What do you use for the stabilizers in the bottom of the purses you all make? How much do you pay for those pieces?

What size do you use or need most often?

Where does anyone buy their plastic canvas?
WM quilt selling it, Michaels (our local one) only gets in 12 sheets a week and is telling the customers they can't order more than that!

I always use two plastic canvas sheets from Michaels, but someone posted how they used plexiglass that they had cut for them at one of the home center stores. It was really a good price for about 8 rectangular pieces.

I get mine at Joanns. They have sheets their about 1 1/2 times the regular size. I think they are about $1.50 each. I use 2 for the bottoms of my bags. I just do a running stitch around the edge and insert it into the sleeve. I have also been using the thicker fusible fleece for the outside of the bags and the thinner for the inside, handles and any pockets. Using the fleece this way it doesn't really seem like I need a bottom anymore because the are pretty firm making them this way.

I've used plastic mesh (Darice #7 mesh - aka perforated plastic).

I've heard other cutting up their old, warped cutting boards for tote bottoms!

I use foam core poster board from Hobby Lobby or the local dollar store. I make a fabric sleeve to fit snugly over it and then hot glue or slip stitch the open end closed. This is inexpensive and can be cut easily with an exacto or razor knife.

I found some plastic placemats at the thrift store and they make good bottoms too. Can double them if you want more stiffness.

I had someone at a quilt store recommend template plastic, but to be sure and round the corners so it doesn't poke through the fabric.

You can also use the corrugated plastic that everyone is using to wrap their fabric around! Just make sure to round off the corners! There is a company that sells pieces of acrylic with the sole purpose of being a bag bottom, they are called Bag-E-Bottoms. Here is another option http://www.tallpoppycraft.com/catalo...oducts_id=535.

I perosnally like using two pieces of plastic canvas cut to the size of the bottom, then tie the two together with a piece of yarn so they don't come apart. Instead of making a case for them to go in and can be removed I place them between the bottom of the bag and the lining before I sew the "turning hole" up. This way I don't have to fuss with it, it can still be washed like any other bag and the plastic will fall back in to place as you restructure the bag!

Oh and if nothing else call another non-local Michaels and see if they can order it for you! If they can then take that back to the other store as ammo to get them to order you more!

I use the Dollar Store thick plastic placemats. The mats are 2/$1 and I can get 3 bag bottoms from one.

I can't tell you the brand, but I use stuff called craft backing. It's an iron on, bu it's really stiff. Sometimes I use it on the outer shell bottom and then again on the lining bottom. The sticky is just on one side so it's great for purse bottoms

My Joann's has plastic canvas. I used a dbl. layer covered with fabric in the bottom of my first Bow Tucks & wish I'd bought more for my second one.
I sure admire those of you who have piles of Bow Tucks now. I had as much trouble with my second one as I did my first. I think it's because I thought it would go faster therefore, I made some stupid mistakes.

I sew a removeable fabric pocket and use cardboard, I try to re-use everything I can :) I have never made a bowtucks but have made lots of others,it works great for me.those I have gifted the bags to don't seem to mind .If I were selling them I may have to come up with something else but for now cardboard works!

I just use heavy card board with a fabric cover.

Vicky

Vera Bradley bags, which are pricey, use a heavy dense cardboard (like what is in on the back of a note pad, but maybe 1/8" thick) inside a fabric sleeve.

I went boating with friends a couple of years ago, and my bag (which was a gift) got wet. In trying to dry it, I found the cardboard, which did not smell too good w/ the lake water & wasn't washable, either...

I also use heavy cardboard in the bottoms. Free and easily replaced.

Our JoAnns has the plastic canvas.

I use foam core board, 1 sheet makes a lot of bag bottoms. I make a sleeve that can be removed and washed as needed.

I use masonite board....DH cuts it to size for me.
it runs me about .50/bag
I sew a pillowcase for the board that is removable so that the whole Bow Tucks bag can be washed.

