I recently purchased a sewing pattern which lists 2 way stretch fabric as essential. The instructions stated that this was because it was essential that the fabric stretched in both directions. And reading this made me pause in confusion. You see I had always been taught at fashion school that a fabric with 2 way …
When it comes to designing fashion or even just making your own clothes, the fabric you choose can be the difference between a garment that looks amazing and a garment that looks like something you bought at the mall or from a high street store. A lot of times, people end up disappointed in their …
Velvet is a fabric loved by many – except me perhaps? – and is used by many designers in fashion, from simple velvet dresses to elaborate velvet jackets. It is seen to be a luxurious fabric type and can be made from a variety of materials – silk, cotton, rayon and more – and in …
If you’ve ever worn an item with stretch factor in the fabric, chances are that you’ve worn elastane. But what is elastane and how does it differ from other stretch materials like spandex and lycra? And is elastane toxic to wear or perhaps sustainable? That’s what this article is about! What Is Elastane? Elastane is …
Most of us will be very familiar with cotton as a dressmaking fabric, but are you aware of the wide range of different types of cotton fabric that are at your disposal? Cotton has been grown and used as a fabric for thousands of years. So it’s no surprise that cotton can be found in …
What is rayon? Is it a fabric that you should buy and sew or is it a new fangled one that can be ignored? Does rayon have any sustainability credentials or is it another ‘modern’ fabric with no benefit to the environment? Today, you’ll learn all about rayon including how to work with it at …
Sewing tulle can be a challenge. While it is a beautiful fabric perfect for creating stunning dresses, skirts and even tutus, sewing with tulle takes some special know-how to get it right. In this guide, you’ll learn about the different types of tulle and the best ways to sew it, so that your next project …
I’ve covered a lot of the different types of fabric before, but I haven’t much touched on the types of sheer fabric available when sewing. Once you’ve been sewing for a while, you may find that you’re ready to try sewing trickier fabrics, and sheer or transparent fabric is definitely considered tricky! Sheer Fabric Types …
In the last month, we looked at the different types of fabric, different types of lace and man made vs natural vs synthetic fibres. Being that cotton fabric is very popular for making clothes, I thought it might be interesting for you to learn more about where cotton comes from and how cotton is made …
Today, we’re going to go in deep on knit fabrics so that you can feel more confident working with the many and varied knit fabric types. Here’s an overview of what we’ll be covering: What knit fabrics are and how they’re made The difference between knit and woven fabrics Different knit fabric types How to …
Wondering how to identify different types of fabric? Perhaps you’re ready to learn more about the types of fabrics and how they can be used when making your own clothes? If the above sounds like you then this epic guide on fabric types is just for you! Note that while I use the word fabric, …