The company sent me some cork fabric to try out, and it’s really interesting. I’ve never done any sewing with cork fabric before, but it’s exactly what it sounds like, it’s real eco-friendly cork that comes from a cork tree. It’s mounted on a fabric backing, which gives it stability while still keeping it soft and flexible. Because it’s cork, it isn’t woven, so it won’t unravel the way regular fabric can. You don’t need to hem it, so that makes it useful for all kinds of projects with cork fabric.
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What to know when you’re working with cork fabric.
Cork fabric is more like leather or vinyl when you’re working with it, so you have to be aware that putting pins through it or folding it can make creases and holes that won’t get rubbed out. Use quilter’s clips instead of pins to keep the pieces together and store it rolled up instead of folded to avoid creasing it.
This cork fabric came in a roll, which I think helps prevent creases. The piece I used has gold flecks embedded in the cork, and it has a really nice look. The fabric backing is soft, but it gives the cork enough support that you can fold it without it cracking. I would describe the weight as being similar to vinyl, although it has a different feel and appearance.
I used regular sewing scissors to cut it, but I wouldn’t really recommend doing that. Since this material is thicker than woven fabric and could dull good fabric scissors, it’s better to use a pair of scissors that you don’t reserve specifically for fabric.
Out of curiosity, I tried to tear the cork fabric to see how strong it was. It didn’t tear at all even when I put a lot of force on it. If you really work at the edge, the backing can start to fray a little, but I was putting a lot of force into it, so overall it felt very sturdy while still being soft.
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How to make the bow.
To make the bow, I folded a strip of the cork fabric in half so I could cut through a double thickness, then I simply cut a bow shape by hand. You could absolutely use a pattern for this, but I was just winging it.
If you wanted to make a bow tie instead of a barrette, this same basic shape would work for that too, but you might want to add some extra to the edge so that you can fold it in to make it look more like folded fabric.
When I took it to the sewing machine, I didn’t change the needle or the presser foot. I used a regular needle, a regular presser foot, and a straight stitch. At one point I was sewing through three thicknesses of cork fabric because of the way I folded the center section, and it worked very well. The machine sewed right through it without any trouble.
You can also do this by hand, you don’t need a machine!
If you’re going to do a lot of sewing you might want to use a sewing machine needle that’s heavier. One that’s meant to be used for denim or leather would be good.
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Attach the center and the barrette.
For the center of the bow, I used a small strip that I had cut from the top of the fabric. Once the bow itself was stitched, it felt secure and easy to handle. Since I didn’t want visible machine stitches on the front, I attached the center wrap by hand.
A hand sewing needle went through the cork fabric easily, so even if you don’t have a sewing machine, you could still make this project by sewing the whole thing by hand. I used a quick whip stitch, and it didn’t need to be pretty because that part would be hidden.
After the bow was assembled, I attached the barrette to the back. Make sure to open the barrette first so the center piece that goes into your hair stays separate. You don’t want to catch that part in the thread, because it needs to remain free so the barrette can open and close properly.
You could use hot glue for this step, but I personally don’t always trust hot glue to hold, so I prefer to sew pieces like this in place.
I sewed one side of the barrette onto the back of the bow, keeping the thread away from the center mechanism. Then I flipped it over and stitched the other side.
When I reached the end, I tied off the thread with a simple knot by passing the needle through the fabric and thread and doubling it up.
The final result.
The cork fabric was very easy to sew by hand. It wasn’t too thick, I didn’t have to force the needle through it, and I didn’t need a thimble. The whole process was simple, and the finished barrette turned out really cute.
This is the kind of accessory that is a little unusual and likely to get attention because it’s made from cork rather than regular fabric. If you’ve never worked with cork fabric before, it’s a fun material to try. People use it for earrings, bookmarks, accessories, and all kinds of small crafts. I’m also planning to make a book cover with it, and I can think of several other projects that would work well with this material.
Overall, cork fabric is a nice alternative to vinyl. It has a cool look, it’s soft and flexible, and it’s much easier to sew than I expected. If you’ve been curious about using cork fabric in your crafts, this little bow barrette is a quick project that gives you a chance to test it out without committing to something complicated.
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