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From: Dustbunny01
Date: 02-12-2006, 07:00 PM (1 of 5)
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I know nothing at all about fabrics ( other then cotton or poly) But I bought 9 simplicity Patterns to make garments.. What is Laundered cotton?? Would I be able to buy fabrics for the garments at Walmart. or would I need to buy from someplace online? I need good prices ( the lower the better) as most yard I will need 3-4 yrds . as they are dresses, skirts and tops. Now most of the patterns are calling for Laundered cottons, Challis, crepe, laundered sikls/rayhons, streach velvet, Double Georgette, Matte Jersery, Crepe back satin, jacquareds, Chiffon, Soft lightweight linen and linen blends, Shantung, Brocade satin, Suede silks, Cotton interlocks, , pique, poplin, and seersucker. I do know I don't want anything see though. I would like something easy to wash and ware.. soft and breathable is a must! I do like cotton blends, anything that is not itchy . Or should I post the pattern numbers for you.? I have made a lot of night time pants for my kids ( 14 & 19) a prom dress, coats, etc.. but I have never undertaken garments for myself. DB
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User: Dustbunny01
Member since: 11-11-2005 Total posts: 159 
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From: paroper
Date: 02-12-2006, 08:55 PM (2 of 5)
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Some of those fabrics would be available at Wal Mart. Others would be available at Hancocks or Joanne's, perhaps Hobby Lobby or of course online. Laundered cottons are just cottons washed before using. Cottons dull quickly and need to be pressed to look good. They wrinkle but they BREATHE and are cool for summer wear. If mixed with polyester, it looses some of its coolness but requires less ironing, shrinks less and looks crisper (unless the cotton is ironed and starched). The min. poly content to "help" the cotton is 35%. The higher the poly content, the less it fades, the more it resists wrinkles and the less absorbent the fabric. Dresses, full skirts, shirts are commonly made of lightweight cottons....pants, more fitted skirts, jackets, etc are commonly made of the heavier cottons/blends. Pique (looks like a waffle weave), poplin (makes great play clothes, jackets, sporty clothing and seersucker, sometimes used for jackets, can be used for dresses, skirts, pants, blouses are all fabrics of medium to lighter weight which fall in the category of cottons/blends. Matte Jersey, stretch velour all fall in the stretchy category. I don't really consider stretch velour to be a summer fabric. They all require special needles and the velour will be napped. If you are a drinker, stay away from chiffon...of all the fabrics listed it is my least favorite. It is hard to handle and difficult to keep on grain. I like it for sheer sleeves and bodice/cuff overlay, but I HATE it in skirts!!!!! Linen, if pure wrinkles badly, is wonderfully cool and lovely to wear. It, like cotton can be mixed which changes the quality of the fabric. Many dresses, suits, men's suits, jackets, skirts, pants, shells, just about anything can be made from some grade of linen. Of the fabrics listed, Satins will be the least durable. Frequently satins require care not to snag. They are commonly used in formal attire or as accents for lapels of suits. There are poly satins that can be washed with care. These can range in prices starting about 6 a yard up to 24 or much more for bridal (heavy) satin. Brocades....well it just depends on the brocade as for wearability and care. they used to always be dry clean only and they were quite heavy like drapery fabrics. Now you can find a variety. The "old fashioned" brocades were flat blackground with a glossy design usually one color. Now you see lovely oriental themed brocades with a variety of care labels. Expect to pay in the area of 9-17 dollars a yard. I love Shantung...it is one of my favorite fabrics. I prefer the poly because I DO wash it. It is light weight and extremely dressy! (I'm making a Shantung suit for myself right now). It is dull with a glossy thread on one side and satin with a "pick" on the reverse. Makes great even gowns, suits, dressy dresses...etc. Prices can start around 7-8 a yard and up, depending on the make up of the fabric. Poly will run less...silk will run much more. Jacquards are a little sleezy but make up beautifully. I've made some lovely garments from jacquards, esp with a lining that has a little body. They can be quite reasonable in price..just depends. One of the prettiest evening gowns I ever made was from 1.66 jacquard from the sale table. It had no shoulders/sleeves and a train...just lovely. It was for a special occasion. I also made a lovely komono for a prom from jacquard. It flows well, esp. with a good lining. It is usually washable. It also makes great blouses. They are commonly floral tone on tone. Crepe, Challis (may or may not be washable), rayon (might be washable...often challis is rayon), silks are all woven fabrics which drape well. They make lovely blouses and dresses with drape. All of these fabrics are known for their lovely colors and can be washable...not are not always. They are light weight with varying degrees of breathe-ability. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: paroper
Date: 02-12-2006, 08:56 PM (3 of 5)
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One of these days you're going to have to come up to the "city" and we'll go fabric hopping.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Dustbunny01
Date: 02-13-2006, 01:44 AM (4 of 5)
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paroper, Wow what a weeks worth of infomation you gave me!! Thank you so much!! I have never been one to shop for fabrics, I just grap and go, but anymore I want to know what I am working with. ( I guess the internet has done that) here is the pattern numbers I bought * will be the first in line to make up Simplicity 8805 ( E, B, C, & D) 5107 ( A & D) 4706 ( G, F, B, H, A, &C) 4968 ( A, C & E) 5469 (B,A,C,F) 4558 ( B & A without the slit) 4377 ( A, E, and C) *5109 ( all) 4892 ( DC, F F is pants) This will be the first time I have ever sewed for myself.. It would be fun to shop..  I wonder how much money it would be to buy fabrics for all I listed... ( I dont' even want to know) so one at a time.
DB
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User: Dustbunny01
Member since: 11-11-2005 Total posts: 159
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From: paroper
Date: 02-13-2006, 05:02 AM (5 of 5)
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Wow, you have a lot "cut out" for you (don't you wish). It'd cost a lot to buy all the fabrics but should you go shopping in a large town you'd bring back a better education in fabrics. That was the direction I was headed. I don't know where the closest big town would be (maybe Ft. Smith?) but if you could get some place where they had a little larger store I think you'd come away knowing what fabrics felt like, the type of care they might take, and how they drape. As a rule you'll fine that natural fabrics are cooler better but they each have their problems usually in care and wrinkles. You might inquire about Ada. They are big enough to support a fabric shop. It might not be on the beaten path. My computer has a problem with Adobe reader (don't know why) so I couldn't view the yardages and recommended fabrics of your patterns. However, I'd tell you to stay away from the satins and chiffons. The satins just won't wear well. Although I saw the garment that was probably recommended for the chiffon, there are other fabrics that could be used in place of that with little or no problem (if you can find them.) I could picture a lot of Challis and cotton blends/linen in the pictures. This time of year, you may be able to start seeing stretch velours on the sale tables (you never can tell.) A nice online place to shop for fabrics is Denverfabrics.com. There are several others but I like the way they ship. Many times they also show draping fabrics in the pictures so that you can tell that it will drape. Happy shopping/sewing! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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