It is essential to choose the best fabric for your next project. You need to ensure that it can withstand a lot of wear and tear and keep its shape and color. When picking out your fabric, you need to consider four things: weight, durability, elasticity, and fading capacity.
Durability
Durability is the ability of a product to retain its effectiveness and efficiency over a certain period. It can be defined as the ability to function without major unexpected maintenance. The durability of fabrics is determined by their ability to retain shape, resistance to wear and tear, and abrasion resistance. This depends on the type of environment and conditions under which the product is used.
The most durable fabric is one with a tight weave. These fabrics are often made from microfiber and can withstand scratches from cats. They are also easy to clean.
Durability is a complex concept that depends on several factors, including the fabric itself, its chemical composition, and the conditions under which it is used. For example, a polymer is considered durable if its chemical structure is such that it can be easily recycled.
Other properties that contribute to durability are abrasion resistance, strength, and stiffness. A more detailed discussion can be found in the shop fabrics ideal for basics, where the effects of the interaction of structural characteristics on durability are examined.
Another important property is colorfastness. The color fastness of a fabric is measured by its resistance to the U.V. rays emitted by sunlight. Alternatively, the colorfastness of a polymer may be assessed using the chemistry and chemical composition of the material.
Elasticity
When choosing fabric, you need to be aware of its elasticity. Elasticity is an essential property of the material and can affect the final fit of your garment. The degree of elasticity can be measured in two different ways.
In the most basic sense, elasticity is the ability of a fabric to stretch to its maximum without deforming. It can be measured long-wise or across the bias of the material. To determine elasticity, you can use a ruler to stretch a fabric until you feel resistance. You then divide the stretch by the length of the original material.
Other properties of fabric include its weight and thickness. Weight and thickness are often used as a measure of elasticity.
Another measurement of fabric elasticity is its rebound. A fabric with a high rebound capacity can recover its original shape.
You can choose from various kinds of elastic for your sewing projects. These include woven, knit, braided and clear. Woven elastic provides good support but is not recommended for waist casings. Braided elastic is generally recommended for containers but may lose its stretch if sewn directly onto the wrong side of the fabric.
The best place to buy elastic is from a well-stocked sewing fabric store. You can also purchase it in the yard. Some stores even carry elastic in unusual designs.
Weight
Fabric weight is one of the four factors you should consider when buying fabric. The importance of the material can change the look and feel of the garment and its lifespan.
It also affects the quality of the clothing. A heavier-weight fabric will stand up to more wear and tear. However, lighter-weight materials will give you more drape. Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal preferences.
When choosing a fabric, it is essential to consider the material’s color, drape, and softness. There are many different fabrics on the market. Each is available in a variety of widths. You should know that each material has its unique weight and ensure you know exactly what you are getting before making a purchase.
Most online fabric stores will list the weight of the fabric alongside other information, such as the weave. Generally, the importance of the material is expressed in ounces per square yard (or in grams per square meter). This measurement is based on the manufacturer’s weighing a standard-sized piece of the material.
If you’re not comfortable weighing the fabric yourself, you can use a kitchen scale to find the exact weight of the fabric. This will allow you to get an accurate idea of the thickness of the material and the amount of drape.
Fading Capacity
Fading is a process whereby the color of fabrics fades. The degree of fading is affected by different factors, like the intensity of light and the frequency of light. Most fabrics are made with the idea of defending themselves against sunlight damage. For example, linen is a strong fabric that can withstand sunlight exposure. Other materials, such as cotton, can be more durable.
To determine the fading capacity of a fabric, it is essential to decide on its resistance to washing and other wear and tear processes. Various tests are conducted to evaluate the fabric’s durability against these processes. Laser fading, hand sand brushing, and Potassium Permanganate (P.P.) spraying are used in the various tests. These three processes were applied to denim Twill fabric.
Laser fading was performed using a CO2 (10.6 microns) laser. Hand sand brushing was done using emery paper. Each test was carried out to assess the mechanical and physical properties of the fabric. The results of the tests are shown in table 3.
The tensile and tearing strength of the denim fabric was also measured. Tearing strength decreased more in the warp direction than in the weft direction. In addition, the rubbing test was conducted to determine the color transfer. Rubbing is carried out both dry and wet. The rubbing test causes significant staining.