I 'think' felt is just threads that are pressed into sheets.
Flannel is definately woven. I do a 'machine stitch -- by hand' technique to make bags out of flannel. I don't know if the standard gathering method would work well with woven fabrics.
I know that ultrasuede light is like the best material but im not going to start selling bags, yet, but i just want to find the best cheapest material that i can find.
Crushed panne if your stitching low paneled bags then. I think it pretty much goes 2 extremes. Panne (or facile) for low paneled and facile for high paneled. There isn't much inbetween except maybe some types of real suede, or just expirimenting with alot of different fabrics.
Microsuede or crushed panne are good starter fabrics.
Waylon Lew - maker of Wasabi bags
NYFA represent.
"Footbag can be pretty frustrating when it's supposed to be fun. I was partly driven by this forum - practice, practice, practice... As that is true, I think someone can be too focused on progressing and training that they miss the fun aspect of it." - Bander87