coopah

I've read many of the posts about handbags (purses) and am totally lost about which is the best interfacing to use, so I'd like to hear your suggestions. Also, I'll be making simple bags for groceries and am wondering if those should have interfacing or not. They'll be washed a lot and aren't expected to have much form. So what do you do?

ka9sdn

For purses I usually follow the pattern suggestion. It depends on what purse you are making but a lot of mine use fusible fleece. For the grocery bags I do not interface but I do overcast/zig-zag my seams. Have fun

Buckeye Rose

For bags that I have been making, similar to bowtucks, I use pellon 973F or 971F....I have found that the quilting will help to stiffen the bag a bit, but still be soft

IrishgalfromNJ

I have the Must Have Tote Bag Pattern from Crafty Gemini and it doesn't require any interfacing. It is made with decorator cotton which is a little heavier than quilting cotton and you could probably use canvas or outdoor fabric to make it, as well. Here is a link to the pattern https://www.robora.com/s/7Neu5nV. The pattern only costs $3.00 and it comes with a video tutorial. I learned french seams with this one.

As far as purses go, I have made the bow tuck and it uses fusible fleece to give the purse body. I have also made a Debbie Shore purse that called for heavyweight interfacing. Debbie Shore has free sewing tutorials on Youtube.

ManiacQuilter2

I have been making grocery bags for a couple of years. I don't need to use any interfacing. My friend found the pattern for free online.

PaperPrincess

When I want a really heavy bag, I use Long creek Mills' "Stiffy" (now get your head out of the gutter). You can't beat the price. I usually order a 35 yard roll. Very similar to timtex, but without the price
http://www.longcreekmills.com/product/stabilizer3.html

Ginaky

For purses I love Soft and Stable. It doesn't have to be quilted and gives them a great body that lets them stand up instead of collapse. I use it for the Mini Bow Tucks and really like how they turn out.

QM

Years ago, my father brought home an entire dumpster load of good quality poly /cotton jacket fabric strips. Mom and I made about 200 shopping bags in various colored stripes of fabric, and sold them to benefit our church. These were unlined with no interfacing. 55 years later, my son complained that his 5 ("borrowed" from me) had just given out. If you need ones that stand, use interfacing. If not, don't bother.

coopah

Thanks for all the help on this. I really wanted to hear what the experts on QB used. I think I'll be able to go from here. Paper Princess, I'm sure glad I didn't have a mouthful of tea when I read your post, or that tea would've been through my nose and all over the room! Thanks for the laugh! You all get kudos for helping. :-)

mighty

For grocery type totes I use left over batting and quilt the bag before lining it. Makes a nice tote.