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Why do I keep wasting my time with cheap fabric?! (Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952)
Posted on: 12/3/07 2:15 PM ET
I'm making a top out of a poly charmeuse I was drawn to at Joann's, and while I think it's going to turn out okay, I am ruing the day my good senses went out the window and I bought the darn stuff. Unlike silk charmeuse, which I've recently had the pleasure of sewing, this fake stuff ravels like the devil. I have those icky spidery threads everywhere. Yuck.
Tell me you guys succumb to the allure of low prices too, even when you know sewing with quality fabric is a more pleasing tactile experience and generally guarantees better results. We should know better, right?
Tell me you guys succumb to the allure of low prices too, even when you know sewing with quality fabric is a more pleasing tactile experience and generally guarantees better results. We should know better, right?
Posted on: 12/3/07 3:31 PM ET
Absolutely I do. I bought some cotton/rayon chenille because it was cheap. It is soft and I like that... but the colors are really gloomy. I told my friend it looks like a couch. It depressed me to sew it.
Right now I am working on a jacket out of coral silk dupioni and it's such a pleasure. I love how silk just glows.
if I don't like the fabric, it's not worth putting the work into it. But it is taking me a long time to really learn this lesson.
Right now I am working on a jacket out of coral silk dupioni and it's such a pleasure. I love how silk just glows.
if I don't like the fabric, it's not worth putting the work into it. But it is taking me a long time to really learn this lesson.
Posted on: 12/3/07 4:07 PM ET
In reply to LindsayT
Hi LindsayT,
I thought the reason to buy cheap fabric was to make "muslins" out of, before you cut into your "real" fabric!
Regards,
Sophiecat
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I thought the reason to buy cheap fabric was to make "muslins" out of, before you cut into your "real" fabric!

Regards,
Sophiecat
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Well-behaved women rarely make history.
Laurel Ulrich
Laurel Ulrich
Posted on: 12/3/07 5:15 PM ET
Naturally, it's a 'dream' to sew with high quality fabric, and especially high quality fabric in natural fibers. However, to be fair, I have to admit that on occasion, I've sewn a sample garment from a cheap (low cost) fabric and had a fabulous result.
I think it depends whether the cheap (low cost) fabric began its life as a high quality fabric that lost favor in the market, usually due to color or design or texture - or whether the cheap fabric was scrap at its inception. If the fabric was always scrap, it won't even be too useful as muslins, IMHO.
Since we, as final consumers, are not privy to the original production methods, all we can do is examine the 'cheap' fabric we're buying. Use your eyes and mostly, use your fingers. Manipulate the fabric. Run the fabric thru your fingers, feeling for consistency of texture. Squeeze a 'bunch' of the fabric for a few seconds and release, looking for how the fabric does or does not re-absorb the wrinkles and how quickly it retakes its original shape. Pull the fabric on the bias and see what happens thereafter. If the fabric is printed, check whether the print is level on the crossgrain.
If all the results to your above manipulations and eyeballing is acceptable, buy the cheap fabric. If not, pass on it.
--Lily
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I think it depends whether the cheap (low cost) fabric began its life as a high quality fabric that lost favor in the market, usually due to color or design or texture - or whether the cheap fabric was scrap at its inception. If the fabric was always scrap, it won't even be too useful as muslins, IMHO.
Since we, as final consumers, are not privy to the original production methods, all we can do is examine the 'cheap' fabric we're buying. Use your eyes and mostly, use your fingers. Manipulate the fabric. Run the fabric thru your fingers, feeling for consistency of texture. Squeeze a 'bunch' of the fabric for a few seconds and release, looking for how the fabric does or does not re-absorb the wrinkles and how quickly it retakes its original shape. Pull the fabric on the bias and see what happens thereafter. If the fabric is printed, check whether the print is level on the crossgrain.
If all the results to your above manipulations and eyeballing is acceptable, buy the cheap fabric. If not, pass on it.
