Useful information on fabric types.

Jersey:

Usually contains stretch, can be made of different fibres, including but may not be limited to polyester, rayon, viscose, spandex / lycra / elastane, cotton or a mixture. They come in various weights with some being very see through to others that are not. Jersey is a great dress making fabric, but could also be used in crafting, for lining and even drapes.

Cotton Lycra:

Cotton lycra is a jersey fabric which contains cotton and lycra, its great for clothing, has good stretch and recovery and is a versatile fabric for many clothing items. It is one of the most popular fabrics, but not the most affordable, due to its popularity, it usually retails anywhere from £6 to £25 per metre! With the average around £10 - £12per metre.

French Terry:

Is a jersey fabric, commonly made of cotton and lycra however can also be polyester based. It has great stretch and recovery and is another popular fabric for making clothes, however the cotton based French Terry is again not the most affordable, due to its popularity. it usually retails anywhere from £10 to £30 per metre! With the average around £16 - £18per metre.

Lycra:

Lycra or spandex is a brand name of elastane, its known for its elasticity and recovery. It is commonly used for leggings, dancewear, sportswear, some are suitable for swimwear, dresses, skirts and more.

Ponte AKA Ponte di Roma:

Ponte and Ponte di Roma are double knit fabrics. So generally thicker and heavier than jersey fabrics, most are not see through. The stretch will vary but most tend to be a 4 way stretch. They are usually made of polyester or viscose with elastane/lycra to give the stretch. Ponte is great for structured garments, trousers, jackets and even upholstery.

Scuba / Scuba Crepe:

Double knit fabrics made with polyester and lycra/spandex. It does not fray, usually has stretch and is great for beginners trying out stretch fabrics. Mostly thicker than jersey but can also come in light weight. Great for many garments such as dresses, skirts, jackets, trousers, hoodies and more! Hard wearing but avoid tumble drying and high heat!

Soft shell:

Breathable fabric with a cosy, micro-fleece reverse. Protects against wind, cold and moisture while wicking away body moisture, making it ideal for sports jackets and other outdoor clothing. Soft shell fabric is waterproof. WASHING INSTRUCTIONS: 30-degree gentle wash, iron on a low-medium setting. Line dry, Avoid tumble dry.

Ribbing / Rib:

Cuff fabric, for the cuffs of your sleeves and waistbands, you can even use on necklines. Great stretch. Ours is usually tubular with a mixture of fibres. When we have cotton rib we will always state cotton on the listing. Cotton rib which is regular stock will always be more expensive.

Fleece back Sweatshirt / Jersey:

Has a smooth front and fleece back. Can be made of cotton, polyester and acrylic. Great for jumpers, hoodies, lounge wear and more. Can be stretch or non-stretch.

Loopback:

Our loopback is the state in which the sweatshirt fabric is in, before being brushed to make into fleece back sweatshirt, simply put its lighter than fleece back and has loops on the “wrong side”. However Poly loopback is polyester fabric with loops on the back. Both great for loungewear, joggers, jumpers and more.

Minky / Dimple Fleece:

100% polyester, super soft plush fabric, usually single sided (not soft and snuggly on the back making it easier to sew) and commonly used for baby blankets and toys.

Polar Fleece:

100% Polyester or some may have some stretch when mixed with other fibres. Does not fray and great for sew and no sew projects, such as blankets, scarves, hats, mittens and pet items. It’s warm, soft and varies in weight and thickness.

Micro Fleece:

Is a type of polar fleece but tends to be thinner / lighter and made of polyester. One side is commonly smooth and can be shiny, used most commonly in hats, jackets, tops and blankets.

Cuddle fleece:

A super soft luxurious fabric made from polyester. Can be slippery when sewing due to its ultimate softness, use extra pins/clips! No stretch and great for blankets, hoodies and more.

Sherpa / Teddy fleece:

Made of polyester, usually soft and fluffy. These are very similar; teddy fleece tends to have a longer pile and sherpa tends to be shorter. However, both are great for lining, blankets and more. We stock various ones and some ‘pre tumbled’ sherpa. This means its not as soft as it hadn’t completed to ‘tumbled’ process correctly, hence us stocking at an amazing price. Our untumbled sherpa is great for lining, tree skirts, costumes and more.

