Sewing Skills

How To Tie Dye – Different Ways To Tie Dye With Steps

May 12, 2021 by Harshitha Leave a Comment

Different Ways To Tie Dye

If we have to discuss one of the biggest Fashion trends of 2020, then it has to be Tie- Dye. This trend which was popular in the US back in the 1960s as a part of the ‘Hippie’ and Psychedelic Cult, has made a fierce comeback. Celebrities, Fashion Houses, Influencers — it has been an absolute favorite of many. And due to the Pandemic and the subsequent Lockdown, it has become all the more popular among the Masses given how easily it can be DIY-ed. Check out the aftercare, how to wash tie dye clothes with care. You can also apply the following tie dye techniques in reverse tie dye with bleach.

In this blog, we will be not just giving more insights into this major Fashion Trend but also give you a very easy tutorial on how to DIY this technique at your home

Tie Dye Techniques

With the rising popularity of Tie-Dying, there are several methods and techniques to it, resulting in some beautiful styles in themselves. What also owes to this experimentation is how easily all of these styles can be done by anybody.

The following are some popular techniques used in Tie-Dye

Bull’s Eye Tie-Technique
Spiral Tie-Dye Technique
Shibori Technique ( A Japanese Form of Tie-Dye)
Ombre Tie-Dye Technique
Crumpled Tie-Dye Technique
Striped Tie-Dye Technique
Sunburst Technique and many more.

How To TIE-DYE At Home ( DIY TIE-DYE)

In this blog, we will be listing out the steps of one of the most popular techniques of Tie-Dye, so that you can easily DIY and wear it off to streets embracing your new mask look!

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Bull’s Eye Technique

Take a plain colored T-shirt (preferably a white T-shirt). Make sure it’s damp and natural fiber fabric and lay it on a table.
For the Bull’s Eye Technique, choose the part of the fabric which would act as the center of the bull’s eye.
Now pinch and pull the chosen part of the fabric (which would be the center of the bull’s eye) upwards and secure the other end of the fabric with our other hand.
Now tie a rubber band approximately 1-2 inches from our chosen center. Then tie rubber bands after every 1-2 inch of the fabric and continue doing it till the end. It should essentially look like a long tube.
Now take your chosen dye colors and squirt them well in the chosen areas, for the desired look.

2. Spiral Or Swirl Technique

Take the fabric and lay it flat on the table.
Now we pinch the center of the fabric and start twisting the fabric into a circular motion.
Continue this until all of the fabric is gathered and looks like a wedge-shaped ball.
Secure the spiral with three rubber ties to sustain the wedge effect.
Now add desired dyes onto the fabric.
Flip the fabric and repeat the process of squirting the dye into the fabric.

3. Shibori Tie-Dye Technique

For the Shibori Technique, lay the fabric on the table, and make accordion folds onto the fabric, from the bottom edge to the top part of the fabric in even folds.
Now again fold the fabric( again into accordion folds) from one end to the other, till the fabric turns into a lump of folds.
Take three rubber ties and wrap it around the fabric in criss-cross directions, tightly securing the folds in a criss-cross direction.
Now squirt the desired colors into the fabric on both ends and let it dry for the prints to be bold and visible.

4. Ombre Tie-Dye Technique

Lay the fabric on the table and make sure it’s damp enough.
Squirt the desired color from the top end of the fabric.
Now take a large wet brush and using downward strokes to blend the color downwards to create a blend and a color saturation. Use color and water are accordingly used in getting the proper blend
Once the desired blend for the first the color is done, now the same steps are repeated for the other chosen colors.
Once the fabric has been dyed, hang the fabric and let it dry for the colors and patterns to be bright enough

5. Crumpled Tie- Dye Technique

Take the damp fabric into the workspace and scrunch the fabric to a crumpled mound. Keep the crumples loose or tight according to the style preferred. Tight crumples will give a more defined and crisp look.
Now secure the crumples of the mound with rubber ties and squirt dye all over the fabric.
Keep the fabric inside a plastic or a bag for the fabric to remain damp while the dye dries.
The Crumpled Tie-Dye Fabric is ready to be used.

6. Striped Tie-Dye Technique

Lay the damp fabric and make pleats of the fabric in horizontal or vertical lines, as per the stripes desired.
Now one the fabric is pleated, secure the pleats of the fabric. Add as many rubber bands and space them as desired.
Once this is done, squirt the chosen colors and let the fabric dry for 6-8 hours.
Voila, DIY Striped Tie-dye Fabric is ready.

