• Jute fabric is durable and used in manufacturing of carpets, bags and industrial products.

Man-made fibres used in fabrics

• With a visual and physical similarities to silk, acetate is not nearly as strong as the real thing, but infinitely more affordable. Acetate fibres are used to create satin, taffeta, and linings.

• Acrylic is very lightweight, soft and warm. It can be manufactured to resemble the look and feel of cotton and wool fabrics.The added advantage is that these fabrics hold their shape longer, resist wrinkles and dry quickly.

• Nylon is exceptionally strong, elastic and resistant to abrasion, making it a great fibre to be blended with natural fibres or other synthetic fibres.

• Spandex is an extremely elastic fibre that can stretch to over 500% without breaking and still return to its original shape. This fibre is often blended with other fibres to lend elasticity to knits, denim, or even suiting fabrics.

• Polyester comes in many weights and finishes, it is wrinkle resistant and both soft and strong. It can be blended with other fibres or used to create a 100% polyester fabric. It can be worn and washed without fading or losing its shape. As a petroleum-based fibre polyester is not an environmentally friendly choice, but many new polyester fabrics are being made from recycled soft drink bottles therefore diminishing the use of raw materials and reducing landfill waste.

• Rayon also known as viscose is soft and absorbent and drapes well, but is prone to shrinkage and wrinkling although can be treated to lessen these problems.

Selecting a fabric

It is important to determine the use of the item that you are sewing before selecting the fabric. There are many different types with pros and cons for each. It is therefore important to choose wisely. Often times, when using a pattern, the instructions will indicate what type of fabric is suitable for that project. There are also experts online and in fabric stores who can assist you in selecting the appropriate material for your project taking into account your sewing ability and experience. Fabric is made to experiment with and as you gain a better understanding of the different uses, care and maintenance, you will gain more confidence with each selection.

For more information about fabric characteristics and care, visit our Fabrics 101 section.http://www.knittingfabric.cc/