Cotton:

100% Cotton fabric is exactly what is says, made of natural fibres (cotton), it usually has no stretch, but can be mixed with elastane to give it some stretch. Cotton usually has a bit of natural give but not stretch. Perfect for crafting, clothing and more.

Poly Cottons:

Is a mix of Polyester and cotton. It can be longer lasting than cotton as it contains polyester which has hard-wearing properties and is a cheaper alternative to cotton. It has no stretch and requires less ironing and can be used in crafting and clothing.

Linen / linen Mix:

Linen is made from the fibres of the flax plant. It is a natural fibre and is similar to cotton, it can be blended with cotton, polyester, silk, viscose or spandex, it comes in various weights and is ideal for a variety of projects from clothing to crafting to upholstery.

Shirting:

Shirting is primarily made of cotton or a cotton blend, usually non stretch and ideal for shirts, tops and blouses.

Suiting:

Suiting fabrics tend to be non stretch, and the fibres can vary from cotton, polyester, wool, silk, rayon, linen etc. Some are already lined and some aren’t (see descriptions) you can use for many other uses as well not just suits!

Denim:

Denim is usually a cotton twill fabric, but can be made with synthetic fibres as well, its thicker than cotton, harder wearing and great for jeans, dungarees, jackets, upholstery and more. It can have no stretch, or some stretch if its mixed with elastane.

Denim Chambray:

Is a lighter than denim, ours is usually cotton and some has stretch some don’t. These are great for dungarees, shirts, tops, dresses, light dungarees and more. They have more drape giving it a great choice for a variety of clothing, crafting and even upholstery.

Faux Fur:

Are a blend of acrylic and polyester. They come in various weights and non-stretch. They are a great for various projects, from rugs, jackets, cuffs, collars, costumes and more! Our faux fur comes from a fur specialist and so the quality is fantastic, and we get these in occasionally on clearance. When our supplier is ‘making room’ for new stock.

Felt:

Felt can be wool based, acrylic or polyester. Felt is great for a variety of projects, it has no stretch and usually used for backing, crafting, hats and even snooker tables!

Crepe:

Most commonly made of synthetic fibres such as polyester and rayon. But can be silk or wool as well. It has a ‘bumpy’ or textured surface and can come in various thicknesses, from sheer (see through) to not see through. Mostly non stretch but can be stretch as well. Great for clothing, scarves and more.

Georgette:

Similar to crepe fabric, lightweight and sheer with a textured feel and matte finish. Great for clothing and draping. Non stretch. Typically made of polyester and rayon but can also be made of silk.

Chiffon:

Is a lightweight sheer fabric, with a fabulous drape, usually made of synthetic fibres but has a luxury feel and look. It is non-stretch and great for clothing and draping.

Mesh:

Usually made of polyester, nylon or spandex, it has distinctive holes and mostly stretch, but some are non-stetch. Great for underwear, dresses, costumes, layering, beach cover up and more.

Net / Tulle:

Can be made of different fibres like silk, polyester rayon, Dacron, acetate, or nylon. Some are soft and drapey others are more structured. Depending on the type of net depends on use: underskirts, net curtains, draping and more.

Organza:

Traditionally made with silk, but most commonly made of polyester and nylons. Sheer fabric and non stretch, some are drapey and some are not. Ideal for gift bags, layering, costumes, draping and more.

PVC:

Made of Polyvinyl Chloride is the world’s most used fabric. Also known as Vinyl. From Tablecloths to clothing, bags to aprons, seat covers to tarps. Its waterproof and hard wearing. Our PVC is actually a woven fabric coated with PVC to make it waterproof. Its great for tablecloths and aprons, bags and crafting. It is waterproof and structed. DO NOT TUMBLE DRY OR WASH, wipe clean.

Satin:

Soft, luxury look fabric, has a great drape and commonly made of polyester, rayon or cotton. including polyesters. Usually, shiny one side and dull the other. Some are lightweight and some are thicker. Ideal for draping, clothing, lining and more. Usually no stretch. Some can have stretch.

Sateen:

Tends to be thicker than satin, usually no stretch, but some may have a stretch. Usually smooth and shiny one side. Some are made of cotton others made of synthetic fibres. Great for clothing, bedding, draping and more.

