A Guide To fabrics
You know there is a reason good fabrics are expensive!
A Fabric is a cloth or some other material that is produced by knitting or weaving fibers. Some fibers are synthetic, while others are natural. Cotton is the common natural fiber, while polyester is a popular synthetic fiber. Every fiber is different in its properties. Some are thick while others are soft. The purpose of clothing will determine what type of fiber we should use. For example, your football jersey should soak your sweat so it is better if they made it from synthetic fiber than from wool as it retains heat. You can combine fibers to give out desired qualities. They can vary in price. Also, some are extremely expensive, while others you can afford easily. Here is a list of fabrics you may want to know about
Sherpa
Contents used: cotton, polyester.
Sherpa is a soft fabric mainly used for lining clothes and household items as well. It gives out a cozier feel, which is why you can use it in winter. We can also call it mock shearling. The Sherpa people of Nepal use this fabric which is why the name is quite clear.
Polyester
Contents used: organic sources or fossil fuels.
Polyester has two other names that are polyethylene terephthalate and microfiber. It comprises several chemicals. Although it is versatile, you cannot sustain it.
Polyester has high moisture-wicking abilities, and it is very breathable. Also, China is the biggest producing country of this fabric today.
Terry Cloth
Contents used: 100% cotton
Terry Cloth or Terry towel is a fabric made in such a way that it can absorb water easily. You can easily manufacture it by knitting. It is used to make towels and robes. So, one of its properties is it dries quickly, and it has a high water absorption rate.
Furthermore, it has an excellent surface texture.
Batiste
Contents used: cotton, silk
Batiste is a semi-sheer fabric that you can use to make lightweight garments like lingerie. It has other names like lawn cloth, batiste de soie, and cambric. So, this fabric has low heat retention abilities and high breathability. Also, it has high durability and anyone can easily afford it.
Canvas
Contents used: cotton
Canvas is a plain-woven fabric, known for its durability. Its thread count variations can be from 50 to 100. People desire it as it is good water-resistant. In addition, it has a polyvinyl chloride coating on both sides. You can use it to make bags, tents, art supplies, and shoes.
Chiffon
Contents used: silk and polyester
You may have nightgowns or blouses of this fabric. Chiffon is sheer, which means it is not heavy and semi-transparent. The word chiffon is French which means cloth. It is moderately stretchable and does not retain any heat. It is being highly produced in China today.
Denim
Contents used: cotton blends
Denim is one of the most iconic fabrics in today’s world. Everybody loves to wear denim jeans and jackets as it looks amazing. It is not prone to pilling or bubbling and it absorbs moisture quickly. In American culture, blue denim jeans are beating every other clothing item. It is highly breathable.
Fabric GSM
GSM is short for “grams per square meter”. We weigh all the fabrics in this metric and it relates to thickness. The heavier the weight, the thicker the fabric. You can weigh some fabrics like denim in ounces but GSM is the standard in fabric measurement. Batiste and Chiffon have 50-100 GSM or 1.47-2.95 oz/square yard. While denim and canvas have 230-340 GSM or 6.78-10.03 oz/square yard. Also, other fabrics have different GSMs, and based on that you can decide what item you will make from which fiber.
The list of fabrics is endless as today there are an enormous amount of fabrics that different countries are making. Each fabric is different in its color, texture, and other properties. So, just like this, every person has a different body. You do not know which fabric will leave a reaction on your body, so make sure you buy clothes according to your skin. Certain chemicals are there in some fibers and people with sensitive skin need to be a little more curious about what they are wearing. So, always check or ask for the contents present in the clothes or household things that you may buy, as these days even cotton clothes do not come out to be good.
