Video: How to Sew with Cork Fabric
Bag Making Techniques, Bags

Free Video: How to Sew with Cork Fabric

Cork fabric is absolutely amazing to sew with – the natural cork, sustainably harvested from trees in Portugal, is bonded to cotton/poly blend fabric. It’s great for wallets, bags, and other small accessories. I stock about 80 variesties of cork fabric in my shop!

In this video, I show you different examples of cork fabric. I also discuss what tools are needed to sew with cork, and a few techniques for making straps and accents.

What do you think? Have you tried sewing with cork fabric before?

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45 thoughts on “Free Video: How to Sew with Cork Fabric

  1. Ellen Reibling says:

    Great video I was thinking about using cork but did not know where to start. Thanks!

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Thank you Ellen, good luck!

  2. Nicky H says:

    Thanks for the video. I have been kind of hesitant to try it. How does something as used as a handle hold up after some time?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Nicky! I’ve used a few bags personally that I made with cork (I’ve made both ways – kind of like double-fold bias tape, and also with just folding wrong sides together and topstitching), and I haven’t noticed anything adverse happening (straps not breaking or anything like that).

    2. Sharon says:

      What thread would you use for cork fabric please

      1. Sara Lawson says:

        Hi Sharon! I use Aurifil 40wt thread.

  3. Louise Hundertmark says:

    Well done! Have cork & ready to try it!

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Woohoo! Can’t wait to see your finished bag!

  4. Brenda Wyllie says:

    Dry good thank you , I’m starting to sew with cork so that was really helpful.

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Thank you Brenda, so glad it was helpful!

  5. Diane says:

    I m excited to use cork! You have a very nice, easy to understand and confident presentation. Teach us more!

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      I certainly will, thanks Diane!

  6. Christine Emerick says:

    Great job Sara! I used cork for the first time on the Emblem duffle bag that I made recently. I wish I”d watched this video first – would’ve made those Reisende tabs look a lot cleaner if I had sewn them to a rectangle first. Now on to making another bag with cork!

  7. Linda says:

    Great tutorial! Gotta try this!

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      So happy it was helpful Linda!

  8. Becky says:

    Helpful and timely; just bought my first piece of cork fabric. I love purses and cork will make them look professional instead of homemade.

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Thanks Becky! I completely agree!

  9. Madeline says:

    Loved the video for strap making. It will come in handy when I make a tote. What about interfacing on a tote or Clutch. Suggestions for facing. Thank you for making it look so easy.

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Madeline! For a bag or clutch in cork, I usually like to use the interfacing as called for in the pattern – for straps/accents, I skip the interfacing. Hope this helps!

  10. TinaC says:

    I’m ready to take the plunge! Thank you for this video and the bag video!

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Thanks Tina! I know you’ll do great!

  11. Dolores says:

    Sara, do you sale a pattern with a tutorial video?

  12. Marcia Z says:

    Thanks Sara, very helpful. I am currently working on the Rockstar bag and the body is cork. I am using Microtex needles in my Babylock Ellisimo, but even with a 60/8 size (tried 90/14 and 70/10), I am still getting some skipped stitches. You mentioned also denim needles – what size would you suggest? I know I’m going to love this bag, just need to work out this kink so I can feel that it will look perfect. Thanks much

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Marcia, what kind of thread are you using? Denim needles or a walking foot can help – you also may need to adjust the tension on your sewing machine.

  13. Tamara Steele says:

    Great tutorial – ready to try cork fabric!!! Do you have a particular website that you like to purchase your different variety of cork fabric from?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi Tamara! Thank you so much! I sell about 80 varieties of cork in my shop: https://sewsweetness.com/product-category/fabric/cork

  14. Ana Martin says:

    This’s a very helpful post! I had no idea it was so easy!

    Embroidery Library

  15. Pat says:

    Just recently became aware of the cork fabric and it is intriguing…may have to take the plunge! Thanks for making it look so easy. One question I do have though–is it washable at all?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      The cork is definitely water-resistant – I’m not sure if I would throw it in the washer and dryer (although you could – we have tested samples of fabric that way in the past). I would suggest wiping clean with a damp rag instead.

      1. Pat says:

        Thank you for the speedy reply! Happy New Year!

  16. Peg Purdue says:

    Thank You for producing the video on sewing with cork. I have never sewn with it before so appreciate the info on thread and needles.

  17. cheryl maeda says:

    What brand/model of sewing machine are you using?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      I use a Juki TL-2010Q. I’ll be talking about it this Tuesday (1/16/18) on Facebook Live and YouTube Live at 7pm CT during my ‘Ask Sara’ show.

  18. Brenda says:

    Can you butt the ends of cork pieces and sew them to make longer pieces for straps??

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hello Brenda! I did a demonstration on how to do this near the end of one of my Sewcial Sunday videos: https://sewsweetness.com/2018/04/sewcial-sunday-april-8.html

  19. ssimoesgraca says:

    I’m portuguese and you won’t believe if I told you it’s so hard to find cork fabric!… Living in Sintra, 25km from Lisbon, I m use taking the train to Lisbon and looking for new fabrics and new ideas, but never found this particular fabric!..

  20. Michelle Robinson says:

    I watched this video because I was hoping it would show more about making the bag itself out of cork, not just the straps. It is a great video, but what I am wanting to learn is if and how you would interface the cork for the outside of bag like a tote or a zip bag…or do you not interface the cork and just interface the lining? Before I venture out to make a tote, wanted to try a simple wristlet/zip bag. The natural cork I have feels rather thin and wondered if bag would turn out floppy, although yours look nice and sturdy. Would you have a video to shed some light on interfacing with cork for the body of the bag, not just the straps? Thanks.

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hello Michelle! I usually use the same interfacing as called for in the pattern. For straps or accents, I usually do not use interfacing. Here are a couple of full-length free video examples where I used cork in the video:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXhtzHu6KCU
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDYWEZfdZzM

  21. Pam says:

    What is the name of the bag pattern shown here?

  22. Isabelle says:

    Hello! Nice video. Can we sew cork with a cheap sewing machine or you need a very good one for that type of fabric?

    1. sewsweetness says:

      Hello Isabelle! It probably depends on your machine. My first machine for bag-making was a cheap $120 Brother machine, and it handled making bags pretty well. Your machine should be able to handle thick layers (at least 2 layers of foam and 2 layers of thick fabric) if you think you might want to make a bag with cork, something of that nature. Thank you!

  23. mrsg265 says:

    Thanks for the video. When you attach the handle to the bag, do you fold it over and stitch?

    1. Sara Lawson says:

      Hi there! It depends on how the pattern requests the handles to be attached. If they are going through hardware, you can either stitch the end to the strap or you can use a rivet or Chicago screw in place of stitching (sometimes people do this either for looks or to help deal with the layers, so they don’t need to be sewn).

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