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Gorgeous silk-look fabric "acetate" about 2mx1.15m - what can I use it for (Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952)
Posted on: 5/26/06 2:28 AM ET
I have a gorgeous piece of fabric which looks like silk but is made of acetate.
It is pale pink with oriental-inspired pattern of roses and petals with leaves in dark pink, white and green. Fabric has a slight "wrinkle" texture to it (on purpose).
Is this fabric OK to use for a shirt - being acetate, I would assume that it could make me feel hot (like wearing a garbage bag?).
It seems like a fairly delicate fabric, would not like to be washed too often ...
Any suggestions? Has anyone else made something from similar fabric? What are pros and cons?
It is pale pink with oriental-inspired pattern of roses and petals with leaves in dark pink, white and green. Fabric has a slight "wrinkle" texture to it (on purpose).
Is this fabric OK to use for a shirt - being acetate, I would assume that it could make me feel hot (like wearing a garbage bag?).
It seems like a fairly delicate fabric, would not like to be washed too often ...
Any suggestions? Has anyone else made something from similar fabric? What are pros and cons?
Posted on: 5/26/06 10:13 AM ET
In reply to Ec
I bought some acetate for $1/yard. It said dry clean only, so the first thing I did was toss it in the washer and dryer. It came out fine. I'm not saying that yours will, but you could try a swatch and find out.
I made a camp shirt out of it and a skirt. I wash them both all the time. That is, I wear it, then I wash it. I haven't had any problems with it. Further, it's not hot, ... well no more than rayon. Sure, it's not linen or cotton, but it's not polyester either.
Oh, and if I hang up the shirt, all the wrinkles hang out. I don't have to iron it.
Being full of that success, I went back and bought more acetate for $1/yard. This was a different weave. It prewashed fine. I made pants out of it. They came out fine and held up to washing and drying, but they started to pill on the back, you know over the butt, like acrylic would. I figured it was a wear issue, but who knows. I didn't make anything else out of that fabric.
So my answer is a definite maybe.
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I made a camp shirt out of it and a skirt. I wash them both all the time. That is, I wear it, then I wash it. I haven't had any problems with it. Further, it's not hot, ... well no more than rayon. Sure, it's not linen or cotton, but it's not polyester either.
Oh, and if I hang up the shirt, all the wrinkles hang out. I don't have to iron it.
Being full of that success, I went back and bought more acetate for $1/yard. This was a different weave. It prewashed fine. I made pants out of it. They came out fine and held up to washing and drying, but they started to pill on the back, you know over the butt, like acrylic would. I figured it was a wear issue, but who knows. I didn't make anything else out of that fabric.
So my answer is a definite maybe.
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Neefer aka AgitProp and Village Churl Sewing Blog: http://www.oaktrees.org/blog/
Bonny lass, bonny lass, will you be mine?
You shall neither wash dishes nor serve the wine;
But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam,
And feast upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.
Bonny lass, bonny lass, will you be mine?
You shall neither wash dishes nor serve the wine;
But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam,
And feast upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.
Posted on: 5/26/06 12:26 PM ET
I don't have an answer for you, but I'd like to hear opinions too (thanks Neefer). I have some fairly heavy drapey black acetate from a fabricmart mystery bundle. I figure maybe loose pants, but I haven't even washed it yet. I will, since if it doesn't hold up to washing I don't want to sew it.
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Tessa
Posted on: 5/26/06 12:28 PM ET
Ec, I noticed some fabrics popping up online containing acetate too, but it's a very old fabric. Two weeks ago I found a gorgeous poppy red acetate/rayon blend fabric at Hancock's that cried out to be a jacket. The washing instructions were Machine wash warm, delicate, tumble dry low, cool iron.
My Sew Any Fabric book says Acetate is a manufactured cellulose fiber. It may melt under the iron, drapes beautifully, and absorbs moisture. It is shrink, moth, and mildew-resistant. It says it is warm in winter and cool in summer, but the downside is it is easily damaged by hot irons, waterspots and ripping. No special needles or thread are needed.
Hope that helps, EC. Let me know how your project turns out. Cathy
My Sew Any Fabric book says Acetate is a manufactured cellulose fiber. It may melt under the iron, drapes beautifully, and absorbs moisture. It is shrink, moth, and mildew-resistant. It says it is warm in winter and cool in summer, but the downside is it is easily damaged by hot irons, waterspots and ripping. No special needles or thread are needed.
Hope that helps, EC. Let me know how your project turns out. Cathy
Posted on: 5/26/06 12:42 PM ET
In reply to Tessa
Tessa, Sew Any Fabric says it's prone to ripping, and suggests that you cut it slightly off the grainline. I probably won't try it for fitted pants but for loosely fitted pants like pajamas, maybe it would work. Personally, I would try sewing a strip of 1/2" fabric into the seam (the name of this notion escapes me at the moment) to stabilize it and not serge it.
Posted on: 5/27/06 11:53 AM ET
Thanks Cathy. I was thinking loose drapey pants anyway, I think it would hang well. Of course, a black skirt might be useful too. And thanks for the reminder about stabilizing seams.
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Tessa
Posted on: 5/30/06 9:59 PM ET
Thanks everyone!!
Thanks to your informative posts, I have decided I will do a patch test in the wash, maybe sew a seam in the patch too and see how it holds up to being pulled at... then wash it again. Test a cool iron on it... you know, experiment a lot!!
If it doesn't turn out OK for use as clothing, I reckon it'll make some very GORGEOUS cushion covers! It would be a pity to not be able to wear it though - I love the pattern.
Oh, I hope I can get some sewing done soon!! I'm itching to get back in to it!

-- Edited on 5/30/06 9:59 PM --
Thanks to your informative posts, I have decided I will do a patch test in the wash, maybe sew a seam in the patch too and see how it holds up to being pulled at... then wash it again. Test a cool iron on it... you know, experiment a lot!!
If it doesn't turn out OK for use as clothing, I reckon it'll make some very GORGEOUS cushion covers! It would be a pity to not be able to wear it though - I love the pattern.
Oh, I hope I can get some sewing done soon!! I'm itching to get back in to it!

-- Edited on 5/30/06 9:59 PM --
Posted on: 5/30/06 11:18 PM ET
I used acetate and flannel for my son's blankie when he was a newborn. It washed well for quite some time, but blankies need to get washed a whole lot more so eventually it shredded. I got smarter and for my daughter (before I knew she was a she) I used silk charmeuse and flannel. She LOVED that blankie and while it isn't perfect, the edges did wear (she is 5) it hasn't shredded at all.
So acetate WILL wash, but it won't last.
Barb C
So acetate WILL wash, but it won't last.
Barb C
Posted on: 5/31/06 0:05 AM ET
In reply to barbc
Thank you, this is what I feared.
Sounds like the fabric is great for a once-off that I might get a good couple of wears out of if I am lucky!
Such a pity but it is really gorgeous fabric that I'd probably only wear on special occasions... so it'll be worth it!
:)
Sounds like the fabric is great for a once-off that I might get a good couple of wears out of if I am lucky!
Such a pity but it is really gorgeous fabric that I'd probably only wear on special occasions... so it'll be worth it!
:)
Posted on: 5/31/06 0:53 AM ET
If all else fails, acetate makes wonderful garment bags because it is naturally moth resistant.
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My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.
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