Sunday, January 7, 2018

How To Tell Whether Unique Fabrics Will Work For Your Next Project

By Anna Evans


Making your own clothing or home decor items can be fun and, if you are using unique material you have found it can be a great way to personalize your interior. Of course, not all unique fabrics will be suitable for use in every project. If you are trying to learn how to look at a piece of material and tell whether it will be suitable for a particular use, here are some suggestions you may want to try.

There are many places you can find textiles that may be more uncommon. If you travel, you may find fabric in markets or bazaars that you want to bring home with you. Some fabric shops that specialize in theater costumes may also have fabric that you might fall in love with. If you are buying material overseas you may love how inexpensive it is compared to what it would cost if you bought the same material once you return home.

Sometimes looking in consignment shops and second hand clothing stores can also help you find potential fabric that you might want to use. Older retro clothing may have different colors or patterns that would make them a great addition to your home. Unfortunately you may not be able to find out what they are made from or what the fiber make up is if the tag is no longer on the piece.

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.

All fabrics can be divided into different categories based on their common characteristics. Weight, how well they flow, whether or not they stretch, and how much sheen they have can help you sort your textiles into different categories. Figuring out what qualities a particular piece needs to have will then help you figure out which material will work and which may not be suitable.

Older material can present other challenges besides not knowing what it is made from. Some material like lace can become very brittle and fragile. If it is not reinforced or treated carefully it can end up tearing and your project may be ruined.

People don't just create clothing from unique material pieces. Often they will use them to create cushion covers, quilts or other items that are used in a home. If you want to do so, you should ensure that you are using material that is durable enough to hold up to rough use.

If you are really unsure you may want to talk to the staff at your local fabric store. Take the material and the pattern with you. They should be able to give you suggestions such as reinforcing material or what projects a particular fabric may work well for.




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