The Ultimate Guide to Sewing Clips for Bag Making

Learn the differences between standard, long, wide mouth, pointed, metal and magnetic sewing clips and discover which sewing clips are best for your bag making projects.

If you’ve ever tried holding multiple layers of fabric, interfacing, bag foam, webbing or vinyl faux leather together while sewing, you’ve probably discovered that sewing clips can quickly become one of the most useful tools in your sewing room.

While traditional sewing pins still have their place, sewing clips offer a simple and practical alternative for many bag making projects. They help hold materials securely in place without leaving holes behind and make it much easier to manage bulky seams, folded straps, binding and thicker materials.

As a bag maker, sewing clips are one of the tools I reach for almost every day.

In this guide, I’ll share the different types of sewing clips available, when I use them, and a few practical tips that can make your bag making projects easier and more organised.

Why Bag Makers Love Sewing Clips

Unlike garment sewing, bag making often involves multiple layers of materials that can be thick, bulky or difficult to pin together.

Many projects include combinations of:

Trying to hold all of these layers together with traditional sewing pins can be frustrating.

Sewing clips help keep everything aligned while allowing you to easily reposition pieces as you sew.

They are especially useful because they:

Don’t leave pin holes in your materials
Hold thick layers securely
Are quick to remove and reposition
Work well with bulky seams
Make zipper installation easier
Help hold folded straps before sewing

For many bag makers, sewing clips become one of those tools you wonder how you ever managed without.

Sewing Clips vs Sewing Pins

One of the most common questions I hear is whether sewing clips are better than sewing pins.

The answer is that both have their place.

Sewing pins are still useful for lightweight fabrics and detailed garment sewing.

However, clips are often the better choice when working with bag making materials.

For example, when sewing vinyl faux leather, waterproof canvas or genuine leather, pin holes may remain visible after the project is finished.

Clips eliminate that problem completely.

They’re also much easier to use when working with thick layers that can bend or distort when pinned.

Rather than choosing one over the other, many sewists find that keeping both in their sewing room gives them the best of both worlds.

Different Types of Sewing Clips

One of the biggest misconceptions is that all sewing clips are the same.

Different styles are designed to solve different sewing problems.

Standard Sewing Clips

Standard sewing clips are the everyday workhorse of the sewing room.

They’re ideal for:

Holding seams together
Securing binding
Holding zipper tape in place
General sewing and quilting

If you’re just getting started, standard sewing clips are usually the first style to add to your sewing toolkit.

Long Sewing Clips

Long sewing clips provide extra reach compared to standard clips.

I particularly like them when making:

Tote bag straps
Crossbody bag straps
Backpack straps
Wider handles
Bulky projects with multiple layers

Because they cover a larger area, they help distribute pressure and hold longer sections securely in place.

Wide Mouth Sewing Clips

Wide mouth sewing clips are designed to accommodate thicker projects.

They’re useful when working with:

Bag foam
Multiple layers of interfacing
Bulky seams
Heavily structured bags

The wider opening allows them to grip thicker sections that may be difficult for standard clips to hold.

Pointed Sewing Clips

Pointed sewing clips are perfect when precision matters.

They work particularly well for:

Curves
Corners
Smaller sewing sections
Detailed construction work

The pointed design allows you to place the clip exactly where it’s needed without covering important sewing lines.

Metal Sewing Clips

Metal sewing clips are strong, durable and compact.

Many bag makers enjoy using them because they:

Take up less space
Hold firmly
Are easy to position
Work well on detailed projects

They are particularly useful when you want a strong grip without the bulk of larger plastic clips.

Magnetic Sewing Clips / Fabric Grips

Magnetic sewing clips / fabric grips are one of the more specialised options available.

They are particularly useful when working inside bags and other tight spaces where traditional clips can be difficult to position.

I find them especially handy when holding:

Internal pockets
Strap connectors
Small bag components
Hard-to-reach areas during construction

They’re a clever little tool that solves a problem many bag makers don’t realise has a solution.

My Favourite Sewing Clip Tip

One of my favourite ways to use sewing clips has nothing to do with sewing.

When cutting out a bag pattern, I often use sewing clips to attach the pattern piece directly to the fabric, lining or interfacing piece.

This helps keep important information attached to each piece, including:

Pattern markings
Strap placement guides
Zipper placement marks
Construction notes
Cutting information

When working on larger bag projects with lots of pieces, this simple habit can save a surprising amount of time and confusion.

How Many Sewing Clips Do You Need?

The honest answer?

Probably more than you think.

Most bag makers quickly discover that a handful of clips isn’t enough once they begin working with larger projects.

The number you need depends on what you’re making, but many sewists find themselves reaching for dozens of clips when holding long straps, large bag panels, bag bases or binding in place.

Having a variety of styles available also gives you more flexibility for different sewing tasks.

Final Thoughts

Sewing clips are one of the simplest tools in the sewing room, but they can make a huge difference to the way you sew.

Whether you’re making handbags, tote bags, backpacks, wallets or quilting projects, the right sewing clips can help keep your materials organised, aligned and easy to manage.

If you’re building your sewing toolkit, I highly recommend trying a few different styles to discover which ones suit your sewing projects best.

You may find, just like I did, that sewing clips quickly become one of the most-used tools in your sewing room.