Did you know that people were creating textiles with twisting, cutting, and dying as far back as 36,000 years ago? Fabrics today, of course, have come a long way since then, but there are a lot of intricacies to the textile industry that a lot of people don’t know about.
For instance, when we are discussing types of fabrics, we are not talking about types of fibers. Fibers are things like cotton, silk, wool, or linen, which are what are used to create fabric. The fabric itself is the finished product.
Now that we have cleared that up, are you wondering about the types of fabrics out there that you can use? There are actually a lot of options, so if you’re a beginner, you might feel a little stuck.
Keep reading to figure out which fabric styles will work best for your upcoming projects.
Woven Fabrics
Woven fabrics will usually have a warp and weft. They are also woven on looms. The edges are tightly woven to keep the style intact.
There are different types of weaves, like the waffle weave, satin weave, or twill weave, so not all of these will look exactly the same in the finished fabric.
Always think about whether you want to use a dyed or natural woven fabric as well.
Ikat, for example, is a method of coloring fabric with resist dying. It’s similar to tie-dying where it weaves a pattern or design. Caring for ikat fabrics is different because of the way that it is dyed.
This is something that you’ll have to consider when you want to work with woven, dyed fabrics of any kind.
Common woven fabrics include:
- Corduroy
- Chiffon
- Organza
Knitted Fabrics
If you’ve ever looked at a knitted sweater or hat, you already have a basic idea of what a knitted fabric looks like.
Essentially, it is a fabric that is constructed with loops from one or more strands of yarn, string, or thread. A weft knit is made with one continuous strand while a warp knit has multiple strands in the same stitch.
Common knitted fabrics include:
- Cotton
- Acrylic
- Wool
Stretchy Fabrics
Stretchy fabrics are actually a very specific type of woven fabric that is made with a specific fiber type to give it that stretch. The materials included are usually either elastane or spandex.
Keep in mind that stretchy fabrics can also be knit or woven fabrics. It all comes down to the materials used to create the piece. Typically, however, stretchy fabrics have their own special type of manufacturing to ensure their quality is high.
Common stretch fabrics include:
- Viscose
- Lyrca
- Spandex
- Jersey stretch
Choosing Between These Types of Fabrics
There are a lot of types of fabrics that you can select from, so depending on what type of wear and tear the item will go through, you should choose the fabric that will look, feel, and withstand the best.
Try experimenting with different fabrics to see what you like most!
To find more tips that can help with your crafting skills, check out our blog for other informational posts like this one!
