https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:55:14 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-885367 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:48:17 +0000 Mander 885367@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm. What about intentionally "roughing it up" -- crumpling it into a ball, folding it up small in different orientations, rolling it up into a tube, scrunching it,&nbsp;etc, and then ironing again? I'm just thinking of how a tissue or other paper becomes softer once it has been scrunched up. Presumably that is because the fibres are being broken down but maybe the same principle could work here.&nbsp; https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882222 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:38:10 +0000 Astrid 882222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Una. I don't have a dryer myself. If nothing else helps I might take it with me the next time I go home and use my mum's dryer.<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882216 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:36:09 +0000 catgirl 882216@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Putting stuff in the dryer (like air-dried denim) softens it up for me. &nbsp;Also repeated washing, like tea towels that are weirdly stiff and wrinkled, then give way. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882183 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:16:59 +0000 Astrid 882183@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for your advice, everyone! :)<br /><br />The picture of the skirt was taken before washing it, it's from the K/R thread. It says&nbsp; 30°C machine wash on the label and I did that. I did air dry it though, because I don't have a dryer - I have barely enough space in the kitchen for a washing machine... I agree that the skirt it worth saving, I want to try it in any case. I really like the colors and pattern and the fit in the waist and hips is good. I think I'll try the vinegar first, I remember that my grandma used it for washing. I didn't know it was probably for fabric softening, but it seems to be a household remedy that won't damage anything, so definitely worth a try. Although I almost suspect I will need to do some alterations in the end. Thanks for all the good sewing advice. I think I would want to keep a slight a line shape after all, it seems to be the easiest solution. <br /><br />I'm going to keep you up-to-date.<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882174 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:04:43 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 882174@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hope you're over the cold soon! <br />That fabric is beautiful. I like this kind of sewing challenge, because it's basically no-risk: You are not going to wear the skirt as it is, so you have nothing to lose if the alteration doesn't work out. I like the other sewists' suggestions above. I would add that you can avoid having to put in a slit or vent by shortening it to just at or above the knee and straightening out the lines just enough to make it a slim profile but not so much that you can't walk in it. Hope you'll share the results here, if you do decide to tackle the alteration!<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882105 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:37:00 +0000 Gaylene 882105@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If you hung the skirt to dry, that could make the fabric feel stiffer. I've had success softening some fabrics by throwing the item into a dryer at the lowest heat with a couple of clean tennis balls and a barely damp, old towel in the same color family.<br /><br />If you decided to remodel the skirt, I'd be inclined to keep the A-line look instead of trying for a pencil skirt. As annaj suggests, you could pin or baste the seams below the hipline to see if you like the effect. Keeping a slight A-line and working below the zipper and hipline makes for a fairly easy fix, but once you start having to remove the zipper or create a slit in the back, it can get a bit more complicated. At that point, it becomes more about the challenge of turning an unwearable garment into something useful and you might as well have fun unleashing your creative side--maybe using Vildy's suggestion of turning the skirt into a handbag!<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882102 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:34:34 +0000 Anonymous 882102@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That's a really interesting print and color of skirt. I'd hate to see it get culled. Was that picture taken before or after you washed it? Because it doesn't look stiff or strange in any way. Was it supposed to be dry cleaned? Anyway, the only thing I can think of to try&nbsp;that's different is to dampen it and iron it without starch. Good luck! https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882097 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:27:09 +0000 harmonica 882097@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ a dash of vinegar could soften the fabric. so depressing to get more snow when you're expecting spring. sorry I can't help with sewing suggestions. I like the pattern and color, though - very Astrid style :-)<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-882001 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:40:33 +0000 annaj 882001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As was mentioned previously, each panel needs to be straightened. Don't adjust anything above your hip line (the widest part of your body), but from there down, you make all the seams go straight. Try it on inside out, pin each seam first, and check that you can walk in it! If it is too straight you might need to make further adjustments to add a split at the back, or perhaps not straighten it quite as much. A gentle A-line might be enough. Feel free to post photos if you need more help - perhaps show the inside construction of the skirt if you are unsure? I can try to explain it better. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881976 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:08:39 +0000 Vildy 881976@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You know the more I think about this, I wonder if you want a stiff skirt, anyway. <br />I realize it's stiffer or less smooth now and stands away from you, but it sounds as though it started out pretty stiff.