Soft - what is it and what is it used for? What are the characteristics of the material? Among the huge abundance of different types of fabrics, soft stands out for its unusual properties. This is a fleecy fabric that is ultra-soft. The material is ideal for decorating home interiors and richly decorating banquet halls. In workshops, the delicate material is used to sew beautiful outfits. The fabric is universal and multifaceted, which allows it to be used in various areas of the light industry.
Description of fabric
Soft - what is it and why is it called that? The main difference of the fabric is in its name. Soft in English means "gentle, soft". The material is really very soft, with pleasant tactile properties. In appearance, it is similar to velour - it has a fleecy surface and a smooth backing.
The strength and wear resistance of the fabric is determined by the Martindale test. For example, curtain soft can withstand 6,000 cycles, and the furniture version - about 30 thousand cycles. These are very high indicators.
Soft is made of 100% polyester. To increase elasticity, elastane and lycra fibers are added to the material. Viscose and cotton make it hygroscopic and breathable. By adding nylon, moisture- and windproof properties are increased. The appearance and purpose of the final fabric depend on what it contains. Soft can be matte and shiny, with thick short pile and sparse long pile.
Curtain soft usually has a monochromatic pastel and restrained color. For clothing, colorful material with prints is used. Moreover, prints are made using thermal printing. A very popular volumetric pattern, which looks like it is cut on the pile.
In the light industry, the wear resistance of soft is valued. Thanks to this characteristic, the material is not subject to deformation, practically does not wrinkle, does not fade in the sun and does not shed. Natural soft meets all standards and requirements. It does not contain toxic substances and is absolutely safe to use.
Types of material
There are several types of software that have their own properties that are ideal for the production of certain categories of light industrial products.
- Soft - satin - a material with the addition of viscose and cotton threads. The fabric is widely used for sewing bed linen;
- Flock-soft is a fabric of increased strength. When examined closely, a small rib can be seen. It is used in the furniture industry;
- Soft silk is a double-sided material. The front surface is shiny and smooth, and the back has a soft short pile. This soft is ideal for creating beautiful and cozy clothes;
- Stretch-soft is an elastic fabric. It consists of polyester with the addition of lycra or elastane. It is used to produce sleep accessories;
- Soft blackout is a dense and light-proof material used to make practical curtains;
- Super soft Niagara is a fashionable dress fabric, lint-free, elegant, thin and elastic.
The final composition of the material makes it universal. In fact, one fabric is excellent for use in different areas of light industry if the necessary fibers are added to its main raw material.
Scope of application
Soft material - what kind of material is it and what products can be sewn from it? Let's consider further.
Thanks to the varieties of soft, this fabric is used in several branches of light industry. Practical, with good operational and physical properties, the material is popular in interior design and clothing.
Advantages of sewing curtains from soft
Soft is considered the absolute leader among interior fabrics. Curtains and drapes made of soft are wonderfully draped, retain their color and are able to hold back sunlight, like blackout curtains. Interior designers recommend using curtain soft for sewing sofa cushions, bedspreads and sofas for the integrity of the picture and style.
When duplicating the fabric with a nylon or polyamide lining, its strength and water-repellent properties increase. This type of soft is suitable for sewing partitions, awnings, canopies and curtains for the street.
The material is considered quite economical in terms of drapery. While creating spectacular folds on regular fabrics requires their triple width, in the case of soft, two widths are quite enough. This is one of the many useful features of the material.
In the production of curtains and drapes, the following properties of soft are valued:
- does not fade in the sun;
- the addition of synthetic fiber and antistatic treatment increases the service life of the curtains;
- along with lightness and softness there is good light-transmitting properties;
- machine and hand wash, quick drying;
- cut in any direction - it's economical.
- application in furniture production
Soft fabric is popular for use in sewing furniture covers and upholstery. It is good because, due to its high strength and wear resistance, its active service life is increased many times over compared to other fabrics. The material does not wear out, does not stretch, and the pile does not lose its appearance. Soft for furniture is necessarily treated with antistatic and anti-dirt substances at the production stage, which further increases its performance properties while maintaining its marketable appearance.
Advantages of sewing dresses from soft
The third most popular area of soft use is sewing women's and children's clothing. Such varieties as super-soft or crepe viscose are suitable for this. These fabrics contain polyester, viscose and elastane. The material is used to make chic evening and casual outfits. The material looks like chiffon, but its structure is denser, opaque and durable. The products are worn for a very long time, they are easy to care for. Dresses made of soft flow easily, have elegant folds, are pleasant to the body, look festive and elegant.
Interesting! Soft is very economical when cutting. It is cut along the grain and crosswise. The only exception for arbitrary pattern laying out can be only the pattern on the fabric.
What can be sewn
Soft fabrics are pleasant to the touch, have a dense structure and a wide range of colors from snow-white to deep black, retain their shape perfectly, tolerate multiple washings well, without losing their color and texture. Due to these features, they are suitable for making various things and wardrobe items.
