When sewing bag bases or creating items that need more structure like tote bags or cushion covers—using interfacing gives your project a clean, professional look. Here's how to choose and use it effectively:
What is interfacing?
Interfacing is a type of fabric that has adhesive resin sprayed onto it. It’s applied to other fabrics to add thickness or help prevent wrinkles and maintain the shape of the fabric even after washing. There are various types depending on the intended use.
How to use interfacing?
1. Iron the fabric
Thoroughly press the fabric you want to apply the interfacing to with an iron. The thinner the fabric, the more likely it is to wrinkle when applying interfacing, so be sure to smooth it out carefully with the iron beforehand.
2. Place the adhesive side of the interfacing (the rough side) against the fabric
Place the interfacing on top of the fabric that has been neatly pressed with an iron. Here’s an important tip - make sure there’s no lint or debris on the fabric! Remove any thread bits or dust beforehand.
3. Iron with a smooth gliding motion over a pressing cloth
After placing the interfacing on top of the fabric, add a pressing cloth on top of everything. This is important because if the iron comes into direct contact with the interfacing, the adhesive may melt and stick to the iron. Always iron over the pressing cloth to avoid this.
4. Let it cool completely
Once you’ve ironed the interfacing onto the fabric, avoid touching it until the heat has fully cooled down. If you move or touch it before it cools, it may wrinkle or peel off, so patience is key!
5. Ready to sew
After it has completely cooled, the interfacing is securely fused and ready to use. You'll notice the fabric now has more structure, helping to prevent wrinkles.
Types & weights of interfacing
At Kokka Fabric, we have the selection of three types of interfacing. Here, we tried applying different thicknesses of interfacing to fabrics of varying weights. You can use this as a reference when choosing interfacing - see how the texture and feel change depending on the fabric and interfacing combination.
Light Midweight:
Interfacing with just the right balance of flexibility and softness is ideal for projects where you want a natural structure such as pouches, soft crafts or garment details like collars and facings.
Midweight:
Interfacing with this kind of firmness and substantial thickness is perfect for tote bags, hats, pouches. It’s versatile, easy to handle, and the most commonly used thickness.
Sturdy Midweight:
Interfacing with this thickness results in a crisp, firm texture. It’s recommended for projects with structured, polished finish such as bags and interior accessories like baskets or sturdy cushions.
Now, you're ready!
Once you learn the tips for using interfacing, it’s actually quite easy. When making bags or structured items, you can work with just the fabric, but taking the extra step to apply interfacing makes the process smoother, helps the shape hold better, and results in a higher-quality finished product.
Shop Interfacing
Kokka's RakuHari Iron-on Fusible Interfacing lets you easily and neatly apply interfacing by simply sliding the iron over it, no need to press hard. If you want a simple way to use the interfacing, be sure to give this a try!
We offer the fabric samples of interfacing as well. Check the texture and thickness to find the perfect match for your project.