&nbsp; And anything that beats it up enough to make a small difference is probably going to fade the print. <br />How 'bout a nice handbag? :D<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881962 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:35:17 +0000 Adelfa 881962@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I might take it to the cleaners and see what they can do with it to soften it. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881956 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:26:44 +0000 Kalli 881956@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Cotton Canvas is really stiff, and if it shrinks it may become stiffer! I find that it's the kind of fabric you can't really save. The only way you might save it is to wash it with really rough items, if you can make it thinner, it will make it softer but then again .... that's just too much work!<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881945 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:12:30 +0000 Anonymous 881945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have no advice about softening it. But with regards to making a straight skirt, I think you need to look at the two seams in the front and back first as these might be flared. Once you have straightened those, then you can tackle the sides. If you already have a straight skirt you could use it for reference. To make leg room you could add two small slits in each of the two seams at the back. You may also find that you will have to take some of the zipper out to straighten the sides too. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881931 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:53:57 +0000 Anonymous 881931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Did you air dry it? I find that makes cotton canvas really stiff.<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881929 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:52:00 +0000 texstyle 881929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A good organic fabric softener might help Astrid. I did this recently with several button down shirts that felt a bit too stiff for me. I bought this organic fabric softener that smells really nice (it's basically essential oils emulsified into a soft water base with enzymes&nbsp;I think). Anyway, I put it in the wash and the shirts definitely came out softer and smelled nice. I am going to repeat the process a couple of times.&nbsp; The one I bought was The Laundress Fabric Conditioner. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881890 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:05:56 +0000 Glory 881890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have also heard of using saltwater, you could also try letting it soak in fabric softener. Lovely skirt - hope you can make it work. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881877 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:39:18 +0000 amiable 881877@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've never had to try to soften a fabric before (washing always did it without troubles), but I've heard that a vinegar soak can help.<br /><br />I like Vildy's suggestion of playing with seam placement too.&nbsp;<br /><br />It's such a cool skirt! https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881870 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:29:07 +0000 Vildy 881870@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I can't get a grip on why the skirt would suddenly have become stiffer - no experience with that.&nbsp; Here's one thing I do with skirts sometimes: change the side seams to the front and back seams.&nbsp; Sometimes it hangs better that way. <br /><br />I've made straight skirts out of A-line skirts before. Generally, the pieces/gores are kind of triangle shaped.&nbsp; What you want to try is pinning the seams in closer, on each seam.&nbsp; This helps to keep the grain of the fabric straight and that helps to keep it hanging well.&nbsp; You can start by pinching out some fabric on the right side, pinning it and seeing how you think it will work out. Or you can start with putting it on inside out and make trial pinnings on each seam. Obviously, you'll have to swirl the skirt around to do this with the back seam, or do it off the body and just measure up to what you did to the other seams. In an ideal world, perhaps the seams would be individually adjusted for your particular build but I go by close enough for government work.<br />ETA: you'll need to figure in the ability to stride. Take a look at your other pencil skirts and see how the slit is done in the back.<br /> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881869 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:28:51 +0000 ironkurtin 881869@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've only ever tried to soften denim, and the recc'm there was to soak it in saltwater. &nbsp;Sorry, that's all I've got. https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-soften-this-fabric-sewing-question#post-881853 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:06:39 +0000 Astrid 881853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I haven't been online for a while because I'm sick, I have a huge cold. I'm slowly getting better though. The weather is crazy, we've been getting so much new snow. I can't believe spring starts tomorrow.<br /><br />I've been searching for something to do and retrieved this skirt out of my sewing pile. Maybe you remember it? It wasn't part of my wardrobe post because it was in the sewing pile and I forgot about it. It would be a great skirt to wear with the black blazer and black ballet flats to my sister's confirmation, but it's unwearable after washing (the picture was taken before). <br /><br />The problem is the fabric in combination with the cut. It's a kind of stiff cotton canvas that's printed on one side. It doesn't really drape and after washing it's not as smooth anymore and stands away from the body in a weird way. I ironed it thoroughly, but maybe the seams are warped (?). <br /><br />Is there any way to soften fabric like this so it has a better drape and falls better? Any tips?<br /><br />Alternatively I thought about making a pencil skirt out of it (one that goes straight down) because the fabric goes better with this kind of cut, but I'm in over my head with this one. I have no idea how to do that. The skirt is made out of six pieces - the side seams and then two additional seams in the front and back. It has a side zipper. Theoretically, how would I go about it? <br />