What is paper fabric?
Is paper fabric really fabric made of paper? No. Actually, paper fabric is not made of paper, but of polyethylene. In other words, a plastic. Paper fabric is also sometimes called Tyvek. It is found in wide sheets, for example, as a building material for house construction. There, it is used, for instance, under wooden shingles to repel moisture.
What does paper fabric look like?
If you place Tyvek next to a sheet of heavy paper or wrapping paper with a matte, glossy surface, you will hardly notice the difference. The paper fabric is slightly marbled, which looks fun and elegant in combination with the paper-like creases that form during sewing and wear. When it is crinkled, the folds in the fabric look a bit like the creases of a paper shopping bag. It comes in a fabric width of 105 cm and is delivered on a sturdy cardboard roll.
How does Tyvek feel?
Paper fabric feels like heavy paper. It has a rather smooth, slippery front side. Paper fabric is as thin as paper and feels rather cool. It is tear-resistant but can be crumpled wonderfully. This allows the look of the fabric to be changed as desired. I tried to tear it, but I didn't succeed. Paper fabric is also extremely light, which makes it a very suitable material for bags!Is paper fabric tear-resistant?
According to the manufacturer, it is. I have tried it out and can confirm this within the scope of normal fabric use. However, the seams are a weak point, as they perforate the paper fabric. Therefore, you should definitely follow my recommendations for sewing with paper fabric!
Can you iron paper fabric?
No. Tyvek consists of 100% plastic and takes ironing attempts very, very poorly (of course I tried it out, I'm just too curious for that!). ;)
How can you sew paper fabric?
Like real paper, the seam creates a perforation. If the stitches are close together, there is a great risk of creating a perforation line that will later tear out. I therefore recommend working with the longest possible stitch length, e.g., 3.5. In the photo, you can see that I topstitched the upper edge of the bag with a long straight stitch. A polyester thread is particularly suitable as sewing thread here. I used my favorite sewing thread* (if you want to know more about it, read my post on the top ten of my favorite sewing helpers) in navy blue.
What should you look out for when sewing with paper fabric?
Needles leave holes in the paper fabric. Apart from that, it is difficult to stick a straight pin through the lightweight but very stable material. Paper fabric is very easy to guide when sewing due to its smooth surface. This means that especially when sewing curves, you should sew slowly and make sure that nothing slips.
Therefore, fabric clips* are recommended. But washi tape* also works great for fixing patterns onto the paper fabric. It can be peeled off again without any problems or residue.
What needle size do you use to sew paper fabric?
Tyvek is so thin that a fine needle will do. I wouldn't choose one thicker than 70, as the holes in the fabric remain visible.Where can you buy paper fabric?
My paper fabric* in pigeon blue, I snagged at Stoffe-Hemmers*. It is also available there in a mossy green, in black, brown, and a creamy white. Beautiful, muted colors that can be combined very well.
Can you wash paper fabric?
Yes and no. It can be wiped down with a damp cloth. But it shouldn't go in the washing machine.What can you sew with paper fabric?
Paper fabric is excellent for bags and pouches, organizers, lunch bags, or utensil holders. However, you can also sew great book covers or appliqués with it. I find my pattern for the Nanami cosmetic bag ideal for paper fabric beginners. The bag can be sewn great even without fleece interfacing and has a large opening for turning. So perfect for your first paper fabric adventure. You can find the free pattern for Nanami and all information in my blog post.
How is paper fabric processed?
Once you have familiarized yourself with the peculiarities of the material, paper fabric is an exciting material from which much can be made. Paper fabric is also a brilliant material for appliqués or labels, for extraordinary bags, or cool pencil cases. Especially if you like to sew a gift for men, I think paper fabric is quite a clever idea.
What can you combine paper fabric with?
It can actually be combined with everything. From glitter vinyl to birch textile tape, from cotton fabric and corduroy to leather and faux fur fabrics, everything is possible. I combined the Nanami in the pictures with a beautiful decorative cork tape. I really like the contrast. I found the elegant cork tape at Buttinette. For the next paper projects, I also ordered a very narrow, flat cork tape*. For the bag sewn from paper fabric, I combined a flap made of faux fur and think that's very cool! The next bag project made of brown paper fabric will be combined with a cowhide imitation* and cork. The bag pattern is, by the way, our shoulder bag Red Rocks.
Which patterns are suitable for paper fabric?
I recommend cuts, especially bag cuts, that are not too complicated. Above all: not too complicated to turn. If you want to use paper fabric for an inverted bag - i.e., a bag turned through a turning opening - you should plan the turning opening a bit larger. Then the paper fabric won't crease too much. By the way, Tyvek is also great for utensil holders, which get a nice stand thanks to the fabric. Because the fabric is water-repellent, you can also sew beautiful cachepots for flowers out of paper fabric!Can you turn bags made of paper fabric?
I'm showing you that it works in the example! I even find paper fabric extremely exciting for bags because it is water-repellent. Furthermore, the fabric is truly as light as paper. So, if you, like me, also don't like heavy bags, paper fabric is absolutely worth a try.
What is the difference between paper fabric and SnapPap?
SnapPap has a more cardboard-like structure and is thicker, paperboard-like. It can be washed and ironed. Paper fabric feels more like heavy wrapping paper in its structure.Is paper fabric water-repellent?
Yes! That looks like this:
Water beads off the paper fabric easily.
Nevertheless, bags made of paper fabric are not automatically waterproof, because the seams do let moisture through.
My conclusion:
Paper fabric has the makings of the new trendy material. Actually, I had expected something SnapPap-like. But paper fabric is completely different. Feather-light - the cosmetic bag in the pictures weighs exactly 27 grams. And the heaviest part of it is probably the metal zipper. The paper itself: Very easy to work with. And overall: Very pure. Very understated. But due to the kraft paper-like "crease zones," also extravagant. At first, I had concerns about how it would behave when turning and whether the seams would hold. After the test with the "Red Rocks" pattern, I have to say: Tip-top! I even sewed darts into the bag - the fabric handled everything easily. I especially like that the projects sewn from paper fabric are so light and water-repellent. That the paper fabric is also recyclable pleases me as well! Next, I will sew another Nanami from the paper fabric and am curious how that will go!You can order paper fabric here.*
Happy simple sewing, yours Sabine
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