7. Sunburst Tie-Dye Technique

Lay the Damp cloth on the table and pinch a small portion of the cloth upwards to 1-2inch respectively.
Now secure a rubber band tightly around the pinched part of the cloth. This is the sunburst.
Repeat the above steps for as many sunbursts as desired.
Now squirt the chosen dyes into the sunbursts.
Fill the other chosen dye into the remaining part of the fabric.
Let it dry for 6-8 hours till the prints are bold and bright

Important Tips To Tie Dye

While Tie-Dye is definitely one of the simplest techniques to do at our homes, one should, however, keep certain tips in mind to ensure their entire endeavor with this process results in a success and not in disappointment.

So while doing Tie-Dye at home, make sure you keep the following tips in mind your mind to get the best bold prints –

Make sure your Fabric is Pre-Washed. Pre-Washing the Fabric will ensure the apparel is of the right fit, as sometimes fabric shrinks and also removes any possible dirt so that the dye saturates better.
Also, it is important to ensure the fabric when you are going to Tie-Dye should be Damp, but not wet. You would want the color to penetrate and saturate well, but not drip.
Make sure you secure the ties of the cloth tightly. This ensures the color penetrates and saturates better and you get the desired style and pattern.
For Tie-Dye to be a success it is important to Squirt the color well into the folds and Squeeze the folds of fabric to ensure the color penetrates well inside the cloth. Make sure you Use Powdered Color and mix it with water in Squirt Bottles to get the perfect bold prints.
Lastly, after the dye has been squirted, keep the fabric inside a plastic packet or bag to ensure that while the dye is drying the cloth remains damp. This will ensure big and bold prints

Are you ready to make yourself an entirely new and stylish outfit, that too, at home? We hear a big YES!

Types of Fabric for Clothing With Best Styling Tips

April 8, 2021 by Harshitha Leave a Comment

Types of Fabric for Clothing

In the world of Fashion Designing and Apparel Making, it is practically impossible to operate without the fundamental knowledge of Fabric. Fabric is definitely one of the pivotal elements in the world of Fashion and Furnishing. It is only when you have adequate knowledge about the kind of fabric and the silhouette, you can make sound decisions and thereby create a niche for yourself in the world of Apparel Making.

Therefore, if you are someone who is interested in Fashion Designing or Stitching, the most fundamental way to start with would be to acquaint yourself with the types of fabric for clothing. In this blog, we will be listing out the major types of fabric for clothing and also mention they are best suited for which kind of apparel of furnishing.

So let’s get started!

1. Cotton Fabric

The most comfortable and popular fabric of all time, this is a naturally grown fabric best suited for tropical weather. It is extremely soothing, skin-friendly, and light-weighted. Available in almost any kind of shade, this fabric is well suited for making almost every piece of clothing, Kurtis, tops, blouses, sarees, shirts, t-shirts, etc.

2. Silk Fabric

The next most popular fabric is definitely silk. Obtained from Silkworms, this fabric is famous for its smooth texture and luster. Silk is also the most durable of all the natural fabrics and is best suited for sarees, Kurtis, gowns-basically any occasion that involves celebration and gala.

3. Linen Fabric

Made from Flax, this fabric is also famous for its smooth texture, versatility, and durability. This fabric comes in various types today but generally is best suited for making bed sheets, handkerchiefs, table covering, and other furnishing items.

4. Wool Fabric

The most fundamental fabric for winters, wool is best known for the warm, fuzzy, and smooth texture it provides. It is wrinkle-free and resistant to fade and tear. Practically every kind of clothing, from dresses to caps to scarves to pants, can be made from wool and be labeled as winter wear.

5. Leather Fabric

Leather comes from animal hide and has always been an all-time favorite for the luster and the glamour it instantly offers to the entire look. However, with growing awareness of animal cruelty and legal sanctions imposed, leather made from animal hide is avoided.

6. Faux Leather

What has come to the rescue is Faux Leather. Faux Leather, as the name suggests, is synthetic leather made from plastic and other chemical processes. Today, it has become the best substitute for original leather and is used to make jackets, pants, shoes, blazers, etc.

7. Polyester Fabric

Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from polymer. It is highly used in the world of fashion as it is strong, soft, and is a wrinkle-free textile. It is also rebounding and resistant to wear and tear. Therefore, almost every piece of clothing can be made from it like jackets, pajamas, blazers, blouses, t-shirts, etc.

8. Rayon Fabric

Made from cellulose fiber, this fabric is extremely popular because of its smooth texture and resemblance to cotton and woolen fabrics. It is also highly absorbent and does not insulate body heat, due to which it is extremely favored by the residents of summer and humid climates.