I've actually been scrounging around for anything economical. I've got some heavy cardboard....I work with a bunch of guys, and one of them brought me a political sign...I think i can use that once it's cut to size. Any heavy cardboard I find goes home with me...I figure if I'm making a 'sleeve' for them, it can be just about anything sturdy enough! :)

I use the foam core also. I am lazy though, when I make my sleeve to put foam core in I just make it longer and tuck the end into the sleeve. I haven't had a problem with that method. It just saves a little time when finishing. It can easily be removed to launder the bag.

Great idea!!

Another suggestion: if you have old cutting mats, cut them to size and usse as bag bottom.

I use 2 layers of plastic canvas - have been very lucky to find it at garage sales or thrift store. I did use cardboard one time, thankfully it was my purse! I accidetally knocked over a cup of soda on the car seat where the purse was sitting - destroyed the cardboard and had to make a new bottom for my purse.

Have also recycled some plexiglas for purse bottoms - I did sand the edges and slightly round the corners so they would not wear through the fabric covering. No problem so far and one of the purses I've used for about a year now.

I would be happy to send you some plastic canvas. PM me your address. I have to mail out some fabric this week so I will be at the post office anyway. :)

I use the plastic kitchen cutting mats that you can buy from the dollar tree. I cut 2 pieces and then make a sleeve
to cover it. It seems to hold up pretty good.

I use the heavy mat boards from the art department at the craft store. I make a "sleeve" out of fabric and cover the mat board and they hold up really well.

I own a sign shop and we have a material called PVC. It comes in different thickness but I use the 3mm and cut it to size and then round the corners. I had bought a Bag E Bottom when I made my first Margo purse. They are expensive !! This material works just great even without being covered with fabric. It won't bend like corrugated plastic or foam board.

Try your local sign shops or a plastic distributor. They will most likely have scraps since the material comes in 4' x 8' sheets.

I use scraps of the mat board used around pictures. Sometimes I can get it for free. Check with places that do framing.

The pattern I used from Allpeoplequilt to make tote bags calls for Peltex in the bottom. It goes between the bag and the lining so it is never seen. It has worked well so far.

That's what I use too.

We recently put laminate flooring in several rooms of our home. My husband cuts pieces for me for my bags. It looks rather pretty, so I don't cover it. I just take the bottom out to wash bag.

I have access to x-ray films. I use them cut to size and put into a sleeve I make. I tryed to think outside of the box.

I use foam board - found at Michael's - and cover it with fabric. Just remember to remove it before washing your bag.

good idea'

I order from Joann's

Loreen I have that pattern if I can find it. I forgot all about it. Thank you putting that picture up. . .now. . .where did it get off too.

If I would stay off my computer I would get more quilts made. . .ha ha.

Another option is to use those flexible kitchen cutting boards. I found them in a 3-pack at Wal-Mart. They are in the housewares section.

I buy peel & stick floor tiles (12" usually) from Home Depot or Lowes. They come in different weights so you can choose what you want but they can be very cheap (maybe 70 cents each). One tile will make 3 bag bottoms if they are 4" x 12" (or less). They are easy to cut to size using one of your quilt rulers and a utility knife. Leave the paper backing on the tile.

I prefer to make a cover for the base...if you leave it "envelope-style" the cover can be removed for washing.

I like the stability of these bottoms -- the fabric canvas (which I bought from Joann's) was too floppy for me.

Mostly, I use the small mesh plastic sheets from JoAnn's (or wherever I find them cheap)... measure the size of the bag bottom, cut 2 from the sheet and make sleeve with fabric that matches the lining of the bag and slide them in. Then I hand stitch closed the small open end. In the past I also cut down a large rotary cutting mat, when it got warped, and used it instead of the plastic canvas... Also, once in awhile my DH will buy plexiglass (for use in very large picture frames to keep weight down) and he will take the leftover plexi and cut it down to size and sand edges for me to use in bags, too.

I stumbled upon the self stick craft foam. I use two thin sheets, trim to size and sew them onto the back side of the lining. Have not had a problem with this technique. I bought a purse with the plastic canvas, it wore holes in the corners and eventually the canvas became brittle and broke all to pices.