The fabric is suitable for sewing:
- bed linen;
- pajamas for adults and children;
- children's textiles;
- dresses for holidays, going out and everyday wear;
- summer blouses, trousers;
- costumes;
- sofa cushions, furniture covers, furniture upholstery;
- curtains and drapes;
- street textiles - awnings, canopies, street curtains, etc.;
- bedspreads and blankets.
Interesting! Everyone likes soft fabrics: tailors find them easy to work with, women don’t spend much time caring for them, children like the pleasant texture, and fashionistas love their variety of shades and textures.
Recommendations for use
The final result of using a product made of soft fabrics directly depends on the correct choice of quality material, taking into account the characteristics of each type, cutting methods and creating beautiful drapery. Experts give practical recommendations in this direction.
Selection of quality material always begins with a careful examination of the sample in the store. A defective product is considered to be a fabric that sheds lint, sheds right in your hands and has a specific chemical smell. You should not buy such material.
The product can be cut equally well in two directions: width and length. This allows you to save fabric and sew non-standard sized curtains.
The savings are also evident in the fact that only double the length of the material is used to beautifully drape the soft material.
Care tips
Soft - what kind of material is it and how does it behave when washed and cleaned? Can it be ironed?
Soft clothes and bed linen should be washed in an automatic washing machine. The water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees, and it is better to choose a manual or delicate mode. It is forbidden to use bleaches. Also, it is forbidden to use aggressive detergents.
Important! Drying soft fabrics in tumble dryers is prohibited. This can lead to the destruction of the fiber structure and loss of material properties. High temperatures are contraindicated for such fabrics.
Curtains and drapes are cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or a soft brush. There is no need for frequent washing. There is no need for ironing after washing. They are simply wrung out in a washing machine at 800 rpm and hung to dry directly on the curtain rod. In this case, you can immediately straighten the curtain into the desired waves or folds.
Soft clothes also do not require ironing. They are dried in a straightened form. But if things are wrung out at high speeds (more than 800), creases may form on their surface. In this case, it is enough to iron the clothes with a barely warm iron.
Stains from the software can be removed with a regular soap solution.
Advantages and disadvantages
The soft material has the following advantages:
- softness, pleasant to the body;
- increased wear resistance, allowing it to withstand more than 6000 washes;
- does not stretch or fade when washed;
- The dense fabric holds its shape and drapes well. The voluminous folds fall elegantly;
- bright and durable colours do not fade in the sun;
- the software is practically wrinkle-free;
- easy to work with. It can be cut along the warp and along the weft, the edge does not fray after cutting.
The furniture fabric is easy to clean thanks to special antistatic and anti-dirt treatment.
The disadvantages include the following features inherent in non-natural fibers:
- high electrification;
- low hygroscopicity;
- insufficient air permeability.
The downside of soft and home textile clothing is the care requirements. It cannot be called easy.
Consumer Reviews
Varvara, Vladivostok: “I bought myself an evening dress made of soft silk in a deep blue color. The fabric is very pleasant to the body, the color is rich. It fits perfectly, does not stick out anywhere. During dinner, I got a stain, I was worried that it would not come out or would fade during washing. The result was pleasing: not only did the stain come out at a low temperature, but the dress itself did not change at all. The same deep color, flowing folds and soft structure.”
Irina, Surgut: “We were renovating our bedroom and decided to change the curtains. The seller recommended blackout soft curtains. He guaranteed full protection from sunlight. Before that, I didn’t even know what soft was. We hung them up. The pleasant pastel color looks gorgeous. It’s very easy to create almost any drapery. It really doesn’t let in sunlight during the day. We clean it with a regular vacuum cleaner. Excellent material, doesn’t wrinkle. We’re happy with the purchase.”
Leonid, Saratov: “My wife asked for a set of bed linen as a gift. The store recommended a soft fabric option. They explained and showed us what soft fabric is. My wife appreciated the choice, and I liked it too. The duvet cover, pillowcases, and sheet are all very soft, gentle, and pleasant to the body. Beautiful colors. After washing, the linen does not look like it was twisted and squeezed. Light folds can be straightened out with a warm iron. And most importantly, the label says that it contains cotton. Therefore, our skin breathes and does not sweat at night. A very good choice.”
Alexander, Chelyabinsk: "I have my own furniture upholstery workshop. Quite recently, I used only jacquard, chenille, velour and others in my work. My fellow craftsmen advised me to try flock-soft. The fabric really deserves attention. Very durable, interesting colors, pleasant structure. I was especially pleased with the 3D prints. They do not lose their volume over time, the material does not wear out and can withstand several thousand washing and cleaning cycles. Flock is ideal for active use. My clients are happy."
Soft fabric is a universal fabric, the properties and scope of application of which depend on the final composition of the material. The admixture of cotton fibers allows you to create cozy and comfortable clothes, bed linen. The addition of coarser fibers and synthetics makes it possible to create dense curtains and furniture fabric. Sewing masters especially appreciate the economy of the material, because thanks to its structure and resistance to fraying, soft is perfectly cut in any direction. Furniture manufacturers choose this fabric if they want to get durable and wear-resistant upholstery for their products.