9. Nylon Fabric

This is also another synthetic fabric that is made up of polymer. It is an extremely strong fabric, very stretchable, high elasticity, and long-lasting. Nylon is also resistant to bacterias and fungus, and this also makes it extremely popular.

10. Velvet Fabric

Velvet is another fabric that is again famous for its rich and smooth texture. Originally made from silk, pure velvet is expensive enough to burn a hole in the pocket. Therefore to make it more affordable and accessible to the masses, today, velvet is manufactured using a mix of silk and other synthetic fabrics like rayon, polyester, viscose, etc.

This fabric should definitely be on your cards if you are planning an outfit for any specific celebration or event. Blouses, Lehengas, and skirts made from velvet can instantly add that oomph factor to your look.

11. Denim Fabric

Last but not least in this blog is denim fabric. Made from rugged cotton twill, this fabric is the staple for making our quintessential blue jeans. However, denim is a versatile material and comes today in various colors. Denim fabric can be one of the best options for any casual outfit like jackets, jeans, shorts, dresses, shirts, overalls, etc.

With this, we come to an end with the major types of fabric for clothing. These are extremely popular and are used in the world of fashion and apparel making. So, the next time you plan to get yourself a new outfit or plan to make one from scratch, make sure you pay adequate attention to the kind of fabric it is, as that would determine your silhouette and the overall look.

However, this list is not exhaustive as there exist various kinds of fabric that also find their presence in fashion.

Types of Cotton Fabric Based On Your Usage

March 16, 2021 by Harshitha Leave a Comment

Types of Cotton Fabric: Everything You Need to Know for Weaving Your Summer Essentials!

In the textile and manufacturing industry, cotton is the most loved fabric. The different types of cotton fabric provide high elasticity that makes the fabric solid, strong, and more averse to tear or tear. There are many other benefits of the cotton fabric and also many types and today, we are going to discuss it all. Cotton is remembered with summers, check out some lightweight fabrics for summer.

Cotton is easy to wash, maintain, wear, and of course, easy on pockets as well. All these features make the fabric a versatile one that can be bought and worn without any inconvenience and is also maintenance-free. With various types of cotton fabric to look over, it tends to be troublesome settling on an ultimate conclusion. Thus, to help you, we have assembled this guide on the various sorts of cotton fabric.

A Guide To The Different Types Of Cotton Fabric

1. Cotton Lawn

Cotton lawn fabric is a flimsy, generally sheer, high string tally cotton fabric that is made using a tight weave, and a stronger string.

This feature makes the fabric rich and smooth, making it ideal for garments, pullovers, skirts, and other pieces for Summer clothing.

Thus, on the off chance that you are hoping to sew a lightweight maxi dress or an exquisite summer pullover, a cotton yard may appear to be a somewhat evident decision for your new outfit.

2. Cotton Jersey

Cotton jersey is another type of cotton fabric that is mainly used for producing t-shirts and dresses.

It is famous and most loved for its delicate quality and stretchability. The delicate texture is overwhelmingly cotton with some elastane mixed with the fabric.

One of the great advantages of using the texture is its adaptability as it tends to be used for many fashion projects. From breathable summer tops to base layers for the cold weather months, the cotton jersey fabric tends to be suitable for many kinds of outfits, sewn for Summers.

3. Cotton Poplin

This plain-weave cotton fabric is a lightweight texture that can be utilized to make an assortment of attire that you can wear throughout the year.

It is regularly used to sew men’s shirts as it is delicate, lightweight, and moderately wrinkles-free.

The amazing features of this cotton make it suitable for ethnic, western and active apparel with waterproof shells.

Thus, its prominence is not really astounding! Cotton poplin is known for its particular ribbed surface and firmly shut weave, which makes it lightweight yet at the same time holds its solidarity.

Poplin has consistently been a staple texture for its flexibility, as it is an agreeable yet slick texture, adding an easy-going flare to the outfits.

4. Chambray

This is almost similar to the denim fabric. Thin in texture as compared to denim fabric but much softer and shinier, this fabric is widely loved by all! Chambray is widely used by big brands to design a wide range of garments in the readymade section.

It is accessible in various tones, yet is frequently light blue in shading, which is the place where it gets its comparability to denim. This makes it ideal for the Spring months, as you can in any case get the appearance of denim in your garments.

From shirts to lightweight dresses— this is one of the best types of cotton fabric for easy-going outfits with its polished, complementing, and quick to sew features.

5. Brushed cotton

Brushed cotton is a blend of different structures of textures, making a delicate and smooth completion that is incredibly agreeable on the skin with no irritation. This current texture’s breathability is super great. It is soft and can easily soak sweat in Summers.

