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Can you name this fabric? (Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952)
Posted on: 4/16/10 4:59 PM ET
I could use some guidance. I'm about to cut into what I thought was rayon but now I'm not so sure. I found it at the Salvation Army.
A friend of mine told me today that rayon needs a lot of prep as it tends to stretch length-wise, so if it IS rayon, I don't think I should cut it yet.
I did a burn test and the results make me think it definitely has polyester or some other petroleum-based fabric in it, in which case I wouldn't need to worry so much about the fabric losing shape.
What are your thoughts? It's thicker than most rayon I've seen.

Thanks a million!
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A friend of mine told me today that rayon needs a lot of prep as it tends to stretch length-wise, so if it IS rayon, I don't think I should cut it yet.
I did a burn test and the results make me think it definitely has polyester or some other petroleum-based fabric in it, in which case I wouldn't need to worry so much about the fabric losing shape.
What are your thoughts? It's thicker than most rayon I've seen.
Thanks a million!
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You'll be in stitches at malepatternboldness.com!
Posted on: 4/16/10 6:29 PM ET
In reply to Peter in NYC
Burn test chart.
My guess; this isn't rayon, it's polyester or poly blend.
What is the smell when you burn?
What "prep time" for rayon? I toss all my rayon into the washer & dryer.
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My guess; this isn't rayon, it's polyester or poly blend.
What is the smell when you burn?
What "prep time" for rayon? I toss all my rayon into the washer & dryer.

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I heart Woo (HimmyCat). Until we meet again, my beautiful little boy. I love you.
Posted on: 4/16/10 6:32 PM ET
In reply to Peter in NYC
That is definitely a petroleum-based fiber because it melted.
I've used rayon/lycra (for tops), lightweight rayon challis and batik rayons for dresses and pants, and have never done more to prep than machine wash & dry. Oh, and maybe iron it, with steam, to make sure all the shrink is gone. No biggie.
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I've used rayon/lycra (for tops), lightweight rayon challis and batik rayons for dresses and pants, and have never done more to prep than machine wash & dry. Oh, and maybe iron it, with steam, to make sure all the shrink is gone. No biggie.
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iPad's auto-correct is my enema.
Posted on: 4/16/10 6:48 PM ET
In reply to Peter in NYC
Hey Peter!
I have first washed and dried rayon a couple times to pre-shrink and then I sprayed with a lightweight sizing and pressed. I felt that the sizing made it MUCH more manageable.
I agree with the others about the fiber content. Rayon should be more ashy than that and smell more like paper. At least that has been my experience.
Good luck.
Patty
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I have first washed and dried rayon a couple times to pre-shrink and then I sprayed with a lightweight sizing and pressed. I felt that the sizing made it MUCH more manageable.
I agree with the others about the fiber content. Rayon should be more ashy than that and smell more like paper. At least that has been my experience.
Good luck.
Patty
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Machines:
Juki TL98Q Lockstitch
Juki Exceed F-600
Janome Coverpro 1000cpx Coverhem
White Superlock 1900 Serger
Juki 644D Serger
Featherweight 221K
Juki TL98Q Lockstitch
Juki Exceed F-600
Janome Coverpro 1000cpx Coverhem
White Superlock 1900 Serger
Juki 644D Serger
Featherweight 221K
Posted on: 4/16/10 6:48 PM ET
Did it flame at all or just sort of melt away from your match? The bead looks like 100% polyester, but if there was some flaming it might be a blend. Either way, there's enough poly in that baby to be easy care.
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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
=================
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
Posted on: 4/16/10 7:09 PM ET
Thanks everyone! It definitely flamed a bit, but just a bit.
So I cut the panels for the skirt -- 6 in all and even before I steam pressed them, I noticed they had slightly shifted shape (in width, i.e., perpendicular to the selvage) when compared to the pattern piece (which I'd cut precisely with my rotary cutter).
I think I'm going to take the skirt panels and the rest of the fabric and throw it into the wash and dryer tonight and see what happens. I don't want to worry that as I'm pressing as I sew it it's going to shift shape even more.
From my experience, this is a rayon-related problem, though this is probably a blend of some sort.
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So I cut the panels for the skirt -- 6 in all and even before I steam pressed them, I noticed they had slightly shifted shape (in width, i.e., perpendicular to the selvage) when compared to the pattern piece (which I'd cut precisely with my rotary cutter).
I think I'm going to take the skirt panels and the rest of the fabric and throw it into the wash and dryer tonight and see what happens. I don't want to worry that as I'm pressing as I sew it it's going to shift shape even more.
From my experience, this is a rayon-related problem, though this is probably a blend of some sort.
------
You'll be in stitches at malepatternboldness.com!
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