For those who sew: Using decorator fabrics for clothing?

Liz

Those of you who sew, do you ever use decorator fabrics for clothing? I'd like to work on some pencil skirts and shift dresses for spring / summer, but the fabric I am most often drawn to in my local stores is the decorator fabric, not the apparel fabric.

However, I have no idea about whether decorating fabric holds up to use as clothing. Do you know what I would need to pay attention to regarding fiber content, sizing (meaning, the stuff they put on cloth to treat it), washing instructions, etc.? Thanks for your help!

11 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Liz

Anonymous

Hmmm, I've never used decorators fabric for clothing other than some raw silk curtain fabric to line a coat. The only extra chemicals or coatings that I can think of that may be on curtain fabrics might be something to stop fading in sunlight and on upholstery cloth there may be fire retardant. The trick may be to pre-wash first to get these out and pre-shrink also.

11 years ago

Liz

Veteran

hmmm...so, if Diane the Sewist hasn't used it, I wonder...does that mean, "proceed with a lot of caution"? : )

I guess I won't know what happens until I try (and, of course work to make sure that I don't end up looking like I'm wearing a slipcover!)

11 years ago

Anonymous

Lol! I think the main reason that I haven't used it is because some of the fabrics can be a bit stiff. To be honest I don't see why some of the more softer or fluid fabrics couldn't be used. Just pre-wash first and there should be no surprises with shrinkage then

11 years ago

doubleh

Veteran

I'm an amateur sewer (is it sewist, I guess? I just realized how sew-er is spelled! ), but I since I hoard home dec fabrics, I have tried a few times. I would agree with Diane that you need to wash to test first. The composition of the fabric will definitely change. it will usually become softer, which is a good thing. But could also fade or drape differently. Home dec is much stiffer than clothing fabrics. I have made pencil skirts mostly- fluid garments are not going to work. (Unless of course you are looking at drapery weight fabrics. I am assuming you mean upholstery weight.) Also be sure to test the fabric post wash against your skin as the back sides usually have some sort of texture.

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

I would ask at a store that specializes in the fabric, and they could probably tell you in more detail about certain bolts. If you are making something you don't plan to wash often (like a jacket or skirt), you can tell how long-lasting/hard wearing decorator fabric will be by the double rub test number: http://furniture.about.com/od/.....bility.htm I'd think it might last a lot longer than clothing fabric in some cases - if not washed often.

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I agree that shrinkage, and change in hand, are the two things you'd have to be careful of. That said, if you're not going to wash the finished garment anyway you could just dry clean and not have to worry about it. I've used some home dec fabrics for bags and such, and they're usually just fine after a trip through the washer, although less crisp than before.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I don't think the distinction between decorator fabric and clothing fabric is necessarily a hard and fast one--more like a continuum. In the past, I've used clothing fabric for cushions and roman shades, and an embossed cotton fabric from the decorating department for a structured, sleeveless top.

Probably it's more a case of checking out the fabric content from the information on the bolt and washing the fabric to test for durability, shrinkage, and color fastness before cutting out your pattern.

Just stay away from Naugahyde. Seriously, I had a friend who told me, years ago, she had tried to make a jacket out of some of that stuff she found in her mother's stash. The thought still cracks me up!

11 years ago

anne

Veteran

I was tempted by some very cheap kids curtain fabric once and bought several metres of it. I made one dress for one daughter and donated the rest to the op shop.

(Ok that was just an anecdote and not very helpful to your query - I can confirm that it was stiffer than normal fabric and also creased a lot after the wash)

11 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Interesting question, but why am I feeling "The Sound of Music" vibe?

11 years ago

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Ornella- bwahahaha!!! Good luck and happy sewing, Liz!

11 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Fuzzy, perfectly logical thought since I've seen the film DOUBLE DIGITS number of times, first digit greater than 1... bwahahaha!!!

11 years ago

fuzzylogic

Veteran

Your secret's safe with me, ornella!! Tehehehe!!

11 years ago

Liz

Veteran

Ornelia, if I'm wearing my curtain-inspired pencil skirt and have sudden urges to skip around my city singing, I know I went WAY too far. Fortunately, my city is totally lacking in fountains, horse-drawn carts, and mountains. (Not to mention, handsome sea captains.)

Or I could just go the Naugahyde direction and wrestle myself back into the 70s. : )

Thanks so much for all your collective wisdom. I didn't know about the rub number, and wouldn't have thought of patterns fading or extra creasing, so this is all very helpful. I may have to watch it with fabrics that start off too crisp or stiff and know they are just not going to be good bets.

11 years ago

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