Brushed cotton can be bought for making shirts or dresses for the hot season. It is also commonly used by various fashion designing institutes to make the students understand the nature of brushed cotton.

The best part of brushed cotton is that you can also make night suits from this fabric, as it feels very soft and light on the skin while sleeping. This is neither too thin nor too thick.

Brushed cotton is one such type of cotton that can be worn throughout the year, thus making it suitable for both the Summer and Winter seasons.

6. Cotton drill

This sturdy texture of the cotton drill fabric is known for being extremely thick and solid in texture. In fact, it is rated as medium to significant on the hardness of the texture which is why it is a preferred choice for regalia and work garments.

It’s fundamentally the same as the surface and slanting weave of denim, yet is typically coloured and has a smoother appearance, making it ideal for a wide range of pieces of clothing. This includes custom-made and easygoing designs. It is simple and adjustable to wear, which makes it apt for contemporary clothing.

Take Away

It is ideal to buy the different types of cotton fabric in summers – especially summers in India. The above-listed types of cotton fabric are the best choice for manufacturing lightweight, free, and soak absorbent outfits that help you keep the heat away.

So, are you ready for Summers yet with your stock of cotton fabric?

The Types of Linen You Should Know Based On the Usage

March 16, 2021 by Harshitha Leave a Comment

The Types of Linen You Should Know About!

If you’re into a profession that is related to apparel and fabric or is acquainted with the process of stitching and garment-making, then you must have come across the term ‘linen.’ Essentially made up from flax, linen is an absolute favorite among tailors and seamstress because of the versatility it offers. The durability, softness, flexibility, being light-weighted, and has antifungal and antibacterial properties add to the popularity of the types of linen.

The features present in different types of linen allow the fabric to be versatile and therefore, is used across garments, apparel, and furnishing. But did you know there are different types of linen? Yes, you heard us right! Despite its versatility, different types of linen exist in the market. Having a deep knowledge of these will help you choose better. So, let us get to know further which type of linen is best suited for which purpose.

Through this blog, we will be sharing details about different types of linen. Alongside, we will also be sharing tips for when to use the specific fabric, more importantly for which purpose.

Damask Linen Fabric

Woven with Jacquard Loom, this type of linen is ornate and delicate. This type of linen is mostly woven with a good mix of plain and satin weaves. The fibers are flat and reversible which gives it an extremely smooth texture and produces an end result that resembles aesthetic embroidered detailing.

Uses:

Usually produced in a single shade of hue, Damask Linen is best suited for making:

Linen napkins
Table cloths
Table runners
Other kinds of home textiles.

Plain-Woven Linen Fabric

This type of linen is mostly used for manufacturing cleaning towels, wiping towels, dish towels, hand towels, etc. Plain Weave linen comes mostly in checkered stripes. Traditionally, it has a loose weave, thus it is well suited for all kinds of cleansing and wiping purposes.

Uses:

Plain Weave Linen has sub-types and these have versatile usages, such as the following:

Holland Linen

This type of linen is well-suited for making window shades and lamp shades because of its light-blocking properties.

Cambric Linen

Being one of the thinnest and finest varieties of linen, this type of linen is particularly used in making delicate fabric like lingerie and handkerchiefs.

Butcher’s Linen

This corser type of linen is well-suited for making apparels like that of aprons and other heavy-duty clothing.

Loosely-Woven Linen Fabric

Highly Absorbent type of Linen Fabric, this type of linen is mostly used for making sanitary napkins and diapers.

However, it also holds the record for being the least durable of all types of linen.

Sheeting Linen Fabric

This type of Linen fabric is mostly used in apparel and bedding due to its untextured and soft surface.

Sheeting Linen Fabric also has a higher thread count, feels heavier to touch, and has a close weave.

This brings us to an end to the different types of linen and the variety of purposes it is used for. So, the next time you go purchasing linen fabric, make sure to know the type of linen you have picked and the purpose it’s best suited for. Choosing the best type of linen for your respective purpose will definitely give you the smoothest and the most enriching experience.

Types of Fabrics And Their Uses (with Images)

March 16, 2021 by Harshitha 10 Comments

Types Of Fabrics And Their Uses With Properties

Hurray! I can see my designs appear on Google Images now. The feeling is overwhelming, while it made me realize that I should work on the types of fabrics and their uses in detail. Nothing related to designs, my designs are quite good, at least for now! The colors I chose and the fabric used had the issue. It took a while for me to realize that it is important to know the types of fabrics and their uses with their properties for better material selection. This will add to your designing skills. Therefore, you’ll see that cloth selection can change the comfort and look of the outfit in the end.

