Techniques and fabrics

• Natural Fabrics

  • Cotton
  • Wool
  • Silk
  • Linen
  • Leather/Suede
• Cotton


  • Soft, good absorbency, prints well, machine washable, strong, breathable
• Uses of Cotton

  • Jeans, towels, shirts, dresses, underwear
• Wool

  • High UV protection, breathable, durable, insulating
• Uses of Wool

  • Jumpers, flameproof, coat, blankets
• Silk

  • Smooth, soft, strong
• Uses of Silk

  • Wedding dresses, lingerie
• Linen

  • Strong, cool in hot weather
• Uses of Linen

  • Trousers, tops
• Leather/Suede

  • Strong, hardwearing, durable
• Uses of Leather/Suede


  • Jackets, trousers, shoes
• Synthetic Fabrics

  • Polyester
  • Polyamide (Nylon)
  • Elastane (Lycra)
  • Viscose
  • Acrylic
• Polyester

  • Durable, wrinkle resistant, stain resistant
• Uses of Polyester

  • Shirts, jackets, sportswear, carpets, safety belts, conveyor belts, tyre reinforcement
• Polyamide (Nylon)

  • Stretchy, durable, high stain resistance
• Uses of Polyamide (Nylon)

  • Sportswear, swimwear, tights
• Elastane (Lycra)


  • Stretchy, durable, high stain resistance
• Uses of Elastane (Lycra)


  • Sportswear, swimwear, tights
• Viscose

  • Absorbent, retains shape after washing, easily dyed, resistance to sunlight
• Uses of Viscose

  • Dresses, linings, shorts, shirts, coats, jackets, outerwear
• Acrylic

  • Soft, comfortable, absorbent, easily dyed
• Uses of Acrylic

  • Jumpers, tracksuits, linings in boots
• Blended and mixed fabrics take on the positive characteristics of their combinations
• Cotton/Polyester

  • Easy care and crease resistant
• Uses of Cotton/Polyester


  • School shirts
• Fabric Construction

  • Woven
  • Knitted
  • Bonded
  • Felted
• Plain Weave

  • Extremely strong and hard wearing
• Twill Weave


  • Extremely high strength and abrasion resistant
• Knitted

  • Stretchy, soft and comfortable
• Non-Woven

  • Webs of fibres held together by glue or stitches
• Felted

  • Made by combining pressure, moisture and heat to interlock a mat of wool fibres
• Fabric Care

  • Washing label
  • Hand wash only
  • Do not wring out
  • Tumble dry
  • Iron on low heat
  • Do not bleach
• Construction Techniques

  • Open seam
  • French seam
  • Fell seam
  • Overlocking
  • Binding
• Seam Allowance


  A border around the pattern to allow for construction to be the correct size
• Right Side

  The 'correct' side of the fabric that you wish to see
• Wrong Side

  The side of the fabric that you don't wish to see
• Decorative Techniques

  • Applique
  • Tie Dye
  • Heat Transfer
  • Hand Embroidery
  • Beads & Sequins
  • Gathers
  • Tucks
  • Buttons
  • Batik
  • Pin Tucks
• Equipment


  • Quick unpick
  • Sewing Machine
  • Pins
  • Overlocker
  • Fabric Shears
  • Ironing Board
  • Measure
  • Sewing threads
  • Needle
  • Iron
  • Embroidery Scissors
  • Pinking Shears
• Open/plain seam

  • two pieces of fabric so their outward-facing sides are touching
  • stitch about 1.5cm in from the edge of the fabric
  • strengthen seam by reversing back a few cm
  • then open seam and d iron so it lies flat
• French seam

  • used on delicate fabrics
  • strong but not bulky