Suede:

Real suede is made of the underside of an animal skin, however we stock faux suede made of man made fibres such as polyesters. Some are stretch when mixed with other fibres, some are not. Has a smooth, soft feel and can be used for various projects, from clothing to crafting to upholstery.

Velvet:

Is most commonly made using cotton, polyester or other synthetic fibres. It can be stretchy or have no stretch. Is soft and has a drape, most commonly used in upholstery, clothing, curtains, bedding and costumes. Comes in various weights and thickness.

Crushed Velvet:

Is velvet with a crinkled or textured surface. It can have stretch or no stretch. Most commonly used in clothing, upholstery and more. Comes in various weights and thickness.

Velour:

Similar to velvet, but in our opinion harder wearing and more luxurious, it has a plush (soft) finish, ours is thicker than our velvets and some may have stretch (see descriptions). Mostly made of cotton or polyester. Commonly used for stage curtains, curtains, upholstery, clothing, costumes and much more.

Vinyl / Leatherette:

Leatherette is faux leather made of a combination of materials including polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fabric. It is usually non-stretch and hear wearing. It tends to be water resistant and used for a variety of purposes. Including upholstery, bags, crafting and more.

Viscose:

Is a semi-synthetic fabric mostly made using rayon and wood pulp, which gets turned into the viscose fabric. You can get cotton viscose as well. It has a gorgeous drape, feels soft and is great for clothing.

Wool / Tweed:

Tweed is is made using primarily wool. However, in recent years, other man-made fibres like acrylic and polyamide have been added. Our tweed is all made with wool, and we have covered ourselves to say a mix just in case there is any other fibres which have been added. These are non-stretch and great for coats, hats, mittens and more.

Panels:

Panels can be any fabric from cotton, polycotton, cotton lycra, jersey, scuba and more. Panels are usually a certain size, these can vary from 50cm x 50cm to 100cm x 150cm or anywhere in between, smaller or bigger. They are a great way to get creative, such as cotton panels depending on their size / shape could be used for lunch boxes/bags, tote bags, cushions, dresses, tops, skirts and more. They do not come with instructions.

Lining Fabric:

Lining fabric can be made from a variety of fabrics: from silk, viscose, rayon, nylon, polyester, acetate, cotton or blended fibres.

Waterproof:

The fabric is usually natural or synthetic that is laminated to or coated with waterproof materials like rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer, fluoropolymers, and wax to make it water proof / resistant. Where applicable we will have compositions in the descriptions, however any which have not come with compositions will not be written down. Waterproof fabrics come in many weights, types and thickness. Here is an idea of what we have in stock:

Lightweight – by this we mean it is light, think make up or wash bag lining, or those slip on rain jackets you get at a theme park.
Showerproof – is the same as lightweight.
Ripstop – Is made of nylon and is made to be tear and rip resistant as well as waterproof – various weights/thickness but will be listed.
Waterproof Canvas – has a waterproof coating and tends to be hard wearing, some have a plastic type backing.
Rubbery feel – means as it says, feels like rubber. Usually light / medium weight.
Other waterproof with weights, eg 6oz – usually nylon, the higher the oz the thicker and harder wearing the fabric

Iron on interfacing aka fusible interfacing:

Iron on interfacing comes in various weights and is also known as fusible interfacing, for the fact that one side is ‘shiny’ and that is the side which you ‘fuse’ together with your fabric using heat from your iron. Interfacing gives structure to your makes. To use the interfacing successfully takes a little time and patience, but once you have the hang of it, you will be well on your way.

How To use:

Cut your interfacing to size
Place the ‘shiny’ side down onto the ‘wrong side’ (back) of your fabric.
Start with your iron in the middle of the interfacing on high or even steam heat (test a piece first as irons vary) and slowly, the key word is slowly, move the iron over the interfacing to the edges. Starting at the middle helps to avoid bumps forming on your fabric (this comes from my 1st ever experience of using it)
It takes time to stick, so its not a quick job, by not giving the ‘glue’ on the interfacing enough heat or time to stick will cause it to come off very quickly, that is where the time and patience comes into play.