I started designing clothes like this:

I’ve collected materials I liked.
Then start to think of what style will suit that material. If the material is heavy, not going for any heavy pattern like in my palazzo pants outfit or kalamkari kurta design.
Imagine a design and start to sketch.
Adjust pattern cuttings according to sketch and cut material.
Then stitch it up.

It seems like the fabric selection was not always right. My material selection became almost monotonous. Consequently, came the need to know the types of fabrics and their uses. Let’s get into the types of cloth materials with pictures.

Before we start! It’s not just types of fabrics, there’s much more:

Types of silk fabrics
Types of linen
Types of cotton fabric
Heavyweight fabrics
Lightweight fabrics for summer and many more…

What Are The Different Types Of Fabrics And Their Uses:

Clothing, a term in our daily life for fabrics, is quite essential. Fabrics as in ‘Fabric’ is essential for a designer.

Fabric= Fiber+Construction

Flax is the first natural cellulose fibers. This fiber grows in flax plant stalks. Before all machinery came, each fiber is separated into individual strands and weave or plait them manually to form a basic fabric piece. These fabric pieces are then dyed from plants if needed. Natural fabrics among all types of fabrics and their uses Linen, cotton, wool, and silk are organic and renewable fibers and they are available in plenty.

Man-Made fibers came into existence because although natural fibers fulfilled their purpose, they each have their restrictions (such as creasing and shrinking). These were in use much later.

Purpose of Man-Made fibers:

The first synthetic fiber produced and distributed in 1910 is a rayon to replicate silk. Nylon came 29 years later made with petrochemicals. These synthetic fibers replaced silk and rayon fibers due to their more favorable properties and joined the types of fabrics and their uses.

The demand for natural fibers decreased and more comfortable synthetic fibers such as acrylic, polyester, and spandex came in. These provide more comfort, strength, breathability, cost efficiency, greater fabric manipulation, and a vast amount of dying opportunities among all types of fabrics and their uses.

In contrast, natural fibers are not completely avoided over man-made fibers’ advantage. Natural fibers serve a variety of purposes. Crafting uses natural fibers also knitting and crochet work to use wools and yarn. Likewise, cotton is an easy fabric to work on sewing projects. Each fabric has its unique composition and individual properties that make it ideal for specific applications. So, let’s get into the types of fabrics and their uses.

Fabrics are mainly classified into Natural Fabrics and Man-made Fabrics.

Natural Fabrics:

These are made out of naturally available ingredients extracted from plants and animals. Natural fabrics are further categorized into Cellulose Base, Protein Base, and Mineral-based on the element used to make fiber.

Cellulose Base Fabrics:

These are formed from cellulose, a starch-like carbohydrate. Cellulose or wood pulp are dissolving by nature and are generated by extrusion and precipitation.

From seed hair:

Cotton:

This fiber is almost pure cellulose and made out of cotton plant’s seed hair. It grows in the seedpod, a protective case around the seeds of the cotton plants. Cotton fiber is a fluffy staple fiber of half to two inches long. Each cotton fiber is composed of concentric layers. The outer cellular layer on the fiber is separable from the fiber. It consists of wax and pectin materials.

Cotton plants grow in warmer climates. Under natural conditions, the cotton bolls will increase the dispersal of the seeds. The fiber is composed of 90% cellulose, 6% moisture, and the remainder fats and impurities.

Being one of the comfortable fabrics for summers, check out more lightweight fabrics for summer and types of cotton fabric based on your usage.

Properties:

Light
Thin
Soft
Moderately strong(affected by moisture)
Relatively cheap material
absorbs water
Breathable
Wrinkles easily
Withstand heat
Slow to dry
Inelastic and rigid
Very long lifetime

Uses:

Patchwork projects
Creating lightweight garments(such as button-up shirts, dresses, socks, t-shirts, bedsheets)
Well-suited for heavy-duty stitch crafting

Kapok:

Kapok is the name of the tree. The fiber is also called silk cotton or java cotton. The cotton-like fluff obtained from its seed pods, similarly, Kapok fiber is obtained from its seed hair. Lignin (woody plant substance) and cellulose (carbohydrate) are used to make this fiber.

Properties:

moisture-resistant
quick-drying
resilient
buoyant fiber
inelastic
brittle
lighter

Uses:

stuffing
Life Jacket fills

From Bast:

These fabrics are made with fiber collected from bast(phloem of the plant) called the skin. fibers such as Hemp, Flax, Jute, Ramie are extracted from the bast of the plants.

