If you’re making a crochet bag, you probably want the fabric to be stiff enough to hold its shape. But how do you do that?
You’ve come to the right place. We’re going to walk you though 12 different ways to make a crochet bag stiff. And we’ll cover all your options, whether you’re just starting your project, or already have your finished bag.
Ready? Let’s go!
12 Ways to Make a Crochet Bag Stiff
1. Choose the right yarn fiber
Choosing a yarn made from a more rigid fiber will give you a stiffer bag. Jute, hemp and raffia are all excellent choices that will hold their shape (and they’re environmentally sustainable too). But they can be quite hard to work with, so be prepared for extra effort.
If you want something that’s easier on your hands, you could choose a firmer cotton or linen blend. Just remember that if you wash those yarns, they will get softer over time.
Also Read: 6 Best Yarn for Crochet Bags
2. Choose a heavier yarn weight
Yarn weight in crochet means how thick the yarn is. There are eight standard weight categories from 0 to 7, with 0 being the thinnest and 7 the thickest.
Choosing a thicker yarn will generally give you a thicker fabric with less drape. That’s particularly the case for items like bags, which use smaller fabric pieces.
It’s also generally the case that the thicker the yarn, the more your choice of stitch will affect the texture of your finished bag.
3. Use double lengths of yarn
An easy way to make any yarn thicker – and the resulting fabric stiffer – is to double it over as you crochet.
There is a limit, though, to how effective this will be. A very soft mohair, for example, won’t be very rigid even when doubled up. But doubling a cotton thread could make the difference between your bag being a bit floppy or holding its shape.
4. Use a smaller hook
A smaller hook will generally result in finer, tighter stitches. And with smaller gaps between each one, you’ll get a stiffer fabric.
Your tension – how tightly you pull on the yarn as you crochet – will play a part here too. The higher the tension, the tighter the stitches and the more rigid the fabric.
But don’t be tempted to pull too tight! That’s a recipe for cramp in your hands. There are plenty of less painful ways to give your bag more structure.
4. Use the right stitches
Some types of stitches will create a more rigid fabric than others. Choosing stitches that are naturally tighter will create a stiffer fabric. And that’s especially the case if you’re using a thicker yarn.
Good options to create a stiff texture include single crochet, waistcoat stitch (also known as single center crochet), and slip stitch. But stay away from lacier, more open stitches like v-stitch, moss stitch, and extended crochet stitch.
5. Reinforce your stitches
A great way of making your bag stiffer is to add reinforcements to your yarn. Just run a thread of a firmer material alongside your yarn so that it’s worked into each stitch.
There are various different options for reinforcing thread, some of which are harder on your hands than others. Some people swear by fishing line or mouldable beading wire. But take care – the ends and edges of both of these can be sharp.
If you’re using this technique, invest in a pair of cotton gloves to protect your hands from the wire.
6. Use a stiffening agent
There are a range of different stiffening agents that can make your crochet fabric firmer.
Commercial fabric stiffeners are widely available. These include spray-on starch and starch blocks you dissolve in water. (Don’t use starch on white fabrics though, as it will turn them yellow over time.)
If you prefer a home-made solution, liquid cornstarch is a good choice and very easy to make. Just add a teaspoon of cornstarch to a quarter cup of cold water and mix together. Then add another quarter cup of boiling water. Stir the mixture until it’s thickened, then soak your bag in it. When the fabric dries, it will be stiffer.
Another simple home-made stiffener is a mixture of equal parts PVA glue and water. Brush it over your bag, then leave it to dry. Be warned, though: some people report the fabric can have a slightly wrinkled appearance with this technique.
7. Add an interface
One very effective way to stiffen a crochet bag is to add an interface. This is just a layer of a firmer material that sits alongside the fabric, acting like a kind of scaffolding.
There are various different materials you can use for this – plastic canvas is popular, you can buy special interfacing material, or you can even use cardboard.
Cut it to size and cover both sides in fabric. That will prevent any imperfections on the surface rubbing against the crochet fabric and damaging it.
You can sew the interface in place, or make a flap to hold it without stitches. You can also buy fusible interfacing that you iron in place. But take care if your bag is made from synthetic yarn – the iron can cause it to melt.
8. Add a liner
You can use a liner in place of interfacing, or use both together for a stiffer bag,
A liner made of firmer fabric will strengthen your bag. It will also prevent smaller objects falling through the gaps between your crochet stitches. And choosing a lining in an attractive color or pattern will add pizzazz into the bargain.
Good fabrics for a firmer liner include cotton canvas and linen.
9. Wet blocking
Blocking is a technique for giving your crochet items a professional finish. We’re including it here because it’s a great way of giving shape to your crochet bag. But cards on the table, it won’t necessarily make it stiffer.
Wet blocking is one of three blocking techniques. It’s a good choice for fabrics that won’t stretch too much when they’re dripping wet. And it’s arguably the most effective way of shaping them.
To do it, simply immerse your bag in lukewarm water for about 10 minutes. If your bag is made of wool and you don’t want it to felt (more on that later) add a splash of wool wash or fabric softener to the water.
When the time’s up, remove the bag from the water and gently squeeze out the excess water. (Don’t wring it out, or you’ll damage the fabric.)
Now place it flat on a blocking board (or ironing board, or even on a towel on the floor). Use your hands to shape it, then pin the edges in place. (Make sure you use rust-proof pins!) Leave it to dry thoroughly before removing the pins, and your bag will be the perfect shape.
10. Steam blocking
Steam blocking is another way to shape your bag, although again, it won’t necessarily make it stiffer. It works on the same principles as wet blocking, but instead of soaking the fabric, you moisten it with steam.
You can either use a steamer or a steam iron to do this. Just make sure whatever you use doesn’t touch the surface of the fabric. Give your bag a good shot of steam, then pin it into shape and leave it to dry.
Steam blocking works well with synthetic fibers, but use it with caution. If the steam is too hot, the fibers can melt – and that will make them floppy.
11. Spray blocking
The final blocking technique is spray blocking. Like wet and steam blocking it won’t necessarily give you stiffer fabric. But it will help you give your bag the shape you want.
With spray blocking, you use water from a spray bottle or plant mister to moisten the fabric. It’s a gentler approach than soaking the fabric as in wet blocking, or exposing it to high temperatures with steam blocking.
In other respects, the technique is the same. After giving the fabric a light misting, pin it into shape on a flat surface, then leave it to dry.
12. Felt a woolen bag
Generally speaking, woolen yarn isn’t an obvious choice for a stiff bag. But while wool is soft in its natural state, you can make it stiffer by felting it. And that’s easy to do as long as the wool is colorfast.
Just place your finished bag in the washing machine at 40 or 60 degrees. (Check the label on the yarn to see what temperature it felts at.) Add some standard detergent, not the kind specially designed for wool.
The combination of heat and the agitation of the water will cause the woolen fibers to mesh together. If you’ve ever put a woolen jumper in the wash by accident, you’ll have a good idea of what to expect! That’s felting, and it will give you a very firm fabric.
Also Read: Crochet Granny Square Bag Free Patterns List (Updating)
Summary: How to make a crochet bag stiff
There are a range of different techniques to make a crochet bag stiff. You can create a stiffer fabric with your choice of yarn – both fiber and weight. You can use a smaller crochet hook and choose stitches that are naturally tighter.
Or you can stiffen the bag after it’s finished – using interfacing, liner, stiffening agents, or by felting it if it’s wool.
And if you want to refine the shape, the various blocking techniques will give great results.
