Home Decor fabric for purses?

[Claire Hallman]

Just be aware that home dec fabric is treated to resist staining and fading and if/when you wash it this will go down the drain. It does make beautiful bags though.

[Suzyq]

Ohhh these bags are beautiful! I was sitting in a coffee shop not long ago, on my own playing on my ipad when two ladies sitting next to me started talking about making bags. That gotme earwiggin' as my English hubby says! Anyway, tried to learn as much as I could as I too love making bags. Anyway one says she uses upholstery lining for her bags as is much sturdier, and glues her grommets when installing them for extra measure. What are the chances of sitting next to these ladies!?

[Lilly]

Great tips, SuzyQ!

[songbird857]

Lilly,
I'm still playing with different linings and stabilizers to see what I love! The bicycle print actually has 2 linings - the outer fabric is lined with a heavy non fusible (I'll have to look later), the inner fabric is lined with fusible fleece; the bag is really sturdy and I think would safely hold a laptop if it had a clasp of some sort on it - my laptop fit perfectly in that one. The blue one with the grommets has a very thin layer of fusible woven; if I make this one again, I will line it with something a bit more stiff! The jewelry totes are lined with just the heavy non fusible and I like the feel of them; perfect for the use they will get. I also have some car headliner (as has been discussed on the forum before) - haven't tried it yet though.
I think a lot is preference and what you are using the bag for! You'll get a good idea pretty quickly of what works well and what doesn't - and it's only a bag; small and quick to put together. So it's ok to try out different stuff pretty easily!

[SallyO'Sews]

My only suggestion would be to use a slightly larger size needle than usual - like a 14/90. You might want to stitch on some scraps first to make sure. Can't wait to see pics of the finished products!

[bakermom]

I've used for several purses/bags. I've carefully washed them a few times with good results. Made DIL a Birdie sling(Amy butler) about 5 years ago with some and it's been used continually and washed pretty often with no problems

[sassygranny]

I would totally go for it. Don't tell anybody, but I've actually been known to make clothes out of home decor fabric.

[Bneighbor]

I have been making bags for about 2 years and LOVE the remnant bin at Joann's and Hobby Lobby. I have several patterns I use as my go-to-bags. I have used the templates from Sewing with Nancy and they make really nice bags. Her suggestion was to use the fabric that is used as headliner fabric for cars. I bought mine at Joann's and it turned out beautiful, giving nice body a soft sturdiness to the bag. Soft, yet sturdy enough to almost stand on it's own (fabric for body was a cotton drapery fabric). If i had used a stiffer upholstery fabric, the purse would need a little more stabilization and then it would most likely stand up on it's own. I love the bags in the picture. I just picked up a yard of the "french bicycle" fabric and cannot wait to make myself a bag. I think embroidering the Eiffel Tower on it would be cute.

[alliek]

Beautiful, my only question is: it says "dry clean only" ? So what happens if it gets wet? Yet, it is cotton. Those of you who have experience with this: Do you have any problems? Thanks, I am curious.

[Slokarma]

If it 100% cotton, it is usually dry clean only because of the treatment on the fabric and shrinkage. I have washed this type and it usually takes the finish off, making it a duller color and shrinks it up some. I did this with some curtains and I went ahead and washed them because they were for a kids room and I wanted to be able to wash them all the time.