Does all microfibre stretch when adding water based contact adhesive? The microfibre I managed to find is .7mm thick but a problem to glue to the leather due to stretching. After many years I still battle with the correct reinforcing/stiffener. If the bag needs the stiffness of Salpa no problem but for a bag that will be flipped and just some body is required to make it stand on its own without changing the flexibility of the leather I have tried all sorts without settling on a specific. I find when fusing anything to leather, creases can result when flipping or even long time wear and they look terrible. Years ago I brought back from the UK an iron on stiffener in two weights which worked well but a more recent purchase of a similar material does not stick and comes loose with flipping. If I increase heat or time the leather piece shrinks. I have now ordered from a UK supplier a piece of self adhesive reinforcement https://thebagmakingsuppliers.com/products/self-adhesive-stiffener-for-bag-making it sounds too good to be true. Has anyone had any experience with it? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
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Hi Sue.
I've always preferred the old school cotton or linen canvas for 'semi-limp' stiffened/flipped bags. It acts as a stiffener, and a non-stretch reinforcement for handles and strap attachments too. Once glued in place it can be skived also.
Iron on stiffeners like Decovil can work as they compress to a degree, however you cannot use them on vegetable tanned leather, as it shrinks at a lower temperature compared to chrome tanned leather.
Pretty much all leather can shrink with high heat and steam however, so you have to test on the leather you will be using for the bag.
I don't know the long term aging characteristics of self adhesive reinforcement. I would assume they are more popular with cheaper fashion bags than handmade heirlooms.