Choosing foam for sewing bags

I LOVE using foam for sewing bags: it adds lots of structure to a bag, without adding weight.  These brands are very popular and offer excellent quality: Pellon Flex Foam,  Vilene Style-Vil, By Annie’s Soft and Stable, Bosal In-R-Form.

I adore them all, but I am aware that these brands are not available in every country and that not everyone can afford to purchase them.

You may also like:
Tips for sewing with foam
Sewing with foam
Batting, interfacing and foam scraps – what to do with them?

Do you know that there are other types of foam on the market, if you fall in the above category? They are used in upholstery, also for car headliner. You probably can find some in large fabric stores, in  the home-décor department. Online search on ebay.

The foam I buy here in Romania is 54” wide (140 cm) and it is less expensive than the brands mentioned above (which come in half the width). Here are a few samples: (the second is Bosal)

Many types of foam are easy to sew, the foam compress easily under the foot, however challenges arise while sewing multiple layers.

Here are some things to check for when selecting foam for your project:
1. BACKING

The foam is covered on both sides (sometimes only on one side) with a backing made out of different materials. This backing is important and it is what may cause problems.

There is a tricot backing, or net-like backing – this sort of backing is easy to work with and does not add too much weight to the foam.

There is a velvet/fleece-like backing  – this sort of foam is trickier to use.

This is the one I used for my latest bag (the blue coral bag below): the foam is very thin, the backing is thin as well but very stiff!
You must experiment with different types until you find the ones that work best for you – what works for a simple bag may not work for a complicated one.

2. COLOR of BACKING/FOAM

If you use light color fabric, your foam must be covered with a light color backing.
If your foam is dark color, try to first fuse a lightweight woven interfacing to the fabric (to reduce its transparency) and only after that add foam.

See below the look of the foam samples and my latest bag.

Have you seen my latest bag and pouch patterns- Textured Elegance?

What I love most at these patterns 
These patterns teach you new techniques that you will be able to use in other future projects! Here is the proof!
The bag above finished with the techniques used for the pouch – zipper closure instead of magnetic snap closure and a different way to box the bottom of the bag.

I am in love this bags!

If you already bought these patterns, here is what you have to do if you want to replicate this bag (see the front panel of my textured bag below):
– you have to insert the straps between the top band and folded block panel; in this way you will not have to handle both the zipper and straps on the top edge; also, I made the top band 1” narrower than the original size
– I cut the bottom panel of the bag in two halves and I added one to the front panel and one to the back panel of the bag
– I used the techniques of the pouch pattern to sew the top zipper closure and box the bottom of the panels.

I hope you will give these techniques a try!
Check out the details of these patterns below.

Textured Elegance Bag and Pouch Patterns
Textured Bliss Quilt patterns
Bundle of Textured Bliss and Elegance 

Happy sewing!