Can I Substitute the Interfacing Listed in the Pattern?

Absolutely! You don't have to use the exact brand of interfacing or stabiliser listed in a Pink Pony Design pattern.

I know that many of the products I use can be difficult (or sometimes impossible!) to find in different parts of the world. But in most cases, another product of the same type can be substituted without a problem.

The important thing is to look at what kind of interfacing or stabiliser the pattern calls for and what it's doing in the bag, rather than trying to find the exact same brand.

Foam stabiliser

Foam is my favourite main stabiliser for many of my bag patterns. It gives the bag lovely structure and helps it hold its shape, while still keeping it soft and flexible enough to sew, turn and use comfortably.

My personal favourite is ByAnnie's Soft & Stable, but you can absolutely use another similar bag-making foam. It is lightweight while still providing a structured body and stability, which is exactly why I like this type of stabiliser for so many bags. 

Some good alternatives are:

• Bosal In-R-Form
• Pellon Flex-Foam
• Vilene Style-Vil
• Another similar bag-making foam stabiliser

You don't need to worry if your substitute isn't exactly the same thickness as the one listed in the pattern. A small difference usually isn't important.

 A little side note about fusible foam:
I usually recommend fusing the foam stabiliser to the exterior fabric in my patterns - which is a little ironic, I know, considering my favourite, ByAnnie's Soft & Stable, isn't fusible! 😊

To get around this, I use fusible web (the type normally used for appliqué, like Heat-N-Bond Lite) to turn my Soft & Stable into a fusible foam stabiliser. It's very easy to do and means I get the properties I love from Soft & Stable while still being able to fuse it securely to my exterior fabric.

I show you exactly how I do this in my video Make Your Own Fusible Foam → .

If it's not possible to fuse the foam to your exterior because you're using a vinyl, faux leather or similar, I share tips and trix for how to attach it securely while keeping it out of your seam allowances in my video Interfacing Vinyl with Foam or Fusibles →.

Heavy stabiliser

For areas where I want considerably more firmness - most commonly the bottom of a bag or in larger, firm bags like the Stockholm Bag, I will instead use something like:

• Decovil Heavy
• Pellon Peltex 71F or 72F
• Fast2Fuse Heavy
• Another similar very firm/heavy stabiliser

For the patterns that require a heavy interfacing in the body of the bag too, I always use a fusible heavy interfacing, as I want the fabric and interfacing to behave more like one layer. For the bottom inserts, sew in versions usually work just as good. 

Woven fusible interfacing

For quilting cotton and other thinner fabrics, I generally use a woven fusible interfacing to give the fabric a little more body and stability, as well as making it stronger and more hard wearing.

My usual choices are Vilene G700 or Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex, but a similar medium-weight woven fusible interfacing is absolutely fine.

• Vilene/Vlieseline G700 - my usual European recommendation
• Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex - my usual US recommendation
• Legacy L-SF101 - another option where available
  

The below are alternatives I haven't personally tried, but have been recommended by my pattern testers or fellow bag makers as suitable alternatives.

• EB-Fuse Light by Emmaline Bags 
• SewFuse by Castine Handcrafted 
• Gold Star 100% Cotton Interfacing by Gold Star
  

This interfacing isn't intended to make the whole bag rigid - it's there to give the fabric some extra support. I will often use woven fusible on the fabric first, as well as a separate foam or other stabiliser when used in the exterior of a bag.

What if I want my bag to be firmer?

This is where I wouldn't automatically recommend swapping the stabiliser in the pattern for something much heavier.

Firmer isn't always better! 😊

The size and construction of the bag matter too. A smaller bag, curved areas or a flap that needs to open and close can really benefit from a little softness and flexibility. Making those areas extremely rigid can make the bag more difficult to sew and turn, and may also cause unwanted creasing where the bag needs to bend.

If you only want a little more body, I will often recommend adding a layer (or sometimes two) of a good woven fusible interfacing to the exterior fabric rather than replacing the main stabiliser with something dramatically heavier.

That can give you a lovely crisp and more structured result without making the entire bag excessively stiff.

Otherwise you can read more on the topic here: My Finished Bag Is Too Soft - How Can I Make It More Structured?

Fusible and sew-in aren't always quite the same

Even when two products seem very similar, whether they're fusible or sew-in can change the feel of the finished bag.

For example, I find the fusible versions of Peltex, such as 71F or 72F, generally give a slightly crisper and more structured result than the sew-in version. Once fused, the fabric and stabiliser behave more like one layer, so the finished bag can feel noticeably firmer even when the stabiliser itself isn't dramatically heavier.

So when you're choosing a substitute, I recommend looking at more than just thickness. Consider whether the original is foam, woven fusible, fleece or a firm stabiliser, and whether it is fusible or sew-in.

Still not sure?

If you can't find the interfacing or stabiliser listed in your pattern, please don't worry! Send me a message and let me know which Pink Pony Design pattern you're making, which interfacing you're trying to replace and what products you have available, and I'll be very happy to help you choose the best option. 😊