sufficient support, fabric handles can stretch, twist or feel too soft.

The right approach depends on the construction of the handles and the fabric you're using.

You might use:

• Fusible interfacing
• Woven interfacing
• A heavier stabiliser
• Multiple layers of interfacing
• A combination of fabric and stabilising materials

Again, test your chosen combination before making the finished handles.

What about the bottom of a bag?

The base of a bag often needs additional support.

Think about what happens when you put a bottle, purse, book or other items inside it.

All that weight is being transferred through the base.

For a soft tote, ordinary interfacing may be enough.

For a structured handbag or basket-style bag, you may want additional stabilisation in the base.

A useful approach can be to use different levels of structure in different parts of the same bag.

For example:

Main panels: Medium interfacing
Handles: Additional support
Base: Heavier stabilisation

This can give you a structured bag without making every part unnecessarily stiff.

Can you use two layers of interfacing?

Sometimes.

Using two layers can increase the overall structure, but you need to be careful.

Two layers aren't always simply "twice as good".

They can make the fabric:

• Very thick
• Difficult to sew
• Difficult to turn
• Difficult to press
• Too rigid

If you're considering multiple layers, make a test sample first.

Cut a small piece of your actual fabric and apply the proposed layers.

Then try sewing through the same number of layers you'll encounter in the finished project.

That's much better than discovering halfway through construction that your sewing machine doesn't enjoy the combination!

Woven vs non-woven interfacing for bags

If you've read our previous guide on woven vs non-woven interfacing, you'll already know that the two types behave differently.

For bags, both can be useful.

Woven

Choose a woven interfacing when you want:

• A more fabric-like feel
• Support without excessive stiffness
• Good compatibility with fabric
• A softer, more flexible bag

Non-woven

Choose a non-woven interfacing when you want:

• Additional body
• Stability
• Firmness
• A simpler interfacing solution

Neither is automatically better.

It's about achieving the finished result you want.

What interfacing should I use for a tote bag?

Tote bags are usually relatively straightforward projects, making them a good place to experiment with interfacing.

For a soft everyday tote, a lightweight or medium-weight woven interfacing can provide useful support while retaining flexibility.

For a more structured tote, something like H250 may provide more body.

If you want the tote to stand upright when empty, you may need a heavier stabiliser or additional support.

The fabric itself makes a huge difference too.

A heavy canvas may need considerably less support than a lightweight cotton.

What interfacing should I use for a pouch?

Small pouches are another good application for medium-weight fusible interfacing.

H250 can be particularly useful when you want a pouch to have more body.

A woven interfacing can also work well where you want a softer, more fabric-like result.

For a very soft pouch, you may not need particularly heavy interfacing at all.

For a structured cosmetic case or box pouch, you may want significantly more stabilisation.

What interfacing should I use for a handbag?

Handbags can vary enormously.

A soft fabric shoulder bag and a structured handbag are effectively two completely different projects when it comes to stabilisation.

For a softer handbag:

Consider a woven interfacing or medium-weight fusible.

For a structured handbag:

Consider a dedicated bag stabiliser or heavier interfacing.

And remember that the lining, fabric weight, handles and construction method all contribute to the final structure.

What about denim, canvas and upholstery fabrics?

The heavier your outer fabric, the less additional support it may need.

For example, a heavyweight canvas already has considerable body.

Adding a very heavy interfacing could make the project unnecessarily difficult to sew.

On the other hand, a lightweight cotton may benefit considerably from interfacing.

This is why the fabric weight should always be considered alongside the interfacing weight.

A simple bag-making interfacing guide

If you're unsure where to start:

Lightweight cotton + soft bag

Try a lightweight woven interfacing.

Lightweight cotton + everyday tote

Consider a medium-weight interfacing such as H250 or a suitable woven interfacing.

Medium-weight cotton + structured tote

Consider H250 or a more substantial stabiliser depending on the desired finish.

Heavy canvas + tote

You may need little or no additional interfacing, depending on the pattern.

Small pouch

H250 or a suitable woven fusible can work well.

Structured handbag

Consider a dedicated bag stabiliser or heavier interfacing.

Don't forget the lining

The lining can also affect the final structure of your bag.

A structured outer fabric combined with a structured lining can produce a much firmer result than either fabric would achieve individually.

Likewise, a soft outer fabric and soft lining can result in a very flexible bag.

If you're struggling to achieve the structure you want, don't just look at the outer fabric.

Consider the entire combination of outer fabric, interfacing, lining and stabiliser.

Always make a test piece

This is probably the most important advice in this article.

Before applying your chosen interfacing to an entire bag, test it.

Use the actual outer fabric and make a small sample.

If possible, test:

• One layer of interfacing
• Two layers if you're considering them
• Different stabilisers
• Handle construction
• Multiple fabric layers

Then see how the material behaves.

Does it stand up? Is it too floppy? Is it too stiff? Can you sew it comfortably?

It's much easier to change your mind before cutting the entire bag.

The biggest mistake when choosing bag interfacing

The most common mistake is probably choosing an interfacing based purely on how stiff it feels on the roll.

It can be tempting to think:

"I want a structured bag, so I'll use the stiffest thing I can find."

But the finished result depends on much more than the interfacing.

Your:

• Outer fabric
• Lining
• Number of layers
• Seam allowances
• Handles
• Bag construction
• Stabiliser
• Interfacing

all work together.

The goal isn't to make the fabric as stiff as possible.

The goal is to achieve the right amount of structure for the bag you're making.

Quick reference: which should I choose?

Always check your pattern instructions first, as the designer may specify a particular product.

Shop bag-making interfacing

At The Yorkshire Sewing Guy, we stock a growing range of interfacings and stabilisers suitable for sewing, dressmaking, quilting and bag making.

From Vlieseline H250, G700 and B700 to our own 100% cotton woven fusible interfacing, there's a range of options for different fabrics and levels of structure.

Browse Interfacings & Interlinings

And if you're unsure what you need for your particular project, feel free to get in touch. We'd much rather help you choose the right product than see you buy something that isn't suitable.