Cool Natural Fibers
Choose comfortable Fabrics for Summer sewing Projects
Natural fibers never go out of style. Despite the introduction of synthetics, these remain as popular as ever. Both linens and cottons are perfect for summer clothing.
Cotton remains an all-time favorite. This versatile material is also used for quilts, crafts, and home furnishings.
There are many types of cotton available in fabric stores and online. Among these are ones that are especially suitable for summer attire.
Crinkle cottons are ideal for casual shirts, pull on pants, and skirts. Because this shrinks considerably, do wash it before you start your sewing project. Finish the seams so they don’t ravel. It may be necessary to dry press as the tiny pleats can fall out when the garment is laundered.
Cotton voile is a sheer fabric with a crisp feel. It is often used for heirloom sewing projects. Usually, this is delicate enough to require hand washing. Finish the edges of the seams to prevent raveling. Though it can also be used as a lining, this isn’t often done due to the high cost involved.
Cotton shirting is perfect for casual summer dresses and blouses. This has a soft, luxurious feel. Though it will require pressing, it is well worth the effort.
Cotton pique feels rough to the touch because of the slightly raised weave. This is available in a wide range of coordinating seasonal summer prints as well as solid colors. It is most frequently used for blouses, unlined jackets, and vests. This fabric is easy to work with.
Cotton damask is ideal for dressy summer clothing. Easy to sew, this is versatile enough to use for all sorts of attire from slacks and dresses to jackets and blouses.
Cotton batiste is an elegant fabric that is in great demand for blouses and heirloom hand sewing projects, especially for smocking. This comes in various weights from lightweight to heavy. The Swiss cotton batiste is by no means cheap. French seams are preferred since they’ll be visible.
Pure linen is ideal for summer clothing. This comes in different weights from very ultra thin to heavy. While the lighter ones are preferred for blouses and dresses, the latter are suitable for summer jackets and slacks. Pure linen tends to wrinkle easily, and will need pressing. To minimize this, consider a luxurious blend of linen and cotton. The blend is especially good for jackets and slacks. Always preshrink linen before using it. Because linen will easily ravel, finish the seams to prevent this from happening.
