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Member since 9/3/14
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Posted on: 5/21/17 2:15 PM ET
I see that Fabricmart has some floral rayon Broadcloth. I've never seen rayon Broadcloth and am wondering what it's like. How does it compare to a rayon Challis? Can you use it for patterns that call for challis, or is it a firmer, less drapey material?
  
Member since 5/28/11
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Posted on: 5/21/17 2:27 PM ET
In reply to ptdemo
Interesting. Broadcloth is usually a blend with Poly. I have never seen it with rayon. I would think like a cotton broadcloth that it is firmer-more shirt like and less drapey.
  
Member since 9/25/12
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Posted on: 5/21/17 2:29 PM ET
All the rayon broadcloth I have is pretty much shirting.
  
Member since 3/24/04
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Posted on: 5/21/17 2:45 PM ET
In reply to ptdemo
Broadcloth is a plain weave fabric, pretty closely woven, with a slightly heavier weft yarn, so it's a little towards the poplin end of plain wovens. Originally broadcloth was a wool, now it's mostly cotton or cotton blend.

Challis is a soft plain woven fabric, usually warp and weft of about the same diameter. Once it was a silk-wool blend, now it's more likely rayon or rayon blend. Sometimes it's slightly brushed.

The biggest difference I can think of between a broadcloth and a challis is that the broadcloth would be a little crisper than a challis of similar composition. IMO, challis would need an underlining to "crisp it up a bit" to make a tailored shirt, while broadcloth would not.
  
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Posted on: 5/21/17 3:03 PM ET
I bought some!!! I'll let you know. :D

Once upon a time, "broadcloth" referred to the width of the loom--a mechanical loom with a flying shuttle meant the weaver could weave cloth wider than his armspan.

In my experience, *all* rayon is drapey. That's one of its characteristics. So what I'm expecting (could be wrong, of course) is something between Tencel and challis in weight. I don't have a lot of shirting in my stash, but its hand varies from crisp to drapey, although cotton isn't as drapey as rayon. Also, since FM has a brand-new category of "Broadcloth," containing ONLY these particular new fabrics, I'm guessing this is some kind of terminology that was applied to the stock when they purchased it--and that it's not really challis-like, and not Tencel (which is a brand name), so they needed something to call it. That said, Gorgeous Fabrics also seems to carry some. Interestingly, according to Wikipedia's article on broadcloth, there's a rayon or rayon-blend broadcloth called "fuji."
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~Elizabeth in the prairie
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Member since 5/5/16
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Posted on: 5/22/17 1:18 PM ET
In reply to stirwatersblue
Did you get it when it was Sue's Pick? I was so close to placing an order but wasn't sure about the yellow. Would love to know about the drape!
  
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Posted on: 5/22/17 1:58 PM ET
In reply to thegoldengirl
LOL No! But I bought the yellow.I got it during the 60% off A-D sale; it was pretty close in price. ALL the colors are so tempting--fresh and springy. I even liked the black. But that yellow... could not get it out of my mind.
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Posted on: 5/31/17 4:05 PM ET
I got my rayon broadcloth! Oh, lordy, it's beautiful!

I also got a cut of challis with it, so I can compare them (before washing).

They have a similar weight and drape.

The broadcloth seems to be identical front/back (the color is just as bright and the floral print just as distinct). The challis has an obvious right and wrong side.

Where they really differ, though, is the surface texture. The challis is very soft, like smoosh-your-face-in-a-furry-kitten soft, with a smooth/flat surface. The broadcloth is not as kitten-soft. I don't want to say it's crisp, b/c it's drapey and flowy, but it feels more like a crepe. Instead of the pebbly surface of crepe, though, it has a very faint ribbing along the crosswise grain. It's almost invisible, but held up to the light & compared to the challis, you can see it, and I think it's what accounts for the surface texture.

All in all, you would use this where you wanted a lightweight, flowy fabric (something like B6378 or M7359, or a lovely airy summer dress. I'm going to make B997, b/c I'm currently obsessed with it and when I saw the fabric I was like "YES! YES! THAT!" LOL). I think it seems dressier than the challis... which is surprising b/c the challis print I have is definitely more formal than this cheery yellow floral, but that interesting texture kicks it up a notch.

HTH! It's lovely stuff! And fun to find a new fabric type to gush over.
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Posted on: 6/1/17 7:42 PM ET
...And one more update! After a hot wash/hot dry, the broadcloth has crinkled up like gauze! I'm actually delighted by the texture change, but it definitely lost its "dressier than challis" character. It's going to make a wonderful breezy summer top. :biggrin:
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~Elizabeth in the prairie
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Posted on: 6/1/17 9:58 PM ET
In reply to stirwatersblue
It would probably press out like a dream. I made a dress out of a crinkled rayon that I pressed flat. Lovely to wear, but I never wear it on a day that might rain.
  
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