--Lily
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Lily
Posted on: 12/3/07 7:31 PM ET
In reply to lilyofthevalley
I also have sewed up a 'muslin' only to find that I love it and it is very wearable out of some $1 yard fabric. I agree with you on the quality of the cheap fabric and how it began it's life. I have to feel the fabric and see how it drapes, which is why I have a problem buying fabric online. I do prefer natural fibers, living in the south, but am not opposed to synthetic in the cooler months.
On the flip side, I have purchased some cheap fabric that is not suitable to put under my dogs dishes. What was I thinking!
On the flip side, I have purchased some cheap fabric that is not suitable to put under my dogs dishes. What was I thinking!
Posted on: 12/3/07 8:16 PM ET
The only low price fabric worth having is from the remnant or clearance sections.
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Buy the best and you only cry once.
Posted on: 12/5/07 8:23 PM ET
Check out the $3.50 bundles at michaelsfabrics.com. They are all fine Italian suitings and shirtings--Zegna silks, cottons, wools and linens. They are so nice that I'm planning on doing cheap fabric muslins before I use this stuff. All very fine classic neutral suitings and shirtings. Could be used for dresses, pants, skirts, shirts, jackets, etc. Average 2.5 yards of 60 inches wide. They are clearing bolt ends for new shipments. These are the opposite of the weird fabrics you get on the cheap fabric website bundles. (They also have 30% off all website fabrics for the now. These are amazing prices for what it is.)
NAYY
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NAYY
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"puhPOjhu"--a river that sinks into a mountain with fury and winds around underground for miles before emerging in calm down the road...
Posted on: 12/5/07 9:31 PM ET
* nods.* Been there, did it again awhile back with some red lightweight sweatshirting. Darn stuff linted like crazy through 2 pre washes and now I can see a bit through the weave. New muslin material, that's for sure.
OTOH, super awesomely fine fabrics are not for me either. If it can't survive a washer, it has no place here. However, if quality means tough enough to last for years.. I'm all over that. woohoo!
OTOH, super awesomely fine fabrics are not for me either. If it can't survive a washer, it has no place here. However, if quality means tough enough to last for years.. I'm all over that. woohoo!
Posted on: 12/5/07 10:54 PM ET
In reply to Marilly
Quote: Marilly
* nods.* Been there, did it again awhile back with some red lightweight sweatshirting. Darn stuff linted like crazy through 2 pre washes and now I can see a bit through the weave. New muslin material, that's for sure.
OTOH, super awesomely fine fabrics are not for me either. If it can't survive a washer, it has no place here. However, if quality means tough enough to last for years.. I'm all over that. woohoo!
* nods.* Been there, did it again awhile back with some red lightweight sweatshirting. Darn stuff linted like crazy through 2 pre washes and now I can see a bit through the weave. New muslin material, that's for sure.
OTOH, super awesomely fine fabrics are not for me either. If it can't survive a washer, it has no place here. However, if quality means tough enough to last for years.. I'm all over that. woohoo!
Well, I can appreciate that. I definitely plan to wash the nice stuff and make the clothing from prewashed fabric. I don't have time, money or patience to be drycleaning my clothing often.
I rarely iron, but I actually enjoy it and plan to iron some of this while listening to my son practice his cello. It's a soothing combination, and he'll practice way longer that it will take me to iron a few items.
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"puhPOjhu"--a river that sinks into a mountain with fury and winds around underground for miles before emerging in calm down the road...
Posted on: 12/6/07 7:55 AM ET
All I know is that when a fabric is cheap-y: bad recovery, ravelly, cardboardy stiff etc. it takes more skill to sew it and make it look good than when the fabric is good quality. I always worry about beginners going for cheap fabric and getting disappointed when more advanced sewers would have to pull out all the stops and struggle to make the garment look good. Natural fibers, well woven, tho they may need pressing, in general are the dream fabrics for ease in sewing. If you find them at a good price - yeah!
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'Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.' Oscar Wilde
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