5 Luxurious Looking Fabrics and Their Pros and Cons

(from an editor’s point of view)

If you’ve been sewing for a while, you understand the feeling when you walk into a fabric store and spot a beautiful textile. If you’re new to the game, you’ll soon understand this. The excitement of imagining how gorgeous your end products will look matches the anticipation of creating them. Today we’re talking textiles, (eh-hem, the nicer ones). Read up on these fine fabrics to figure out their pros and cons.

Linen

Pros – Much like its cousin, Cotton, Linen is very light, making it a suitable option when making clothing for warmer seasons, napkins, and accessories.
Cons – Yes, when used to create a beautiful pair of sailor pants or a fabulous frock, this fabric looks amazing. However, upkeep is essential. Prone to wrinkling, linen can make your beautifully constructed projects look messy if you forget to iron.

Image: Flower Shaped Napkins from Domestic Diva

Silk

Pros – Historically this natural fiber has been the apple of every tailor’s, seamstress’s, and general sewer’s eyes. Even today in the age of synthetic everything, this natural fabric is astoundingly lightweight, making it ideal for delicate projects and linings.
Cons – This material is very expensive. Because of its make-up, it’s also tricky to work with. Seams and Scissors does not recommend ever “experimenting” with silk; this is a “pro’s” type of fabric. It also can shrink up to 8% if not pre-treated so make sure you know what you’re dealing with before you try anything new out!

Image: Silk Caftan from BurdaStyle

Chiffon

Pros – In a word, chiffon is gorgeous. Layered over a beautiful lining this fabric will add sheer elegance unlike any other textile. Perfect for formal attire, you can’t go wrong with chiffon.
Cons – Like many of its fellow, fancy, fabric friends, chiffon can be tricky to maneuver when sewing. Too strong a needle can tear this light and limp fabric.

Image: Simple Chiffon Back Top from Lexi Made

Satin

Pros – The aesthetics of this fabric lend to much of its attractiveness for sewists. It has the gloss that echoes the shimmer in silks without the price. It also comes in several different weights.
Cons – While more affordable than silks, satin can still be pricey. It is also difficult to work with because of its glossiness; keeping a satin project in line with the sewing machine is often a challenge for beginner sewists.

Image: Attaching Satin Blanket Binding from Sew News

Rayon

Pros – With a smooth texture, rayon can make an article of clothing with any draping look stunning. Additionally, this fabric is lightweight, offering an affordable and attractive fabric for nicer garments.
Cons – Because this semi-synthetic fabric is made up of tiny fibers, cutting it is difficult. Without a reliable pair of scissors or rotary cutter this fabric can easily snag when one tries to cut out a pattern piece. Additionally, this fabric isn’t incredibly sturdy, and requires a lining if one wants to create a garment from it.

Image: Blue Rayon Staple Dress from Made By Rae

Fill in the blank! The most luxurious fabric you have is ______________________

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Seams and Scissors

Seams and Scissors is a place where sewing and quilting are celebrated every day. It is a creative resource for those who both cherish these skills and those who want to acquire them. On Seams and Scissors the curious creator will find full sewing and quilting tutorials, project collections, tips and tricks, as well as endless inspiration.

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