Hemp:

A super fiber is obtained from herbaceous, a high yield plant. Hemp fabric is made from cannabis Sativa fiber.

Properties:

Long lifespan
Softens over time
tensile
lightweight
absorbent
resistant
environment-friendly
non-irritant
strongest

Uses:

Light material clothing
paper, rope, ships rigged, canvas, sailcloth, sacks
heavy lifting and pulling ropes and cables
Commercial Industrial Purposes

Flax:

These seeds are also known as linseed, which is used to produce linen. The cellulose fibers grow inside the stalks of the flax plant. Types of linen you need to know based on the usage.

Properties:

High conductivity
Smooth
Lint-free
Poor elasticity
Creasing
Gets soft on washing
High natural luster
absorbent
Wrinkles

Uses:

Decorative furnishing industry( such as wallpaper/wall coverings, upholstery, window treatments)
Bed and bath fabrics (such as tablecloths, bath towels, dish towels, bedsheets)
Suits, dresses, skirts, shirts, handkerchief
Luggage, canvases, sewing thread
Oil painting

Jute:

A vegetable fiber composed of cellulose and lignin collected from bast, similar to hemp, flax. It is soft, long, and shiny and called Golden fiber one to four meters long.

Properties:

Strong threads
Long
Soft
Shiny
Lustrous
Uniformity
Flexible
Renewable
High tenacity
Sound and heat insulation
Bulkiness
Low thermal conductivity
Anti-static

Uses:

Affordable(second to cotton)
High cash value
Furniture
Ropes
Apparel

Ramie:

China grass is the common name for Ramie. Its bark contains gums and pectins which causes fibers. It is somewhat similar to linen.

Properties:

Tensile strength (eight times Stronger than cotton and seven times stronger than silk)
Silky luster
Softens with age
Blends with wool, cotton, silk
hold shape
Less wrinkling
absorbent
Strong(even more strong when wet)
Stiff and Brittle

Uses:

weaving yarns
Apparel (such as shirts and shorts, tablecloths, napkins, and handkerchiefs)
Cotton blend sweaters

Protein Base Fabrics:

Animal proteins like hair, wool process into products like silk, Wool, and feathers.

Staple:

These fibers are of discrete length typically short and not continuous, unlike filament.

Staple Hair:

These are specialty hair fibers from Camel’s family animals.

Alpaca:

Alpaca is a South American member of the camel family. People process their hair, the protein into Alpaca fabric. Huacaya is an alpaca that grows soft spongy fiber. It has a natural crimp, thus making a naturally elastic yarn well-suited for knitting. Suri has no crimp and thus a better fit to weave.

Properties:

Light or heavy(depends on spun)
soft
durable
luxurious
warm
water repellent
Hypoallergenic

Uses:

knitting
Sweaters
bedding, hats, mitts, scarves, gloves, jumpers, Rugs, toys
coating and as a lining for outerwear

Camel:

Camel hair fabric is made out of camel’s fur. Its fur is of two types, the Guard hair, and undercoat hair. Guard hair is the coarse, inflexible outer protective fur. Haircloth is woven using guard hair. The undercoat is short and fine insulating than guard hair. It is very soft and frequently used in the making of textiles for coats.

Properties:

Insulation
warm(warmer than sheep wool)
soft
Expensive
Silky
Strong
Lustrous
Lightweight
Sensitive to chemicals

Uses:

Coats
Coats, jackets also other outerwear
Oriental Rugs
Fabric Coatings
Blazers, Skirts
Hosiery
Knitting Yarn, Knitwear
Blankets
Sweaters, Gloves, Scarves
Industrial textiles (such as machine belts and cloths).

Cashmere:

It is a wool fiber. Cashmere goats’ fur is used to produce cashmere fiber. The fibers are warm without weight. Thin cuticle cells on the fiber surface make it smooth and lustrous. After combing or shearing the undercoat hair, it goes into the sorting and scouring process, then the fibers are cleaned of coarse outer hairs.

Sheep’s wool fiber is about 36 microns and cashmere fiber is finer, typically between 7 and 19 microns. Because of its fineness and softness, it is used for baby clothing.

Cashmere fabric became known for its use in beautiful shawls and other handmade items produced in Kashmir, India.

Properties:

Extremely fine fibers
softer rather than sheep’s wool
warmer rather than sheep’s wool
lustrous(because of thin cuticle cells on fiber)
Rare
Expensive
Lightweight

Uses:

Sweaters
Babywear
apparel

Llama:

Manufacturers hunt or domesticate Llamas to collect Llama fiber. The camel, guanaco, llama, alpaca, and vicuña fibers are all from members of the genus Lama. They almost have the same application, except for a few specific usages for their little differences in properties.

