Fabric
Presumably, if you are sewing, you are sewing some kind of fabric.
Choosing the right fabric for your project can make or break your success.
Not all fabrics are the same. And some are far more difficult to work with.
Back in the day when we would buy fabric, we’d have to go to a store and browse the endless aisles looking for the type of fabric, with the look and feel we wanted.
Now, you can just sit in front of your computer and browse endless websites selling fabric. There are definitely more options available. But, online shopping doesn’t allow you to touch and feel the fabrics.
It’s hard to really understand how they will behave unless you’ve purchased that exact fabric before. Learning common terms used to describe fabric helps.
Additionally, it’s important to understand the difference between fabric type and fiber type. I see the confusion most often around silk and silky fabrics like chiffon or satin. Chiffon and Satin are fabric types that can be made out of different fibers.
You’ll probably also want to get familiar with some special fabrics like interfacing.
Even elastic can be considered a fabric since it can be made and sewn very much like fabric. It’s rare you would see an entire garment made out of elastic. But, they do exist.
Dig in to learn more about fabrics. And also how they work with some of the notions like needles.
My Articles on Fabric
Conquer Elastic Confusion: 3 Essential Types Demystified
Elastic. Such a useful notion. (Or, is it a fabric?) But when you try to buy elastic, you’re faced with gasp choices! The three most common elastics that you’ll find are: Knit, Braided, and No-Roll. However there are other options like clear, strap elastic, picot...
Needle Sizes: Considerations for Choosing
Sewing machine needles are important. Picking the correct one for what you are sewing will make all the difference in your sewing experiencing. An ill-matched needle can cause headache and frustration. There are two main things to consider when picking the needle to...
Sewing Needle Type and Fabric Pairing
Needles are important when sewing. In fact, they might be the most important choice you will make when sewing. If you get it wrong, it can cause hours of frustration, jams and other headaches. Here are the most common needle types and what fabrics are best to be sewn...
Matching Thread to Fabric
When sewing, matching thread is important. Usually. Honestly, for Many seams, if your machine is set correctly, the thread used won’t be seen. However, it’s always a good idea to get close enough to matching your thread, just in case. And then there’s the times when...
Intro to Interfacing
Sometimes in a garment or accessory, the main fabric needs to be modified in such a way to add stability, weight, or stiffness. Usually, interfacing is tucked away in between multiple layers of fabric and you never know it's there. Such as in collars, cuffs, and...
Prewash Fabric – Yes or No?
Recently I was browsing around on the interwebs, and I ran into a question regarding pre-washing fabric. The question was along the lines of "Why should I pre-wash my fabric before sewing something with it?" On the surface, that looks like a straight-forward question....
3 Rules to Lay Out Patterns and Cut Fabric Confidently
One of the first things you have to learn to sew well is to lay out patterns and cut fabric correctly, or you won't get good results. You've probably figured this out, but you can't just go and cut out pattern pieces from fabric all willy-nilly. There are rules....
Introduction to Basic Fabric and Fiber Types
One of the most critical things to get right when making clothes is fabric. There are so many characteristics that can describe fabric. Drape, hand, color, stretch, weave, texture, weight, print, nap, transparency, and the list can go on. First, and foremost, it's...