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Ta Dot Pouch – Testing a new “batting alternative”

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Erin Erickson | 15 Comments

I made this yesterday, to replace a very old one that pretty much goes everywhere with me. I keep a pouch in my purse with my chapstick and hair elastics and all those little things that get lost in the bottom of my bag, that way when I switch purses I have fewer things to transfer.

 

I’ve been wanting to try some of these batting alternatives for a while now. I bought two brands: Soft & Stable and inn-control. They are foam, similar to what’s inside of a Vera Bradley bag, about 1/8″ thick with a knitted fabric on both sides. The inn-control that I bought happened to be 2-sided fusible, which I didn’t realize when I purchased it. Fusible wouldn’t be my first choice after all the issues that I’ve had with fusible fleece, but it’s perfect for these types of zippered pouches so that’s what I made. So far I haven’t found the wrinkling to be too offensive, but I’ll carry it around for a few days and see. And possibly wash it, just to see what happens. I’m most interested in the weight/feel/thickness of it. I did not use fusible interfacing at all, just a sandwich of lining fabric, the inn-control and the main fabric. I also used a zipit long pull zipper.

I’m usually obsessed with finished edges (as in, lined bags with no need to overlock) but since this was more about testing out the batting, I figured I could get away with it. Plus, I got to play with my cool new Bernina #2A overlock foot. :)

 

It wrinkled a little bit as I turned it right side out, but as soon as I pressed it flat again the wrinkles came out. It has a really nice weight that would work very well for a gadget cover or maybe even a camera bag or a structured, gusseted bag. I did cut it smaller so there was less bulk in the seams, and that seemed to work out really well. I can’t wait to make something else with it.

UPDATE: So, I washed it and it did that same pucker/wrinkle that fusible fleece does, but it pressed out quite nicely. I would say don’t use the fusible if you’re making a shaped tote bag that you can’t press flat, but for these little zippered pouches it’s fine!

Categories : Interfacing, Sewing
Comments (15)

Comments

  1. Susan says:
    April 27, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    I love soft n stable!

    Reply
  2. Marion bennie says:
    May 3, 2012 at 2:05 AM

    never heard of these before and this pouch is just what I NEED, and I love your blog which I found through Stumble

    Reply
  3. Jessica says:
    May 4, 2012 at 2:08 AM

    I have not heard or seen this, but I have been overseas a while. I will for sure look when I am in the US this week.

    Reply
  4. Chris says:
    May 4, 2012 at 8:56 PM

    I used the double sided fusible making my two zip hipster. It was a bit of a struggle turning it inside out, but the finished bag looks very professional

    Reply
  5. beth says:
    May 13, 2012 at 8:49 AM

    I wonder if headliner fabric/foam is the same thing? I used some so make some “boots” that cover ice skates for a costume my daughter needed for a show.

    Reply
  6. Tiny zippered pouch - Dog Under My Desk :: Dog Under My Desk says:
    June 21, 2012 at 3:57 PM

    […] made this little pouch for my mom using the same technique as this one, except it’s tiny so I quilted it with super thin batting instead of using the thick […]

    Reply
  7. Lu Ann says:
    September 26, 2013 at 11:00 AM

    I love the soft and stable for purses. I never saw above where you mentioned how you liked the soft and stable. Would it work ok for the wristlet?

    Thank you so much. Love your patterns!

    Reply
    • Erin Erickson says:
      September 26, 2013 at 11:05 AM

      Hi Lu Ann! I haven’t tried S&S for wristlets. It would probably be better on the boxed corner wristlets than the flat ones, although the most important thing would be to notch out the top corners like it describes in the pattern. Let me know if you try it! Thanks!! :)

      Reply
  8. Mariah says:
    January 26, 2014 at 1:55 PM

    I really appreciate posts like this since I am very new to sewing bags (or anything other than quilts, really) and I know next-to-nothing about interfacings and other such materials. Thanks for posting this, and do let us know how the Soft and Stable works out.

    Also, could you point us to a link that discusses the “issues” you mentioned with fusible fleece (or elaborate a bit)? I picked some up recently but don’t know what to do with it (I was going to use it for a freebie pattern bag project but then I discovered your blog and there was no going back!). So far I’ve just made your wristlet and was happy with the interfacings you suggested, but I’m going to be making some of your zippered pouches and thought perhaps I should consider something like the S&S or inn-control for them, especially for gadgets.

    Reply
    • Erin Erickson says:
      January 26, 2014 at 1:59 PM

      Hi! Thanks! Take a look at this: https://blog.dogundermydesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DSC_1103.jpg

      The main part of the bag has FF, the pockets do not.

      If the zippered pouches are smaller, or don’t need to be super padded like a camera case, then I would just use regular batting and quilt it. For poly I like Pellon’s 988, which is fusible fleece minus the fuse. For cotton I like Quilter’s Dream request (super thin) for the smallest pouches and any of the other low loft cotton batting for larger ones. :) Just layer it with a woven fusible and you can use just about anything else on the inside.

      Hope that helps!

      Reply
  9. Chris says:
    May 7, 2014 at 3:20 AM

    Thank you for the helpful hints.
    Chris

    Reply
  10. christina says:
    May 9, 2014 at 8:03 AM

    I was wondering about the wristlet too. The pattern is sitting on my sewing desk because I am still a little baffled about interfacings. I usually only sew clothes and the wall of interfacings at Joanns was a bit intimidating. I have made a bunch of the earbud pouches for my family, messing with a few different facings for those but want something a wee bit thicker for the wristlet. How the heck do you keep the bulk down at the seams? Cut it a little smaller than the fabric?

    Reply
    • Erin Erickson says:
      May 12, 2014 at 8:08 PM

      There are instructions in the pattern on how to trim the bulk from the seams. It works quite well. I’ve used soft and stable in the larger wristlets but it’s quite puffy. I like the combo recommended in the pattern of SF-101 and 926. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  11. Abigail Spark says:
    May 27, 2016 at 7:36 PM

    Hi
    I’ve recently been to INDIA to teach girls how to make my bags using sari material.

    The bags are shoulder bags so I would say they are medium sized.
    I use fusible interfacing, then line with cotton, then strengthen with fusible fleece as this gives it stability and a luxurious feel.

    Unfortunately they can’t source FF in India and they have been using a thin, sew-in foam.
    It’s a bit bulky but ok. Will it hold up to wear and tear?

    I’d be really grateful if you are able to give me any expert advice on a good alternative I can suggest.

    I return in a couple of weeks.

    Abigail

    Reply
  12. Helen says:
    July 29, 2016 at 1:17 PM

    Hi,

    Just reading this post about S &S and Incontrol Plus. The Plus stands for fusible. InControl is the same as S & S.

    I did learn last month at the Sydney Quilt show that In Control is no longer available.

    I use S & S in all my bags. Awesome product!

    Reply

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