Hi there,
I’m a bit unsure of what fabric to use for the new Darlow bag pattern. I’d love it if you could share some inspiration. I always struggle with putting together different prints, but are solids too boring?
Maria, Melbourne
If there’s one thing many of us struggle with, it’s choosing fabric for our makes! If you’re anything like us, we often scroll through social media admiring the fabric other makers choose for their projects. It always seems to be perfect! But then we’re left wondering why we have so much trouble choosing fabric for our own makes.
Getting inspiration from other makers is a great way to feel more confident about the fabric you’re choosing. So because the Darlow bag pattern was inspired by the Darlow pants pattern (it’s all about the panels!), we thought it could be helpful to share some of the lovely Darlow pants that have been made over the years.
This Q&A will focus on solid colours or using just one fabric for the entire Darlow bag, and in our next Q&A we’ll share some colour-blocking, scrappy fabric inspiration and tips.
SOLID FABRIC INSPIRATION
Solid colours and fabrics definitely don’t mean boring! But if you’re leaning that way, here’s some tips to help you choose one you’ll love.
Dark colours
If you decide to go with a solid fabric, be conscious that the darker fabrics won’t allow the details of the design to show up. But there are some positives too. Darker colours make a great canvas for topstitching the panels (more on that below) and as it's a bag, it's not something you are likely to wash often (or at all!), so dark fabric can be a great choice.
While lighter fabrics, like in these Darlow pants, really let the design shine it might be hard to keep a lighter colour bag clean. (Hands are always dirtier than they seem!)
Here’s some lovely solid Darlow pants colours that we think would look fantastic as bags!
Keep in mind that linen isn’t an ideal fabric for the Darlow bag. Instead, consider mid-weight woven fabrics with such as cotton canvas (lightweight or midweight), cotton drill, denim and heavyweight nylon. The weight of the fabric will determine the amount of structure in the finished bag.
And be sure to choose fabric that has a stable weave and doesn't easily fray - you’ll be thanking yourself when you get to the zips!
ADD SOME TEXTURE
If you’re going for a solid colour, but want to add a bit of zhuzh, why not add a bit of texture?
Whether it’s texture through the substrate (like these amazing corduroy Darlow pants) or texture through a print (like Shuay’s Darlows above), both can add visual interest because of the change in fabric direction on the different panels.
TOP-STITCHING AS A FEATURE
If you’re keen to stick with one solid colour for your Darlow bag, you might consider using top-stitching as an eye-catching feature, like in these Darlow pants.
We have a bit of a soft spot for top-stitching. It really elevates the finish of a garment, and makes it look a bit more ‘high-end’. If you’re feeling extra confident with your skills, you could even use a contrasting thread colour like in the Darlow pants above! Just be conscious that your stitching will be front and centre, so have a few practice runs and then go for it!
trust your gut
Sometimes, if you’ve got an idea you’ve just got to trust your gut and go for it. Case in point: These Darlows are AMAZING! They’re definitely a statement piece, and we all need one of those in our wardrobe.
There’s plenty more Darlow pants inspiration on Instagram. Check out the hashtag here!
Happy sewing!
Emily
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE
The Darlow bag pattern is currently only available to Curated by ITF subscribers. More information about our Curated by ITF subscription can be found here. Sign up during the month of April to get the Darlow bag pattern delivered straight to your inbox.
The Darlow pants pattern - digital pattern available here.
For more issues of the Q & A series, you can check out the archive here.
WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MAKING
Dress copied using the Copy your clothes Skills Kit made by @maker.baker.girl
