Fabric Blog

5 Ways of Using Fabrics for Valentines

Valentines is just around the corner so we’ve compiled some fabrics and looks which are just right for this time of the year and why not for the rest of the year too! These irresistible valentines fabrics are all about elegance, impeccable drape and beautiful aesthetics, perfect for the occasion!

Crepe Backed Satin

Crepe backed satin KBT6456 which can also be called satin backed crepe, has the lustrous feel and shiny look of the satin weave on one side and the pebbly feel from the highly twisted yarns of the crepe on the other side. Both the satin and the crepe side can be used as the right side of the fabric. Use this mulberry colour with black lace to make a darker, seductive look for an excellent valentines dinner dress or a bralette as below. Continue reading “5 Ways of Using Fabrics for Valentines”

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Fabrics for Sportswear

Sports fabrics are technical materials which help to keep the wearer comfortable during exercise. The type of fabric required will depend upon the intensity of the exercise and the activity. Yoga clothing should use fabrics with good stretch ability for easy movement which will likely require the fabric to be of a knitted construction. Apparel for long distance running will keep the wearer in good comfort if it has excellent moisture wicking properties to enable sweat to transfer from the inside to the outside for the garment. Performance clothing for outdoor sports in the winter or snow sports ought to use breathable fabrics with very good insulating properties.

Continue reading “Fabrics for Sportswear”

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Tips For Caring For Vintage Fabrics

Vintage fabrics are often some of the most difficult to care for, partially because of their age and also because they will often not have been created using any of the modern techniques that allow more modern fabrics to be so easy to clean, store and iron.

Of course, with vintage fashion now becoming extremely popular, more people than ever before are looking to purchase older fabrics so that they can create great outfits. If that sounds like you, the following tips should help you to take care of your new fabric so that it lasts as long as possible.

Continue reading “Tips For Caring For Vintage Fabrics”

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Tips For Working With Sequin Fabrics

Before we start with this guide we think it is important to point out that working with sequins is not for the faint of heart. People who have plenty of experience working with fabrics will often find that they struggle with sequins, so we recommend that beginners get a little more used to the intricacies of the fabrics that they work with before trying their hand at adding sequins.

Still, when you get it right, sequins can add a touch of glamour to practically any garment that you design. By following these tips, you should have a much better chance of getting the end result that you’re looking for.

Continue reading “Tips For Working With Sequin Fabrics”

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Testing Different Types of Water Resistant Fabrics

In the video below I will be testing a range of water resistant fabrics that we stock here at Fabric UK. I will be doing this by placing a fabric sample over a clear glass jar, securing it with an elastic band and pouring the same amount of water on the surface of each fabric sample. If no water collects in the jar, then it is clear that the fabric has a level of water resistance. Note that this test only demonstrates a low level of water resistance. With an increase of pressure, some of the fabrics would prove to be more water resistant than others, meaning that they can withstand a higher water pressure before the water penetrates the fabric. Continue reading “Testing Different Types of Water Resistant Fabrics”

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Tips For Painting on Fabrics

While we tend to focus on the things that you can do to manipulate fabrics, there are a number of people who may prefer to paint patterns onto their pieces instead of sewing them in.

Luckily, this is possible with a number of different fabrics, though you will usually need to be fairly careful when doing it. Here we look at a few helpful tips that should ensure you get it right. Continue reading “Tips For Painting on Fabrics”

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Different Fabric Weave Information

Mentioned in the previous posts was how the fibre and yarn can make all the difference when it comes to choosing the right fabric. Now we discuss the fabric weave. Weaving can be a fairly simple to a more complex process depending on the thickness of the yarns, the thread count, the tightness of the weave and the way the warp and weft are interlocked.To alter the weight of a fabric or to make a fabric more opaque or sheer can be achieved by changing the weight of the yarn, the fibre type in the yarns or by varying the number of yarns used (thread count).

Note:

Thread count refers to the number of threads in each square inch of a fabric, it is usually considered that the higher the thread count in a fabric weave, the higher the quality the fabric is, but this depends on what the fabric is to be used for.

The weft which is also called the fill yarn, runs horizontally from selvedge to selvedge. Warp threads run vertically length ways. Continue reading “Different Fabric Weave Information”

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Tips For Cutting Fabrics Properly

Cutting fabrics

Cutting fabrics -Whether your an experienced sewer with many successful projects under your belt or you’re just getting started with a needle and thread, there are always ways to improve your technique to ensure that the fabric you’re working on produces an end product that you will fall in love with.

Cutting fabrics into a pattern is something that many people struggle with, so the following tips are intended to offer you a little bit of help, ensuring you get the perfect pattern every time. Continue reading “Tips For Cutting Fabrics Properly”

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Natural or Man-made Fibres

This is the first post in a three part blog series in which we give you an overview of what fabric is actually made up of: fibre, yarn, weave. We hope this will help you to make an better informed decision when choosing a fabric or simply top up your fabric knowledge!

In this particular post we define each of the main fibres used in fabrics, both natural and synthetic, including where they come from, their properties, advantages and disadvantages. It is essential to know how a particular fibre or fibre blend will impact the material’s overall performance qualities such as drape, insulation and wash care. The reason being that this will determine factors such as whether the fabric should be washed on a low temperature, and what weather conditions, garments and activities the fabric is ideal for. At Fabric UK we stock fabrics made from each fibre type described below. Continue reading “Natural or Man-made Fibres”

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Understanding Fabric Weight in Order to Choose the Right Fabric

Fabric weight is the outcome of how a fabric has been woven, its finish and sometimes the fibre type. Looking at the weight can help you to decide if it will be the most suitable fabric for its end use.

GSM and OZ

GSM is a metric measurement meaning grams per square metre- it is how much 1 square metre of fabric weighs and the higher the GSM number the denser the fabric will be. Ounce per square yard (oz/sq2) is the imperial measurement which is also commonly used. A lightweight fabric is typically between 30- 150 GSM, medium weight 150-350 GSM and heavyweight 350+ GSM, such as our clear window PVC (640 GSM), although this can vary depending on the type of fabric. Continue reading “Understanding Fabric Weight in Order to Choose the Right Fabric”

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