Making a PE kit bag - do I need interlining / interfacing?

[madoldwoman]

Have decided to have a go at making a kit bag and have two lightweight cotton fabrics for the outer and lining. Neither is very thick and you can see some of the stripes from the lining through the outer. Should I use interlining / interfacing (sorry - this is my first project after my beginners course so not sure which is correct! ) to get round this or will the bag then be too bulky?

Anyone any idea?? Thank you!

I made a very large as it turned out P.E. for DD1 when she was in the infants and it lasted DD2 as well. The DC are now in senior school and the bag is still going strong but not cool enough to use to school anymore.

I used a heavy drill in bright red. From memory I think it was a 65/35% cotton polyester blend or may have been the other way round). It didn't need a lining and was a very strong, washable , no crease fabric.

For a bit of fun for DD we used Tulip Puffy paint to make a picture (4 yo artistry, just don't) and I wrote her name DD2 didn't care when it got passed down having big sisters name on it.

If Puffy paint is still made, it comes in a small plastic bottle with a nozzle you draw with the bottle. When you iron it it puffs up giving raised writing. It is one of a kind and never got lost

Interlining and Interfacing are different things. Interlining is used to add bulk/warmth like in curtains. Interfacing is used to make an area more rigid or give it body like in collars or cuffs.

I am not sure I would use iron on interfacing on your bag, it can bubble/pucker if you don't get it just right, it will be a fairly big area I presume. It can also change the washing instructions so a cotton bag that you could wash as hot as you like could have to go in on nothing more than a 40 wash to avoid messing up the adhesive.

I would probably interline it with an old white sheet if you didn't want to see the lining through the top layer. Just cut to size pin the life out of it and sew the three layers together as closely to the edge as possible before you assemble your bag to sew it..

You will need to trim the seams well, you will have 6 layers of fabric.

I didn't exactly answer your question, sorry.

I would strap the idea of using 2 x light weight fabrics for a P.E. bag. That sort of fabric isn't up for the hammering of school life.
Interlining/interfacing are not appropriate for all the reasons lavendersun has explained. I would definitely recommend Drill fabric and zig-zag or overlock raw edges.

IME the P.E. bag starts with holding tiny little black plimsolls and progresses to shin pads and football boots and cross country kit thrown in with a plastic bag if I was lucky and a good helping of mud. That was the junior school and my DC are girls.

Thing is though fortified, if OP has the fabric she might as well have a go! A pretty drawstring bag could be used for tons of other things, certainly does round here .

And have a go I have! I found some iron on soft lightweight interlining which seems to have worked ok. The bag isn't actually for school kit so doesn't need to be ultra tough - it'll more be used for taking bits and pieces to holiday clubs, books /toys for overnight stays at grandparents or to have in the car on long journeys etc.

I'm really new to sewing, only just completed an intro course so am very much learning as I go. Thanks for the advice and explanation - I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon!!

Sounds like your house is similar to mine lavendersun

All sorts gets stuffed in draw string bags and hung up on hooks in the under stairs cupboard.

Well done OP !!

Thing is fortified - they have moveable lives - one pretty one, formerly used for PE kit within a school PE pack now houses loo rolls in the downstairs loo .

Well done OP!

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