fabric help please

Dear Katherine,

When a fabric looks the same on both sides, you can use either side-- just be consistent when placing pattern pieces on it (use the same side) just in case there is a slight color difference. The holes along the sides are tentering holes, made from calendering (a type of pressing) the fabric.

Teri

If the fabric looks the same on both sides -- and if it isn't, for example, waterproof on one side but not on the other -- the classical solution is to make big chalk X's all over one side, and then that is the wrong side.

I prefer to use chalk arrows, so that I can indicate the nap as well. "This end up" arrows also tell me which is long grain and which is crossgrain, which nearly always matters even when wrong side and nap don't.

I use blackboard chalk, but I bought mine back when chalkboard crayons were made of real chalk, so you'd better use tailor's chalk even though it's harder to use, and some kinds don't come out without dry cleaning. (If you can get real chalk, keep some on hand, if only to take out grease stains.)

Choosing a right and wrong side is important, because once in a while, there's a subtle difference that is invisible until you sew two pieces of fabric together, then it jumps up and down waving flags.

Fabric that doesn't appear to have a nap rarely does, but I prefer to cut with the nap just in case, as long as it isn't too much trouble and doesn't waste fabric.

(By "nap" I mean anything that makes it matter which end of the fabric is up -- some printed designs, for example, look different when turned over.)

Joy Beeson

Thank you for your help ladies, much appreciated.

Most fabrics you can tell the diff with one side and the other, just the odd piece, that seem to look the same on both sides (usually plain fabric).

Thanks again Katherine