What To Look For When Using Unique Fabrics In Your Next Sewing Project

By Anna Evans


If you love sewing and have completed various projects you may be like many people and have a collection of different textiles that you will want to use. It is not uncommon for sewers to collect unique fabrics in the hopes that they will find a way to use them. In the end, though, it can be difficult to tell whether a particular piece of material will work if it is not one of the ones listed on the pattern itself.

If you are not sure where to find these fabrics you may want to look in markets or in ethnic shops. Some people find swatches of fabric while they travel and bring them home as a memento of their travels. If you make costumes you might also be on the look out for unique material that would work well for your next costuming project. If you do buy material while you are overseas you may love how inexpensive it is compared to what you might find at home.

Some people may not have exotic fabrics that they purchased while on vacation but may be working with vintage fabric instead. While it can be a wonderful idea to remake vintage pieces into more up to date and wearable items this may be difficult if the material is thin and fragile. You may need to consider putting it on a backing of different material or using webbing or interfacing to give it some strength.

The pattern you will be using can be a great help when you evaluate whether a particular piece of material will work well. Look at the other fabrics listed. Are any of them similar to the type of material you would like to use? If so, your fabric may work even if it is not specifically listed on the pattern itself.

You should look at each piece of fabric that you buy. You need to figure out whether it is heavy, medium or light weight. You also need to figure out whether it flows or if it is too thick and heavy. Sometimes that is a benefit if you need your piece to have a lot of structure and you do not want to have to fuse or reinforce it. Another thing to consider is whether you will need a piece of material to be able to stretch when it is made into a finished garment.

Vintage textiles can be beautiful but they can also be delicate. If you want to alter a vintage piece so that it fits you better or is more modern looking you may need to be careful. It may turn out that lace or other materials are delicate and end up falling apart if you try to do too much with them.

You should also think about what the item will be used for if it is not being worn. Some people like to use fabrics to make their own pillows or to cover furniture. If you are using delicate material that will not stand up to hard use then it may not be the best choice for this kind of project.

A store that sells fabric may be a great source of information. A staff member should be able to look at the material you want to use and the pattern that you will be working with. If they say it can't be used, ask why and find out if there is anything you can do to fix the situation.




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