The fiber is hollow unlike wool with a structure of diagonal ‘walls’ which makes it strong, light, and good insulation. However, it is called Llama wool, as the word ‘wool’ by itself refers to sheep fiber.

Properties:

Strong
Light
Provides Insulation
Very soft
Lanolin free

Uses:

Handicrafts
Garments
rugs
wall hangings

Mohair:

Animal-hair fiber obtained from the Angora goat is Mohair fiber. Mohair fiber, like wool, is composed chiefly of the protein substance keratin. The fiber structure is similar to that of wool, although the outer layer, or epidermis, has about half the number of scales found in fine wools. Because the scales lie almost flat, with little overlapping, the fiber surface is fairly smooth. The fleece grows in uniform locks. The cortex portion, striated throughout its length, often contains air-filled pockets, and less than 1 percent of the fibers have a central canal or medulla.

Properties:

Long
Lustrous
Strong
Resilient
Durable
Good affinity
Absorbs and retains water much like wool
Sensitive to chemicals

Uses:

Garments
Outerwear
Summer weight suits
Dresses
Knitted Goods

Vicuna:

Long fibers with a fine diameter and light color are usually the most desirable and expensive. An exception is a vicuña which is valued for its fairly dark cinnamon-brown color.

Properties:

Long
Fine
Soft
Lustrous
Strong
Resilient
Highly sensitive to chemicals

Uses:

Coats
Dressing gowns
Shawls

Staple wool

Sheep:

Wool is a natural fiber that comes from the fleece of a sheep, goat, llama, or alpaca.

Properties:

Excellent absorbency
High moisture retain
Warmer than other materials
Resistant to Acids
Good resiliency
Good elasticity
Strong
Fine
Smooth
Lustrous

Uses:

Clothing
knitwear
Blankets, Carpeting
horse rugs

Filament:

These fibers are continuous fibers like natural silk or synthetic.

Silk:

A natural filament protein fiber produced by Mulberry silkworm in the construction of its cocoon. Silk has various benefits, you can check out the most used types of silk fabrics for more information and better use.

Properties:

Soft
Smooth
Non-slip texture
Low elasticity
Loses strength over time
Good affinity to dyes
Good insulation
Light and comfortable

Uses:

Shirts
Ties
Suits
Formal dresses
lingerie
Robes
Bedding

Man-Made Fabrics:

These fibers are not naturally available. Human researchers made artificial fiber to make Man-made fabrics.

Organic Man-Made:

These fabrics are categorized into Natural polymer base and Synthetic polymer base.

Natural Polymer Base | Cellulose base:

Rayon:

A silk-like fabric made from wood pulp or other vegetable matter. Modal is a variety of rayon made from cellulose from beech trees with anti-crease properties and easy care.

Properties:

A cheaper alternative to silk
Soft
Smooth and comfortable
Absorbent
Non-insulating
Low Elasticity
Absorbs moisture
biodegradable

Uses:

Garments for hot weather
Carpets

Lyocell:

Lyocell is a form of rayon. It differs from fiber made from dissolving, cellulose pulp (bleached wood pulp) using dry jet-wet spinning. These are made for high intensity dying purposes, unlike rayon.

Properties:

Soft
Very strong (when wet or dry)
Resistant to wrinkles
High absorbency (more than rayon)
Moisture absorbent (50% more than cotton)
Antibacterial
Expensive
Blend well

Uses:

Clothing
Conveyor belts
specialty papers
medical dressings

Acetate and Triacetate:

These are made from cotton filaments or wood pulp and acetic acid. Acetate and triacetate fabrics differ by only a few chemical properties.

Acetate Fabric

Triacetate Fabric

Properties:

Shrink
Moth
Mildew resistant
Low moisture absorbency
fast drying
No pilling
static

Uses:

Clothing
Coating

Viscose:

Viscose is a semi-synthetic type of rayon fabric made from wood pulp that is used as a silk substitute, as it has a similar drape and smooth feel to the luxury material. The term “viscose” refers specifically to the solution of wood pulp that is turned into the fabric.

On hot summer days and nights, it is an excellent choice as it whisks both moisture and heat away. Those actions are due to the breathable nature that is part of the Viscose material.

