Tips for sewing with foam (heavyweight interfacing)

The interfacing is something that “helps” you love or hate a project! It could be the best interfacing in the world, if you don’t use it correctly, it will give you only headaches!

The problem is that each project is unique, and there are many types of interfacing, so many problems may occur.

Bulky seam allowances create one problem that affects many projects. For some projects it is not an inconvenience, while for others, it is a serious situation that you want to solve.
The solution? Keep the interfacing out of the seam allowances; it is easy to do this if you use fusible interfacing. But what to do if your interfacing is not fusible?

For a non-fusible foam (I used it for a pouch), follow the steps below:

  • Cut the interfacing to the size needed.
  • Cut the fabric 1” bigger on all the edges.
  • Center the foam over the fabric; use an adhesive spray to keep the layers together.
  • Sew from edge to edge of the fabric (do not start/stop the stitching at the edge of the foam).
Tips for sewing with foam- heavyweight interfacing

When the sewing is done, trim the fabric at 3/8” (if that’s your seam allowance) away from the edge of the foam.

Tips for sewing with foam- heavyweight interfacing
TRENDING patterns


This technique works for simple projects (like pouches or simple bags), but if you have complex bags to sew, with lots of pieces to match, you have to use another technique. All that sewing/quilting shrinks the pieces, and if you need to match pieces for a bag, you have to ensure that the pieces shrink at the same rate (meaning, you have to do the same type of sewing on all the pieces).

Another technique that does not involve stitching is this: instead of keeping the fabric and interfacing together with stitching, use a layer of lightweight fusible interfacing (fusible side down)…

How to add interfacing to vinyl/faux leather

…and press.

How to add interfacing to vinyl/faux leather


Related tutorial:
How to add interfacing to vinyl/ faux leather

Here is my boxy pouch stitched with the panel above. At my first try for this pattern I used the same foam, but without removing the seam allowances. There is a HUGE difference between the two techniques when it comes to the ease of sewing.

Tips for sewing with foam- heavyweight interfacing
Tips for sewing with foam- heavyweight interfacing

I love, love, this quick and easy-to-sew pouch.
See below the difference the interfacing (and fabric) is making!

Tips for sewing with foam- heavyweight interfacing

For the pouches below, I used Decovil light interfacing and the same technique with no seam allowances.

Box pouch pattern
Box pouch pattern
Box pouch pattern


but faux leather remains my favorite material for this pattern (it does not need any interfacing).

Box pouch pattern
Box pouch pattern
Box pouch pattern
Box pouch pattern
Box pouch pattern

If you want to learn how to quickly and easily sew such pouches, click the link below.
Box Pouch Pattern

Happy sewing!

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2 Comments

  1. Hi Geta, thank you this is very helpful and much appreciated, I will try it with my next pouch, all your pouches are lovely!
    Karen

  2. Hi Get a I made my first purchase about ten days ago approximately and I haven’t received my Patten as yet I download lots of patterns for bag making so I do know what I am doing (not a novice). Can you help please many thanks Gill

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