Choosing the right dressmaking fabric is essential to making a successful garment, so it’s important to have an understanding of the different types of fabrics available and how they will behave when you are sewing them. When choosing your dressmaking fabric, think about the following:
What weight of fabric do you want? The weight of a fabric can be measured in ounces per square yard (oz/yd2). The heavier the fabric, the more dense and stiff it will be. Fabrics with low weight are usually more stretchy or drapeable than heavier ones; however, lightweight fabrics can sag if not lined properly.
How much stretch does the fabric have? A fabric that contains spandex or elastane will have some amount of stretch built into it, which makes it easier to sew with because it won’t twist as much when being sewn. A non-stretchy fabric will be harder to work with because any pattern pieces that don’t fit just right will not stretch out to match those parts of your body that do fit well!
Does the fabric fade easily? Sometimes it’s important for your clothes to fade naturally in order to achieve a worn-in look; other times, you may want garments that retain their colour.
Think about the type of dress you want to make and what style it will be. This can help you choose a suitable fabric. For example, if you want to make a summer dress, then cotton would be a good choice as it’s light and cool to wear. If you want to make a winter coat, then wool might be better suited because it’s thick and warm.
You may also want to consider whether or not your fabric needs to be washable or dry clean only. If you’re making something for an event or occasion then this could have an impact on which material you choose.
If it’s an evening or formal occasion then perhaps silk or velvet fabric would be best as it feels luxurious and expensive but remember that this is a delicate fabric so needs looking after carefully when washing or dry cleaning – if it has been purchased from a reputable supplier then they should provide instructions on how best to care for their products but always check first before washing or dry cleaning anything yourself!
Dressmaking fabric comes in all different types: woven, knitted, stretchy, sheer, thick or thin. Each has its own characteristics and will perform differently depending on the type of project you are working on.
To make sure that you get the best result possible from your sewing project, it is advisable to choose your fabric according to what type of garment or accessory you are planning on making. For example: You wouldn’t want thick pile wool for tight fitting knickers, but you would use it for say a winter coat because of its warmth qualities. Similarly with most fabrics there will be a weight or thickness range within each type which should be considered when choosing your fabric.