Properties:

Versatile – it blends very well with other fibers
Breathable
Drapes well
Excellent color retention
Highly absorbent
Very smooth
Does not trap body heat
Relatively light
Strong and robust
Soft and comfortable
Inexpensive
No static build-up
It can shrink when washed
Can wrinkle easily
Deteriorates with exposure to light
Susceptible to mildew
Fibers can weaken when wet

Uses:

Clothing

Protein Base:

Synthetic Polymer Base:

Synthetic polymers are human-made polymers

Polyester:

Polyester is a polymer which has an ester functional group in their main chain. It most commonly refers to a type called polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Properties:

Durable
Chemical resistant
resistant to shrinking and stretching
resistant to wrinkling and abrasions
Very strong
Lightweight
Easily dyed
Retains shape
Heat sensitive

Uses:

Outdoors clothing
Fashion, Footwear, Sewing threads
Sportswear
Fleeces, Coats, and anoraks
Bedding such as sheets, duvet covers, and sleeping bags
Fillings for duvets (due to its insulating properties)
Soft furnishings and upholstery
Luggage and other bags

Nylon:

This fiber is known for its superior flexibility and excellent resilience.

Properties:

Colourfastness.
Abrasion resistance.
Resilient
Good elasticity
Lustrous (bright to light)

Uses:

Clothing (such as jackets, dresses)

Spandex/Lycra:

A synthetic fiber made from polyurethane. It is known for its exceptional elasticity. Because of its elasticity and strength (stretching up to five times its length), spandex is used in a wide range of garments, especially in skin-tight garments. Lycra is the trademarked spandex fiber produced by DuPont.

Types of fabrics and their uses- spandex — Spandex fabric

Types of fabrics and their uses-lycra — lycra fabric

Properties:

Soft
Lightweight
Highly elastic
Stronger and durable than rubber
Non-absorbent

Uses:

Compression garments (such as foundation, motion capture suits)
Shaped Garments (such as bra cups, superhero outfits)
Home furnishings (such as microbead pillows)
Clothing (such as miniskirts, skinny jeans, leggings)
Swimwear
Activewear

Acrylic:

It is manufactured as a filament, then cut into short staple lengths similar to wool hairs, and spun into yarn. Because of its warm feel, anyone allergic to wool can use acrylic sweaters.

Properties:

Lightweight
Soft
Warm (wool-like)
Hypoallergic

Uses:

Sweaters
Jackets
furnishing fabrics
carpets

Inorganic Fabric:

Glass Fabric:

This is made up of fine glass fibers.

Properties:

High Tensile Strength
Stability
High Heat Resistance
Fire Resistance
Good Thermal Conductivity
Good Chemical Resistance
Durable

Uses:

Clothing
tent poles, pole vault poles, arrows, bows and crossbows, translucent roofing panels, automobile bodies, hockey sticks, surfboards, boat hulls, and paper honeycomb

Metallic Fabric:

This fabric is not completely metal but rather metal-coated plastic or yarn fibers. Such a blend is ideal as the metal fibers will not tarnish.

Properties:

Flexible
Durable
Non tarnished

Uses:

Clothing
Club clothing
Cold weather clothing
Survival clothing
Everyday wear

Therefore, with all the types of fabrics and their uses, we understand that the material also affects how easy a specific style is to sew. Like thick and stiff fabrics such as cotton, linen and wool are usually easy to sew whereas thin, flowing and slippery materials such as chiffon and satin are often more challenging. There are quite a few good resources to find more content on fabrics.

Style of the Garment:

Choose the material according to what you want the garment to look like keeping all the types of fabrics and their uses in mind. For example, a thin and well-draping material, such as satin is picked up, if you want a bell skirt that flows and drapes smoothly. And if you want the same skirt to be more structured, choose something stiffer and thicker, such as brocade or cotton or linen lawn.

Use of garment:

The use of a garment is also an important factor to keep in mind when choosing the fabric. If the garment needs to be warm, you should pick a thicker and tighter material or at least similar to it. Similarly, a hard-wearing fabric is chosen, if the garment needs to be durable. For garments that should last long, such as coats, a very good quality fabric is chosen even though they might cost a bit more from the types of fabrics and their uses. However, all garments are made to last as long as possible, so it’s always best to choose good quality materials.

Maintenance of Garment:

The maintenance of a garment is also essential. The utilization of the garment must define how we choose the material from all the types of fabrics and their uses. If the garment is supposed to undergo a lot of washing or ironing, we’ve to choose the fabric such that it can take a lot of washing and is easy to press. However, to prevent the final garment from shrinking, washing, and ironing all fabrics before cutting is advised.

Finally, all the main types of fabrics and their uses with properties are covered but there are still many clothing fabrics yet to be learned. I hope, this helps you choose your next material right.