Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 1

Fabric composition How to tell?
kkkkaty   Intermediate UT USA Member since 12/7/05 Posts: 2256	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/22/12 4:34 PM At lunch I wandered over to my fav local store, which sells (among many other things) bolts of discontinued fabric. Most of the time it's upholstery fabric, but today they had a bolt of a knit, a jersey I think, beautiful peachy pink, nice stretch and recovery, thin and very soft. I hope to make a new tee from this to replace another tee I like to wear in the summer. My question is, how can I tell what it's made of? The woman who manages their fabric area guessed cotton, which is quite possible. Rayon is possible too. Second question: does it matter what it is? I think it probably doesn't (but I am curious). I'll probably wash it, as I usually do, on a gentle cycle, warm, with cold rinse. If you can think of a simple test I can do, please share. On burn tests, I believe it will burn and then leave a melted glob if it's synthetic, while cotton would burn and leave an ash. Rayon? TIA! ------ Viking Lily 545 Viking Ruby Bernina Activa 210 Brother 1034d
nicegirl Intermediate DC USA Member since 5/10/06 Posts: 1632	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/22/12 5:36 PM Cotton burns and leaves a filmy ash (I find). Rayon burns faster than cotton--it is essentially paper, after all, as it's made of wood pulp--and leaves behind a more ephemeral ash. If there's any lycra, you'll get the hard plastic bead. You can generally discern the difference between lycra blended with a natural fiber and polyester by how heavy the smoke is. If it is thick and curling, it is all poly. If you still get a decent flame but are left with a bead, probably a blend with cotton or rayon. ------ http://theslapdashsewist.blogspot.com ================= 2007: purchased 115+, sewed 105+ So close to parity, yet so far Trying again in 2008 Yards purchased: 133 Yards sewn: Somewhere around 95 2009? I give up
nicegirl Intermediate DC USA Member since 5/10/06 Posts: 1632	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/22/12 5:37 PM An easier test for cotton v rayon: get it wet. Rayon feels stiff and papery when wet (though this is less pronounced in knit/jersey than in woven). ------ http://theslapdashsewist.blogspot.com ================= 2007: purchased 115+, sewed 105+ So close to parity, yet so far Trying again in 2008 Yards purchased: 133 Yards sewn: Somewhere around 95 2009? I give up
kkkkaty   Intermediate UT USA Member since 12/7/05 Posts: 2256	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/22/12 5:41 PM thanks, those are helpful ideas! I didn't know a thing about the wet test, so I'll be sure to try that as well. ------ Viking Lily 545 Viking Ruby Bernina Activa 210 Brother 1034d
Ruth C   Intermediate OR USA Member since 12/27/02 Posts: 265	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 2/22/12 10:18 PM I find polyester knits are very hot unless they are a wicking knit. So I try to stay with cotton and rayon knits.

Go to Page: 1 of 1

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.