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Special Occasion Fabrics |
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Brocade
Unlike embroidered fabric, a design is woven into the fabric with an additional thread. This creates beauty and sophistication.
Note that Brocade is low on the fabric breathability scale. |
Charmeuse Made from polyester, Charmeuse is perfect for dresses, blouses, and lingerie. It uses the satin weave, but is lightweight. It is known for its flow, drape, and shiny surface.
Many will have a printed design on a solid color. See Sweet Pea in the Gallery. |
Chiffon Chiffon was first made of silk and is now primarily polyester.
The fabric has a very sheer, loose weave and adds glamour to any dress using it.
It is wonderful for draping due to its lightness and transparency. |
Cotton A natural textile made by fibers from the cotton plant.
The fibers are long and strong, spun into yarn, and woven or knitted to create a variety of fabrics.
Cotton is soft and breathable. See Poppy in the Gallery. |
Crepe de Chine Crepe has a shiny satin front with a matte crepe back.
Either side can be used depending on the look you want. The fabric is softer than bridal satin but has
more weight than Charmeuse. See Pansy in the Gallery. |
Embellished Embellished fabric has fabric trim, pearls, sequins, and beads on it.
One can turn a simple dress into something beautiful and exquisite using embellished fabrics. See Lily in the Gallery. |
Embroidered Embroidery art involves creating raised patterns sewn onto another fabric. Charmeuse and tulle are the most commonly used fabrics that are embroidered.
Embroidered fabric is easy to find and creates luxury on a dress. |
Jersey A soft, stretchy knit fabric, Jersey has a distinct loop that creates a smooth outer surface. Commonly made from cotton or wool, it is comfortable and easy to care for. Jersey is quite breathable. |
Metallic Metallics are shiny and include a variety of fabrics. Stretch Glitter, Foil Lame, and Sequined fabrics create an eye-catching dress. |
Organza Organza is a luxury fabric that is crisp and very lightweight. Its weave is loose and transparent, giving dresses an elegant look.
The fabric holds its structure and is perfect for overlays. It is not suitable for draping dresses. |
Satin Known for its smooth, shiny, and silky feel,
satin has a glossy surface and a dull back. It is most often made with polyester and nylon.
It's woven in one of three fundamental techniques, along with plain weave and twill weave. See Daisy in the Gallery. |
Swiss Dot Swiss Dot is a brocade covered in tufted dots. It is normally a soft cotton or voile, ideal for dresses due to its soft drape and breathability. |
Tulle Trendy Tulle! Once reserved for tutus, tulle skirts are all the rage and are here to stay.
See-through and very light, any color can be found in matte, shiny, and glitter finishes.
Tulle skirts use a minimum of 10 yards of fabric! See Lotus in the Gallery. |
Velvet Have a Special winter occasion? A velvet dress trimmed with white has been a traditional social dress for decades.
Velvet in any jewel color like ruby red, sapphire blue, or emerald green is sophisticated and dressy. |
Voile A soft, sheer fabric, usually made of 100% cotton or cotton blend. The term is French for veil and is still the go-to fabric when making one. |