Charmeuse (French: [ʃaʁmøːz])
is a lightweight fabric woven with a satin weave, where the warp
threads cross over three or more of the backing (weft) threads. The
front side of the fabric has a satin finish – lustrous and reflective –
whereas the back has a dull finish. It can be made of silk or a
synthetic lookalike such as polyester. Silk charmeuse is more expensive
and delicate but is softer and a better insulator. Polyester charmeuse
is cheaper and can often withstand machine washing, but it does not
breathe as well as silk. Charmeuse differs from plain satin in that
charmeuse is softer and lighter in weight.
The luster and delicate hand make charmeuse suited to lingerie,
flowing evening gowns, and drapey blouses. Bridal gowns sometime use
charmeuse, however, the fabric does not hold a shape well, so it is not
used for full, flared skirts; the charmeuse tends to cling and hang
against the body. It is best suited to a more fluid, slinky bias cut,
and is too fragile and flimsy for more tailored clothing. It is not used
in menswear, with the exception of underwear such as charmeuse boxer
shorts.
It is one of the more challenging fabrics to sew, and not recommended
for beginners. The fabric is extremely slippery and difficult to
control through the presser foot of a sewing machine. Seams have a
tendency to pucker and pull; a smaller stitch length and finer thread
can minimize this, though the experience of the sewer will impact the
finished result as well. Charmeuse also tends to leave holes and marks
where the fabric was pinned, making the manipulation of pattern pieces
more challenging. For greater ease of sewing, a sizing product such as
Sullivan’s Spray Fabric Stabilizer can be sprayed on before cutting and
washed out after the garment is completed.
Charmeuse tears easily, especially when wet, so dry-cleaning is recommended.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Chenille, what is it? what are its many uses?
It is used for curtains, pillows, upholstery, table cloths, chair covers, table runners etc.
Chenille, the French word for caterpillar, is typically used to describe a type of fabric. Many fabrics, such as mohair and wool, get their names from the fibers with which they are made. Chenille, however, is named from the unique process by which it is made.
The chenille yarn is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, called the “pile”, between two “core yarns” and then twisting the yarn together. The edges of these piles then stand at right angles from the yarn’s core, giving chenille both its softness and its characteristic look. Chenille will look different in one direction compared to another, as the fibres catch the light differently. Chenille can appear iridescent without actually using iridescent fibers. The yarn is commonly manufactured from cotton, but can also be made using acrylic, rayon and olefin.
Since the late 1990s, chenille appeared in quilting in a number of yarns, yards or finishes. As a yarn, it is a soft, feathery synthetic that when stitched onto a backing fabric, gives a velvety appearance, also known as imitation or “faux chenille”. Real chenille quilts are made using patches of chenille fabric in various patterns and colours, with or without “ragging” the seams.
The chenille effect by ragging the seams, has been adapted by quilters for a casual country look. A quilt with a so-called “chenille finish” is known as a “rag quilt” or, a “slash quilt” due to the frayed exposed seams of the patches and the method of achieving this. Layers of soft cotton are batted together in patches or blocks and sewn with wide, raw edges to the front. These edges are then cut, or slashed, to create a worn, soft, “chenille” effect.
Many chenille fabrics should be dry cleaned. If hand or machine-washed, it should be machine-dried using low heat, or as a heavy textile, dried flat to avoid stretching, never hung.
Chenille, the French word for caterpillar, is typically used to describe a type of fabric. Many fabrics, such as mohair and wool, get their names from the fibers with which they are made. Chenille, however, is named from the unique process by which it is made.
The chenille yarn is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, called the “pile”, between two “core yarns” and then twisting the yarn together. The edges of these piles then stand at right angles from the yarn’s core, giving chenille both its softness and its characteristic look. Chenille will look different in one direction compared to another, as the fibres catch the light differently. Chenille can appear iridescent without actually using iridescent fibers. The yarn is commonly manufactured from cotton, but can also be made using acrylic, rayon and olefin.
Since the late 1990s, chenille appeared in quilting in a number of yarns, yards or finishes. As a yarn, it is a soft, feathery synthetic that when stitched onto a backing fabric, gives a velvety appearance, also known as imitation or “faux chenille”. Real chenille quilts are made using patches of chenille fabric in various patterns and colours, with or without “ragging” the seams.
The chenille effect by ragging the seams, has been adapted by quilters for a casual country look. A quilt with a so-called “chenille finish” is known as a “rag quilt” or, a “slash quilt” due to the frayed exposed seams of the patches and the method of achieving this. Layers of soft cotton are batted together in patches or blocks and sewn with wide, raw edges to the front. These edges are then cut, or slashed, to create a worn, soft, “chenille” effect.
Many chenille fabrics should be dry cleaned. If hand or machine-washed, it should be machine-dried using low heat, or as a heavy textile, dried flat to avoid stretching, never hung.
What is Canvas and what is it used for?
It is used for upholstery, table cloth, waxing, hair removal, painting etc.
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame. It is also used in such fashion objects as handbags and shoes.
Modern canvas is usually made of cotton or linen, although historically it was made from hemp. It differs from other heavy cotton fabrics, such as denim, in being plain weave rather than twill weave. Canvas comes in two basic types: plain and duck. The threads in duck canvas are more tightly woven. The term duck comes from the Dutch word for cloth, doek. In the United States, canvas is classified in two ways: by weight (ounces per square yard) and by a graded number system. The numbers run in reverse of the weight so a number 10 canvas is lighter than number 4.
Canvas has become the most common support medium for oil painting, replacing wooden panels. One of the earliest surviving oils on canvas is a French Madonna with angels from around 1410 in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. However, panel painting remained more common until the 16th century in Italy and the 17th century in Northern Europe. Mantegna and Venetian artists were among those leading the change; Venetian sail canvas was readily available and regarded as the best quality.
It has become popular to use the myriad of stretched canvasses sizes and shapes for unconventional creative expression. Artists can create miniature works on business card sized stretched canvas and use them as trading cards to make connections with other artists. Many artists use canvas for altered art pieces as well as for scrapbook pages—because stretched canvas is available in many sizes, from miniatures to wall size, it is used for decoupage and needlework projects, made into lamps, or painted simply for home decor.
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame. It is also used in such fashion objects as handbags and shoes.
Modern canvas is usually made of cotton or linen, although historically it was made from hemp. It differs from other heavy cotton fabrics, such as denim, in being plain weave rather than twill weave. Canvas comes in two basic types: plain and duck. The threads in duck canvas are more tightly woven. The term duck comes from the Dutch word for cloth, doek. In the United States, canvas is classified in two ways: by weight (ounces per square yard) and by a graded number system. The numbers run in reverse of the weight so a number 10 canvas is lighter than number 4.
Canvas has become the most common support medium for oil painting, replacing wooden panels. One of the earliest surviving oils on canvas is a French Madonna with angels from around 1410 in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. However, panel painting remained more common until the 16th century in Italy and the 17th century in Northern Europe. Mantegna and Venetian artists were among those leading the change; Venetian sail canvas was readily available and regarded as the best quality.
It has become popular to use the myriad of stretched canvasses sizes and shapes for unconventional creative expression. Artists can create miniature works on business card sized stretched canvas and use them as trading cards to make connections with other artists. Many artists use canvas for altered art pieces as well as for scrapbook pages—because stretched canvas is available in many sizes, from miniatures to wall size, it is used for decoupage and needlework projects, made into lamps, or painted simply for home decor.
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