Crepe-chiffon is a translucent, lightweight fabric. It differs from crepe in its lightness, and from chiffon in its denser structure. Skirts and dresses are sewn from this material. Clothes made from this fabric acquire a romantic character and emphasize femininity.
Crepe Chiffon: What is this fabric, characteristics
Most often, the fabric is painted in a single color, but there are also fabrics with patterns and flowers. Clothes made from crepe-chiffon together with satin have become very popular.
Important! This material must be handled with great care.
To have an idea of the material, it is worth paying attention to its characteristics. The fabric can be made not only from pure silk, but also from other components, due to which the structure will be slightly different. Classic crepe chiffon, like any other fabric, has its pros and cons.
Advantages:
- Fabric density. The manufacturing method of this material provides good strength, but the fabric is surprisingly light and airy.
- Large palette of colors. Due to the fabric's susceptibility to dyeing, there is a huge choice of colors and various patterns.
- Things do not lose their color when washed. This is another "pleasant" property of the material. It is due to the fact that the fabric is very easy to dye, which is difficult to wash off.
- No reverse side. The material has no difference between the front and back sides. Even if you look closely, nothing is noticeable. This makes it convenient to work with.
- It is easy to drape. Due to this, you can often find inserts in clothes made of this fabric, which become a wonderful decoration for any clothes.
- Graininess, which gives the fabric an unusual charm.
- Does not cause irritation. Due to its lightness, the fabric does not cause discomfort when worn.
This fabric has few disadvantages, but they can easily put you off when choosing. These include:
- Care issues: This fabric may shrink when washed, especially if the fabric is 100% silk.
- Sewing experience is required. A sewing beginner may encounter difficulties when working with this material. This is due to the fact that it begins to slide when cutting. To avoid this, use clamps.
Composition, properties and description of crepe chiffon
Classic crepe chiffon uses only silk, but such fabric is expensive, so sometimes silk threads are replaced with artificial ones or other material is added. Usually instead of it there are:
- cotton;
- viscose;
- polyamide;
- polyester.
Important! Options where silk replaces another type are much cheaper. Moreover, they are no less popular than classic crepe chiffon.
Crepe chiffon, unlike chiffon, is not very transparent and does not tend to wrinkle, but it also does not stretch.
The most popular types
Lightweight chiffon material allows you to wear things made from it not only in summer but also in winter. It has become widespread due to the wide variety of types. These include:
- Double-sided. This type has no reverse side, the fabric color is the same on both sides.
- Bleached. Most often used for sewing dresses, as it gives the image a romantic look.
- With spraying. Clothes made of this material are a great option for special events. Sprayed crepe chiffon adds sophistication and elegance to the image.
- With lurex. This is a thread in the form of a small shiny strip that is woven into the fabric for decoration. This option is used for sewing everyday clothes.
Scope of application
Crepe-chiffon is very popular due to its lightness. It is used for sewing sarafans, suits, skirts, dresses and other items from a woman's wardrobe.
In addition to clothing, crepe chiffon is often added as an addition to accessories. It is used to make scarves, decorate hats, and handbags.
For your information! The material will look good on people with curvy shapes. It perfectly hides all imperfections, giving the image lightness and airiness.
Care
In case of heavy soiling, it is best to take the clothes to a dry cleaner. If this is not possible, then they can be washed at home by hand, but the temperature should not exceed 45 °C. After washing, do not wring out the clothes, it is better to shake them a little or wait until the water drains off. This will make it easier to care for them later, since excessively wrinkled fabric is difficult to iron.
If ironing is necessary, then here too it is worth following the rules.
Please note! You need to turn on the “silk” mode on the iron or the lowest temperature and when ironing, use a dry cloth or gauze through which you can iron the clothes.
Sewing tips
It is better to cut it tightly with a disk knife on a special lining. If there is no knife, then you can use regular scissors, but very carefully. The products should be pinned with thin, sharp pins, any unevenness on it can damage the fabric.
Please note! You should sew only with the finest needles for silk.
It is best to make markings with soap; you cannot do this with a toothed wheel, as this will leave marks on the outside.
Reviews
Mostly, there are positive comments about the material on the Internet.
Olga, 27: I have a lot of things made of crepe chiffon, this material has won me over with its airiness. I give great preference to summer dresses made of this material, they are light, comfortable in the heat - just what you need. When washing, the color does not fade, and the clothes themselves do not shrink, I wash only on a delicate cycle.
Victoria, 30: I have been sewing for a long time, but I still can't get around to sewing from this material. I bought a few meters and it's been lying around. Maybe I'll get around to it someday, but for now I buy crepe-chiffon clothes. There are a couple of blouses that are very nice to wear.
Nina, 25: I bought a dress made of this material for my graduation, and I looked like a princess the whole evening. After the party, I put it away in my closet, and my sister recently wore it. The dress was the same as the first day.
Please note! So, crepe chiffon is a fabric that looks amazing but is very difficult to work with.
Besides this, it has other pros and cons that you need to consider before purchasing, so as not to be disappointed later.
