Spoilt for Choice

Spoilt for Choice - Which fabric to use?

source: kurzwarenland.de

German carnival is approaching and there are only a few weeks left. Instead of suggesting costume ideas I would like to give you some helpful information concerning the right fabric choice this time. As you can imagine nice fabrics are essential for the look of an outfit. There is a huge difference whether you use cotton, satin or velvet. The structure is completely different and so the overall appearance. Different types of fabric match different costumes - you have to keep that in mind, when choosing a costume. Imagine a pirat - have you ever seen one with a satin blouse? I guess not.

When choosing a costume it is the best to look for references first using google or another search engine. The more pictures you see, the more you develop a sense of what looks authentic and convincing. In case you want to make a costume yourself learning a bit about fabrics is pretty useful.  But even when you buy a costume on Ebay it's good to know what 'polyester' or 'panne samt' is and how it looks like on an unphotoshopped picture.

Here is some very basic knowledge:

source: cdn.activecommerce.net

Cotton
You can use cotton in various ways, i.e for skirts, aprons, trousers and many more. There is light and heavy cotton, depending on what you need. Careful: 100% cotton is non-stretchy. So using it for a bodysuit is a very, very bad idea. On the other hand side cotton is very easy to work with. Though you have to serge the edges so that it won't frazzle. There are no problems when you iron the fabric (only if the iron is extremely hot and you forget it on your fabric...), but cotton wrinkles quite fast. The prices are about 5-10+ Euro a meter.

source: stoffkontor.eu

Taffeta
Taffeta is a smooth and shiny fabric. In most cases it is used to line clothing or for making underskirts (the smooth character of taffeta will prevent your skirt from riding up). This quality of taffeta is very cheap, it is about 3-5+ Euro. But there is also higher quality taffeta which can be used for making dresses, of course this fabric quality is more expensive.

source: csimg.shopwahl.de

Velvet
In my opinion velvet is a bit tricky. Real velvet looks beautiful, but it is really, really expensive. So many people use panne velvet instead. Panne velvet costs about 2-5+ Euro a meter, so it's pretty cheap. BUT it is also cheap looking. Many stores use it in their displays and showrooms and as long as there is some distance to look at it, it's okay. But worn by a person it looks really horrible, if you don't know how to use it the right way. And only few people know that. So, if there is any way to avoid panne samt - please do it.

source: img1.etsystatic.com

Lycra/Spandex
Lycra and spandex are stretchy materials. They are perfect for bodysuit costumes, such as Catwoman and other super hero clothing. They are tricky to work with, because they are wobbly and not every sewing machine can transport them well. Plus you need some extra needles for it. But when you wear a costume made of lycra/spandex it's comfy and you can move in it pretty well.

source: bikudo.com

Polyester
In my opinion polyester is a mixed blessing. It's rather cheap and costs 3-5 Euro a meter and is very crease-resistant. Polyester is a synthetic material and it won't frazzle that much, so you can bream the edges very easily. But since it is a synthetic material it is very heat-sensitive. It can burn very easily, when your iron is too hot. Plus (for me) polyester has a cheesy look. But you have to decide for yourself, whether to use it or not.


Sure, there are many different types of fabrics I did not mention, but I think those are some good basics. I hope this short summary was helpful to you.

Love,
J.