Things about Fabrics which you never noticed

Fabrics are a delicacy that is there to be indulged, entertained, researched and treasured. Creation of masterpieces that are sewn together by hands of designers, delicate and quaint. The types of fabrics are vast and there are details that are easy to forget when considering buying luxury or ordinary fabrics alike.

When first finding a nice piece of fabric that you like, take a long hard look at it. Look to check if the edges of the fabric are fraying and whether they're rolling. Either of these will make the fabric harder to control and handle whilst sewing. T-shirt knit and velveteen are both known to roll badly and can be quite a handful to sew. Check if the fabric wrinkles and has any snags or pulls easily. Also, check there is care instructions to go with it; it's important to know how to look after your fabric.

Pins are minor details easily overlooked when you grab any old pin to hold your fabric in place. Stop right there and consider how big the pin is, you need to use the correct size and type of pin. Take satin as an example, if the pin is too large it will leave a hole in the fabric. There is a special type of pin called a 'silk' pin which is good for the finer fabrics such as satin and other delicate fabrics.

Although one of the hardest fabrics to saw with, satin pieces can look a picture of beauty with a little persistence. The fabric is very sleek and fine when cutting your piece so you need to be careful. Try putting some weight on the rest of the fabric to try and hold it in place as best you can. Alternatively, cotton is relatively easy to sew and be sure to remember that it shrinks. This can be overcome by washing and ironing it before you begin cutting out your design. The end result is a piece that is light, soft and comfortable.

Wool is a good choice of fabric to choose, however some types are more problematic and tend to shrink or be a bit more unreliable. A good way to overcome this is to cut small samples and wash them to see how much or little they shrink and retain their elasticity. Most people get wool garments dry cleaned, which is an option available to you too, although there are wools that are blended that are simpler to clean.