Linings?

[MtlBiker]

I'm quite new to sewing and unfortunately I know of nobody close to me who I could ask for advice... So I'm asking here.

What are good choices for lining material for things like belt pouches, small bags, etc.?  I look at some items and don't have enough experience to tell what the interior fabric is.  Sometimes it looks like nylon perhaps or even a tight mesh fabric.  If you make a leather wallet or belt pouch or utility (flashlight, etc.) pouch, what do you line it with?  What if your outside fabric is Cordura?

The major Canadian fabric chain has a store right next door to my office and they've been no help with this kind of advice.  And I suspect they don't really carry the appropriate fabric for this.  I'd have to order online it seems, and that's hard when I don't know what I should be using.

If there's some kind of tutorial on lining fabrics, I haven't found it yet.  The only lined item I've made so far is a sleeve for MacBook Air... the inside lining I used was suede so as not to scratch the computer.  But suede isn't suitable for other little pouches and bags. 

Thanks for any pointers!

 

[LatigoAmigo]

1 hour ago, MtlBiker said:

What are good choices for lining material for things like belt pouches, small bags, etc.?

I have pondered this question for a long time, and my solution is to line my bags with leather. Usually horse front, sometimes goat, sometimes lamb. It depends on what color choices I have, but more importantly, what kind of pocket I build into the lining. My favorite leather for lining is horse fronts that I get from Maverick Leather, as the material is thin yet sturdy. The only issue is that the colors are somewhat limited, so then I look to the goat (next best), then to lamb (which is sometimes too soft/supple). And, if it is relevant, I only make bags, and all of my liners are "drop-in".

[Hardrada]

Rocky Mountain Leather Supply sells micro-suede, from Luigi Carnevalli, which is "non-woven fabric made from a much finer fibre than basic microfibre and therefore showing a softer and rounder hand". Maybe that'll do for your linings?

Carnevalli also makes nylon fabric specifically for lining: http://www.carnevali.it/en/products/

https://www.rmleathersupply.com/products/luigi-carnevali-micro-suede-lining?variant=15313367040109

I've been lining with suede or very thin (1 oz) leather, so far. But I just ordered some of that LC micro-suede to try out—of course, I won't be able to report back on it for at least a couple of weeks, since the order was just placed yesterday.

[MtlBiker]

1 minute ago, Hardrada said:

Rocky Mountain Leather Supply sells micro-suede, from Luigi Carnevalli, which is "non-woven fabric made from a much finer fibre than basic microfibre and therefore showing a softer and rounder hand". Maybe that'll do for your linings?

Carnevalli also makes nylon fabric specifically for lining: http://www.carnevali.it/en/products/

https://www.rmleathersupply.com/products/luigi-carnevali-micro-suede-lining?variant=15313367040109

I've been lining with suede or very thin (1 oz) leather, so far. But I just ordered some of that LC micro-suede to try out—of course, I won't be able to report back on it for at least a couple of weeks, since the order was just placed yesterday.

Thank you!  Please do let me know how your ordering experience works out.  I'm also in Canada and I'm reluctant to order products from the States due to often much higher than expected shipping rates, plus potentially duties.  (I ordered a couple of spools of v69 polyester thread from Sailrite about two months ago and the UPS shipping, plus brokerage - which Sailrite had said was included but UPS said wasn't, plus DUTY (yes!) made the purchase less than worthwhile.  But I'm finding it tough to find v69 UVR polyester thread here in Canada... I get my v92 from JTSOUTDOORFABRICS.COM and it's been pretty good.  I also just placed a trial order of v92 from a US place called Cleaner's Supply which had a really good price in Canadian dollars and offered free shipping to Canada.  I'm anxious to see if it comes in without too much delay or problems.)

Do you know how "micro-suede" compares with regular suede?  I'll go check the website you linked in your reply.  Thanks!

 

[MtlBiker]

40 minutes ago, LatigoAmigo said:

I have pondered this question for a long time, and my solution is to line my bags with leather. Usually horse front, sometimes goat, sometimes lamb. It depends on what color choices I have, but more importantly, what kind of pocket I build into the lining. My favorite leather for lining is horse fronts that I get from Maverick Leather, as the material is thin yet sturdy. The only issue is that the colors are somewhat limited, so then I look to the goat (next best), then to lamb (which is sometimes too soft/supple). And, if it is relevant, I only make bags, and all of my liners are "drop-in".

Thanks for your comments.- I haven't yet started working with leather... I'm learning how to make things using Cordura nylon and waxed canvas, but hope to start with leather soon.  I guess it makes sense to use leather as a liner for a leather bag, but I don't know what people are using as lining for utility pouches, flashlight pouches, etc.  Before working with leather, I want to get my sewing skills improved, using less expensive materials.  Besides, I haven't found a local source for leather, particularly small pieces to experiment with.  But I've now got a bunch of leather needles!!!    I'm getting ready!

[Arturomex]

36 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Do you know how "micro-suede" compares with regular suede?  I'll go check the website you linked in your reply.  Thanks!

"Micro-suede" is, I believe, a synthetic fabric. Regular sued is, well, suede.

Regards,

Arturo

[toxo]

Pigskin is cheap as chips and will line almost anything. Can usually get it in black/white /brown and different thicknesses. Has a smooth and a "suede side" I've used it for lining and bulking up a thin outer leather.

[Hardrada]

 

1 hour ago, MtlBiker said:

Thanks for your comments.- I haven't yet started working with leather... I'm learning how to make things using Cordura nylon and waxed canvas, but hope to start with leather soon.  I guess it makes sense to use leather as a liner for a leather bag, but I don't know what people are using as lining for utility pouches, flashlight pouches, etc.  Before working with leather, I want to get my sewing skills improved, using less expensive materials.  Besides, I haven't found a local source for leather, particularly small pieces to experiment with.  But I've now got a bunch of leather needles!!!    I'm getting ready!

I watched Ian Atkinson use fabric to line a wallet once: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4meaY6lWOMw

Seems to me it's regular fabric.

In terms of lining, it seems counterintuitive (maybe even counterproductive) to me to use leather to line a project made of non-leather material. But using fabric to line leather products is standard practice. There's this book on bags: https://www.amazon.ca/Leather-Bags-Stylish-Designs-Occasion/dp/1454710624

Mrs. Erhardt uses fabric and faux leather as both liner and main-body construction materials. Good examples and techniques there, and if you're using a machine to stitch, that book might be worth a look. From what I've seen , the liner does not necessarily have to be glued: in many bags the fabric liner is held in place by means of the stitching, but it's otherwise 'floating' inside the leather body. Another thing that can be done with fabric is to make zippered pockets for leather projects.

Edited December 1, 2020 by Hardrada

[YinTx]

There are many out there, but here is one:

https://www.springfieldleather.com/Cloth-Faille-Black-Yd

@RockyAussie had a link here somewhere I think to another type.

YinTx

[MtlBiker]

11 hours ago, YinTx said:

There are many out there, but here is one:

https://www.springfieldleather.com/Cloth-Faille-Black-Yd

@RockyAussie had a link here somewhere I think to another type.

YinTx

Thank you.  Do you know what that Springfield Leather Faille fabric is made of?  A web search tells me it could be silk, rayon or cotton.  I tried to put together a small order of that fabric plus some leathers to experiment with and was disappointed that it wouldn't let me enter Canada as a shipping destination.  So I'm going to have to try to find some Faille here in Canada.  And a source of small bits of leather.  I just need something to get my feet wet with.