Cotton is a fabric staple in wardrobes everywhere, and sewists can’t run far from it. Cotton takes on many different forms and blends that make it quite difficult to ignore. Find out a little info about the most popular types of cotton, how to manage it, and which sewing patterns are best suited.
1. Canvas
Canvas is a closely woven fabric that is sturdy and soft to work with. It’s suitable for structured jackets, skirts, and pants. Sew slowly with canvas and use a size 90/14 universal needles or a denim needle for best results.
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2. Denim & Twill
Denim is a heavyweight cotton twill that, like canvas, is sturdy and tightly woven. Denim is used to make jeans, jackets, shirts, dresses, work attire, and more. Sew slow when working with denim, especially when there are multiple layers, to avoid any jams and use a denim needle.
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3. Dobby
This lightweight, semi-sheer fabric has small textured dots woven into it. Its breathable, sheer nature makes it perfect for summer blouses, dresses, and children’s clothes. Use a microtex needle and lengthen the stitch length to see over the textured dots with ease.
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4. Organic Cotton
This cotton is grown without harmful chemicals that potentially irritate the skin and harm the environment. Producing organic cotton takes significantly less water than conventional cotton. Sew organic cotton according to its weight and other properties, creating summer tops, lingerie, dresses, and more.
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5. Poplin
Poplin or cotton broadcloth is a tightly woven fabric with a medium weight and plain weave. It’s easy to sew blouses, dresses, and other shirts. Use a standard needle to sew and spray starch if the fabric is slippery.
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7. Shirting
The crisp and lightweight nature of shirting makes it an all-star type of cotton used for many garment designs. Beyond button-up shirts, this fabric is used for nightwear, boxer shorts, and even more. Shirting is simple to sew with and doesn’t require much extra work.
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8. Cotton Jersey
Stretch cotton, or cotton jersey, is an excellent choice for t-shirts, tops, and sportswear, to name a few. For sewing, pay lots of attention to what kind of stretch cotton you’re using, then choose needles and machine settings accordingly.
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With so many cotton selections available, it’s difficult to pick just one. Luckily, in the sewing world, lots of variety makes things a lot more fun. Do you have a favorite type of cotton fabric you prefer to use? Leave a comment below telling us why!
