Which is the best fabric for a skirt?

If you plan to get yourself a sewn skirt, then you are on the right way. Tailor-made clothes are sometimes one of best clothes. They are the right fit for our size and we can pick them up in our favourite fabrics and pattern.  As there is a rich variety of fabrics for skirts, we have so many fabric options to choose from and this may be overwhelming.

 

Skirts that are tailored without doubt look great and flattering to your body shape. You can even get a collection of custom-made skirts each of which is suitable for a different occasion, either formal or casual. We guess that you have already chosen a tailor and all is left for you to pick up the right fabric for your next skirt.

The choice of fabric is important when sewing any type of garment. This includes skirts as well. The correct fabric guarantees that the skirt will be with the correct shape and design. It’s important to know that the right fabric ensures the skirt sewing project will be successful.

 

 

The pattern and the fabric are two different things and considering these is the first important step for us. The fabric should be suitable to the given fabric. Every pattern tells us what type of fabric is most suitable to. While the choice of fabric is a personal preference, some types of fabrics are more favoured than other.

From the choice of fabric also depends how comfortable the clothing will be as the texture of each fabric feels differently. No matter if we are planning to make ourselves a DIY skirt or bring a fabric to a sewer to make us a new skirt, the choice of fabric is an essential step.

 

There are different factors we should pay attention to when picking a fabric for a skirt

The first and topmost thing to decide is what type of skirt we want to sew. For instance if we want our skirt to be more tight-fitting, we should choose knit fabrics that are widely used in active wear production. But if we want our skirt to be specially tailored and allow us more freedom and comfort fit, woven fabrics are a better option in this case.

 

And another thing that depends from our choice is how long the fabric colors and the clothing will last. The endurance of the colors and the level of shrinkage  is a signal of the quality level of a specific clothing. Before picking up the fabric of your next skirt consider whether the skirt will be printed, embroidered, woven, dyed  stitched. You also have to consider the weight, the drape and the stretch of the fabric. The truth is there are numerous kinds of fabrics out there each of which having its advantages and disadvantages.

 

Let’s check out the basic textiles that exist

The main natural fabrics are:

• cotton
• silk
• denim
• wool
• flannel
• hemp
• leather
• linen
• velvet

The synthetic textiles are:

• polyester
• nylon
• acetate
• rayon
• acrylic
• polar fleece and spandex.

 

Other types of fabric varieties are:

• Cotton lawn and cotton knits
• rayon
• cotton knits
• poly cotton ( combination between cotton and polyester
• wool jersey
• rayon challis
• denim
• knit
• linen silk broadcloth
• voile
• poplin
• crepe de chine

 

During the sewing process some skirts require different types of fabrics in order to lay in a correct way and look flattering. So check out our suggested list of fabrics and choose the best for your favourite type of skirt.

List of the most popular fabrics and which types of skirts they are suitable for

Cotton

 

Cotton is one of the best fabrics out there that offer both style and comfort. It is one of the most popular fabrics for making not only skirts but a variety of clothes and it’s easy to sew with it. You find out whether a cotton fabric is of good quality when you run your hands across its surface. If it’s smooth and not too starched, then this fabric has high quality. When a cotton is starched, if we rub it, the starch will act like a powder.

 

The disadvantage of cotton is  that it shrinks and for this reason the fabric should be prewashed. If you don’t want prewashing, pick up the next size in pattern. Also it wrinkles easily when there aren’t special finishes added to the fabric.

A-line skirts for example require a material that drapes and moves well. So cotton is among the best fabrics for A-line skirts. Printed medium weight cotton works well for most types of skirts. But it will require a lining as it is usually thin.

 

 

It’s the best fabric for pencil skirts, circle skirts, maxi and mini skirts. When sewing pencil skirts for example we need a fabric that is stretchable. For this reason cotton blend will be the best option. For the lining of the pencil skirt it’s best to use a lightweight cotton or silk fabric.

 

Cotton knits are the best option for A-line skirts. Because the beauty of an A-line skirt lies in the way it drapes and moves on the body, we need such a fabric that drapes well too.

An A-line skirt suits most body types and this makes it one of the most preferred choices of skirt type.The cotton’s property to stretch makes it a good fabric option for mini skirts.

Brushed cotton

 

Brushed cotton is suitable for sewing a bubble skirt. For those of you who don’t know, bubble skirt is such skirt that folds under the hem and in this way forms a bubble-like shape. For this type of skirt we will need a fabric that can be gathered easily .

 

Satin

 

Satin is a great material for making skirts but it requires skills. This fabric has a luxurious feel and it’s suitable for formal design skirts. It can be used to make circle skirts but it’s a fabric that is difficult to work with. So if you have chosen this type of material, make sure to bring it to a skillful tailor.

Satin fabric has different weights. If you want a more structured skirt, then you should choose a satin of thicker weight.

Silk

 

This smooth and beautiful fabric is great for sewing elegant skirts for special events. When choosing silk, pick up a fabric with high tread count as it’s the most soft and durable among the other types of silk. The disadvantage of silk is that it should be kept apart from moisture and heat. Being a delicate fabric its seams can   easily pull apart. The most popular silk fabric used in clothing is medium weight.

Linen

 

When it comes to quality linen is similar to cotton. It looks elegant and classy and has high durability. It is suitable for making bubble skirts. Linen’s disadvantage is that it wrinkles. Also, it has a crispy and stiff structure and does not drape too much as some other fabrics do. When choosing linen, make sure it’s not too crisp and it is soft to the touch.

Polyester

 

Make sure to choose high quality polyester to reap the main advantages of this material- easy for maintaining, draping and having good stretchability. Polyester has resistance to moths and mildew, it is easy for washing and ironing. It’s great if we want a skirt with pleats. The disadvantage is that low quality polyester fabrics get cut threads with use.

Rayon

 

This lightweight and flowing fabric is good for A-line skirts as it drapes well. It’s not easy to sew with it. Its disadvantage is that it shrinks and it has a short life when it’s not maintained properly.

Jersey

 

Good for maxi skirts.

   

Chiffon

 

This kind of material is suitable for sewing maxi skirts. Their flowy structure helps us get a feminine and elegant look. Because chiffon is from these  fabrics that are sheer, the skirt will require a lining underneath.  Since a maxi skirt should be lightweight and offer maximum comfort and casual style choose a chiffon fabric with a lining.

Knit

 

Knit is a great option for sewing a mini skirt which needs a small amount of fabric that should be easily stretched. Knit has a great fit and drapes well. It stretches well and offers comfort. When buying knit pay attention to the guage of the fabric. This is the total  count of stitches across vertical rows (called wales). If the gauge is high, the fabric will be more fine and if the gauge is low, the fabric will be coarse. Knit is usually sewn in a different way compared to other fabrics. It is not easy for sewing and needs a special needle called ball point needle.

Taffeta

 

Another good material for maxi skirts. Make sure to add lining to the fabric.

Denim

 

Another one of the most popular fabrics for skirts. Because this fabric is a little bit stretchable, it is suitable for sewing mini skirts.

 

Light tweed

 

Good for bubble skirts.

 

Broadcloth

Good for A-line skirts.

Crepe de chine

 

Good for A-line skirts.