How to Pick the Best Fabric for Your Project
When the epiphany of a new sewing project comes to mind, it feels like your ideas can be limitless. The excitement washes over you, and you are compelled to create. Of course, mistakes are going to happen, but mistakes create waste. So, it’s best to have a course of action to keep those mistakes to a minimum.
You may be reading this because you just started your sewing journey, you may have big dreams with little skill. Getting visions of making beautiful silk dresses, and leather jackets. If you have ever used a sewing machine with either of those types of fabric, you know it’s a task that seems impossible, BUT it's not impossible with the right tools and the knowledge of textiles behind you.
That's why we are here, to give you that knowledge.
Easiest Textiles to Use
Cotton
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The tried and true fabric for most garments. It's versatile, breathable, and super easy to sew. It’s thick enough to not be slippery, but not too thick that it breaks all of your needles. 100% cotton is a biodegradable fiber that is durable, reducing the risk of holes or tears in production of the garment. It’s the ideal textile to use for practice. It’s comfortable and has absorbent properties that make it easy to dye for even more customization.
Linen
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A natural fiber that is soft and breathable, it makes for a perfect summer garment. Being a thinner fabric, it is easy to cut and has a non-stretchy nature that keeps it from being slippery when using the machine. It’s important to note that linen wrinkles easily, so if you are beginning a project with linen, make sure to store it hanging or press out any wrinkles in the fabric before beginning to sew the garment.
Poly Cotton (Polyester Cotton)
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Much like 100% cotton fabrics, poly cotton is a very common fabric used in garments. While synthetic materials are less environmentally friendly than 100% cotton would be, the polyester adds an extra layer of durability to the garment. Synthetic fabrics also hold shape better, reducing the need for pressing as much.
Hardest Textiles to Use
Silk/Satins
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It’s always the most beautiful fabrics that give us troubles. Silk and satin fabrics offer a gorgeous and soft texture that can make any garment look more elegant. That said, trying to sew silk/satin is a not so elegant task. It’s a process that has brought me to tears in some situations. The fabric tends to be thin and slippery, causing it to get caught in the machine. Most silk/satin fabrics tend to wrinkle easily, but whatever you do, do NOT press a silk or satin fabric, always steam.
Chiffon
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Yet another beautiful fabric that you can only wish would be easy to use. Chiffon is one of those lightweight fabrics that looks really nice when draped on a mannequin, but becomes slippery when it gets to the needle. It’s a very delicate fabric that is prone to fraying or tearing in the process of sewing, so always handle this one with care.
Leather/Vinyl
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Vinyl is a common material used in making faux leather items. Both real and faux leather are difficult textiles to work with given their bulky nature, so you shouldn't use a standard sewing needle and presser foot to sew them. Trying to sew tough, bulky fabrics like this will only leave you with broken needles. We recommend getting a heavy-duty needle to sew these and a Teflon foot to avoid the sticky surface from tangling up the thread in the process.
