Sewing with Tyvek: How to work with this trendy paper fabric!

Sewing with Tyvek: In this post, I share my best tips & tricks for sewing with this sustainable paper fabric and explain what you need to look out for. The topic of paper fabric has fascinated me for quite a while. I waited a long time for this versatile material to gain popularity here. Especially in the DIY sector, you can do soooo much with Tyvek! The trendy fabric is just as suitable for sewing projects as it is for crafting. Its product properties even make it possible to conjure up beads from it. Maybe I'll show you that another time...

What is Tyvek?

Tyvek looks like shiny packing paper, but it is made of polyethylene, i.e., a plastic. That put me off at first: after all, sustainability is important to me, even when sewing. But then I saw that Tyvek is a material of the future: it can be recycled into new Tyvek up to five times without losing its great properties. Some manufacturing companies even offer free return of the material so that it can be processed directly into new trendy fabric. Due to its product properties, Tyvek has even made it into the lexicon of sustainability. That convinced me... :) The material is very thin and has a matte, shiny surface. The back feels just the same but looks a little marbled.

Where can I order Tyvek?

I found my Tyvek^* at Hemmers. The dark green version with flowers, insects, and fruits reminds me of an opulent Flemish still life. That's why I like this print the most of all! By the way, it's always worth having a bit more Tyvek on hand. The material can be wonderfully painted, printed, punched, or heat-formed!

What can I sew from Tyvek?

The possibilities are endless! I think rice bags made of Tyvek, i.e., pretty organizers, flower pots, or bags are great. You can also use it wonderfully for washable placemats or mug rugs. Book covers, tablet sleeves, mobile phone cases, and much more can be conjured from this exciting material. To make it easier for you to get started, I will share in this post what you need to look out for if you want to sew cosmetic bags out of Tyvek.

Do I need to reinforce Tyvek?

I would say: it depends! If you want to sew a bag with a bit of structure, how about reinforcing the lining instead of the Tyvek? This gives the bag sufficient support. It is not a good idea to try to reinforce Tyvek with iron-on interfacing: the heat from the iron will cause the plastic to melt... :) As a pattern for my Tyvek bags, I used my Alsterprinzessin pattern.

What do I need to keep in mind when sewing Tyvek?

There are a few tips you should definitely take to heart if you want to achieve beautiful sewing results with this stylish paper fabric.

Caution: Slippery!

Tyvek can be genuinely adventurous to sew because it's slippery! To keep better control, I recommend placing a wide strip of masking tape next to the feed dog. This gives you more control while sewing. If you fold over one corner of the masking tape before sticking it down, it will be very easy to peel off after sewing.

Control your sewing speed!

If you have the option, turn the sewing speed down a little. This allows you to sew more precisely. Tyvek is so elusive under the needle that a stitch can easily go astray.

Do not use sewing pins

The firm, smooth paper fabric is difficult, if not impossible, to pin together with pins. If you try, it means the material will get a distinct crease and holes in that spot. Every hole, every perforation, represents an unnecessary breaking point in the otherwise quite tear-resistant fabric.

Work with sturdy fabric clips

Tyvek is naturally a slippery material that standard fabric clips hardly stand a chance with. My Magic Clips^*, however, handle it perfectly because they close too tightly to be easily shaken off. :) You can find out more about these practical clips in my post on my latest sewing discoveries!

Glue with Wondertape

Wondertape^* is the ultimate secret weapon when working with Tyvek! Simply stuck along the edge of the fabric, it effortlessly replaces fabric clips and pins. The Wondertape sticks nice and firmly to the paper fabric, yet the fabric edges can still be adjusted well before sewing. If you use the tape within the seam allowance, you won't have any problems with a sticky needle while sewing. :)

Use a fine needle

The finer the seam in the Tyvek, the more durable it is. You don't need a particularly strong needle to pierce the material. I sew Tyvek with a 70 universal needle. Alternatively, you can also try a Microtex needle.

What stitch length for Tyvek?

Dare to use a longer stitch length. I set stitch length 4 for my cosmetic bags. Here too: too fine a seam carries the risk of creating a kind of perforation line. When the bag is turned, the seam is visible anyway. That is a bit different from textile material. So you can see the individual stitches after turning the bag.

Which thread for Tyvek?

I use my normal all-purpose thread^* for Tyvek; it works perfectly!

Backstitch seams well

You will find that the material itself has a lot of tension. You can account for this while sewing by properly locking the seams at the beginning and end. Then the tension won't stand a chance.

Do not trim seam allowances

Even if it is tempting: do not trim the seam allowances of the Tyvek bag. The seams are more durable that way. You will notice that the corners can still be turned out fabulously. By the way, I also discovered the beautiful zippers^* at Hemmers. Dreamy, right?

What do I do if the Tyvek is bulky while sewing?

My first Tyvek bag. Oh, how I cursed. One part of the bag was constantly getting stuck on the sewing machine and preventing the fabric feed. Until it clicked: Tyvek is meant to be crumpled! At the latest after turning the bag, the fabric looks like a sophisticated crumpled paper bag. That is intended and allowed. So why not crumble it during sewing?

Leave the turning opening large enough

Take the aforementioned bulkiness of the paper fabric into account by leaving the turning opening large enough. This saves time and, under certain circumstances, nerves. The few extra stitches when closing the turning opening won't make a difference. ;)

Sewing bag corners with Tyvek

Here is the good news: you can safely dare to put your fingers into the bag corners to pull them apart. The material is firm enough to withstand that. Fold the corner apart so that the side and bottom seams lie nicely straight against each other. Now you can work with masking tape or sturdy fabric clips and sew across the corner. Please resist the temptation to tear at the corners. It is possible that the small incisions in the fabric would take it the wrong way... ;)

Neatly encase the zipper

A highlight of my cosmetic bags is the nicely encased zipper. I make no exception for my pretty Tyvek bags. However, even then, I encase the zipper with a double-folded fabric strip. I show how this is done in the guide encasing a zipper made easy.

Sew with a zipper foot

Once you have encased the zipper, you can topstitch around the bag. I really like doing this with a zipper foot. I set the needle position all the way to the left. That way, I have maximum control so that I don't catch the zipper casing and can sew right along the edge of it.

Shape the zipper well

Last but not least: it is super important to properly shape not only the corners but also the area next to the zipper. This is best done before closing the turning opening. Take tweezers or a pen and gently push the corners out from the inside. With that, you've not only got the hang of Tyvek: You've also covered a few crucial steps on the way to the perfect cosmetic bag! Did you like this post? You can rate it by clicking on the stars. If you like, feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what you think! Happy simple sewing, your Sabine