Individual fabric shoppers go to fabric stores bearing in mind the exact material they want their intended fabric to be made of.
Suppose originally; you intend to buy a crepe fabric; in that case, you may need not worry about the material because all you may need to do is state the material, whether it be silk, wool, cotton, or synthetic. And a crepe fabric will be delivered to you in any of those forms.
Crepe fabrics are one of the many fabrics that are made from both natural and synthetic fibers, and because of this, they are popularly used in any kind of garment construction.
| Country | Crepe fabric: (10/2/17 – 10/2/22) |
|---|---|
| Ghana | 100 |
| Philippines | 78 |
| Nigeria | 75 |
| India | 66 |
| Malaysia | 38 |
| United Arab Emirates | 32 |
| United Kingdom | 31 |
| Australia | 28 |
| Pakistan | 25 |
| New Zealand | 24 |
| Singapore | 23 |
| Bangladesh | 18 |
| South Africa | 16 |
| Canada | 13 |
| United States | 13 |
| Indonesia | 3 |
| Vietnam | 2 |
You will learn more about the fabric in this helpful article as I talk extensively about what is crepe fabric and every other general information about the material.
What are crepe fabrics?
Crepe fabric is a fabric type that is made initially with silk and used as a mourning outfit, especially among women of western culture.
This fabric is a result of weaving or fabric treatment technique, a technique that gives the fabric its distinctive rippling 3-dimensional textures.
Today, Crepe fabric has outgrown being used as mourning cloth alone, and the fabric is now recognized for making high-end fashion attire and other decorative clothing design.
Types of Crepe fabrics
1. Crepe georgette
Crepe georgette is a type of Crepe fabric that is known for its silk-like, thin, won’t, sheer and granular texture.
This fabric is elastic, which accounts for the fluidity of the material, making it one of the top choices for making women’s clothes like blouses, gowns, skirts, dresses, and many more.
2. Wool Crepe
Wool crepe, also known as crepon, is made from a blend of cotton and silk fabric.
This crepe type has a crepe pattern on its surface which is a result of the treatment given to the material during the weaving process.
You can readily identify this fabric with its puckered or crinkled surface and its twisted yarns in the weft and warp.
3. Crepe De chine
Crepe De chine is a type of Crepe fabric that is made of silk.
However, unlike every other kind, this fabric does not have the visible finish of Crepe fabric. Instead, it has a pebbled, matte, and smooth finish, and because of this, it is primarily used in making expensive evening wears.
4. Plisse Crepe
Plisse Crepe is chemically treated, and a heavy roller is used to design the traditional crepe arrangement on the fabric.
Cotton is used most of the time in making this Crepe fabric type and is usually steeped in wax and a pebbled arrangement before they are soaked in an alkaline solution.
This process makes the fabric very durable and wrinkle-free.
5. Moroccan Crepe
The Moroccan Crepe is mainly made with either silk, wool, or rayon and is characterized by its heavy texture and tightly woven fiber.
This type is an actual Crepe type and is widely used in making suits and dresses.
What are the crepe-type properties?
- Crepe fabrics in general are breathable.
- They have very low heat resistance.
- They have 3-dimensional textures.
- Crepe fabrics drape very nicely.
- Crepe fabrics have moisture-wicking properties.
What is Crepe fabric made out of?
Crepe is traditionally made with silk fabric.
However, today, you will find Crepe fabric in any type of material, whether it be silk, cotton, wool, or even synthetic fiber like rayon and polyester.
How is Crepe fabric made?
Crepe fabric is made with a hand-twisting process.
This process requires that textile fibers used in making yarns are twisted more tightly than usual.
Also, “S” and “Z” twists are alternated, which gives the fabric its unique bouncy texture, as well as the Crepe yarn, which characterizes the various Crepe yarn variant.
After this process, the resulting product can then be dyed, treated, and spun into attire.
How does Crepe fabric feel?
Crepe fabric is not known for a particular feel, as its texture depends on the fiber it is made from.
If your Crepe fabric is made from silk, then it will be incredibly smooth. If it is made of polyester, you should be looking forward to a granular texture.
But in general, just know that Crepe fabric feel ranges from fine to rugged, crinkled, bubbly, or puckered feel.
What is Crepe fabric used for?
Since Crepe can take any material form, its usage is almost limitless, and it can be used for making suits, pants, blouses, dresses, scarves, and many more.
It can also be used for making items used in interior decorations such as pillows, curtains, and window blinds.
How do you wash Crepe fabric?
The best way to wash Crepe fabric is by washing them by hand. You can also wash them in the machine just that you must turn them inside out.
Then put them in a mesh washing bag and wash them in a delicate cycle with cold water and low spin.
When you are done washing the fabric, press gently to get excess water out of the material. Do not wring your Crepe fabric.
Is Crepe Natural or Synthetic?
One exciting thing about the Crepe material is that it can assume any form: it can be either synthetic, semi-synthetic, or pure natural fiber depending on the material it is made of.
Therefore, linking Crepe fabric to a particular fiber will be difficult.
Does Crepe fabric wrinkle easily?
Depending on the kind of material they are made of, Crepe fabrics can wrinkle easily or may not at all.
For example, Crepe fabrics used in making wedding dresses don’t wrinkle easily. Although they may look wrinkled when you first pull them out of the garment bag, once you steam them, they can stay wrinkle-free for a long time.
Can Crepe be dyed?
Yes, Crepe fabric can be dyed.
After the final process of making Crepe fabric, they are usually dyed.
Usually, Crepe fabric is either dyed in the same factory where it is spun or taken to another facility to be dyed.
Is Crepe fabric comfortable?
Yes, Crepe fabric is comfortable. When you see someone putting on a crepe fabric, the first thing that you would notice (if you know the person) is that they would look slimmer. That’s the effect Crepe fabric has on its wearers. But asides from that, this fabric type is also very soft and comfortable and very ideal for wearing during summer.
Is Crepe fabric polyester?
Yes, Crepe fabric can be made of polyester. If you have gone through the introductory aspect of this article by now, you should know that Crepe fabric can take any form: it can be made of wool, cotton, silk, or polyester. And because of this, it wouldn’t be entirely right if we outrightly call Crepe fabric a polyester when it is not the only material used in making the fabric.
Is Crepe fabric good for winter?
Yes, Crepe fabric is suitable for winter. The fact that Crepe fabric can be made from any material indicates one thing, the fabric can be used for making any type of garment.
Therefore, whether you are looking for the right fabric for winter or summer, Crepe fabric will always be one of the best options for you. But if you want to know which of the crepe materials will be suitable for winter, then it’s most definitely the one made from wool.
Can Crepe fabric be ironed?
Yes, you can iron Crepe fabric. Crepe fabrics are not resistant to wrinkling, so they are likely to get wrinkled, especially after washing them. The best and safest way to get rid of this wrinkle is by steaming the fabric.
If you don’t have a steamer, you can also iron over the material to remove those wrinkles just you must make sure to put the iron in the steam setting.
How to iron Crepe fabric
Ironing a Crepe fabric does not involve a complicated process; all you need to do is to put the iron in a steam or warm setting and start ironing the underside of the fabric. If your Crepe fabric is made of silk, set the iron on a cool setting and place a towel between the material and the iron and start ironing.
How to identify Crepe fabric
Almost every Crepe fabric is made with plain weave, but that isn’t enough to identify them since they are not the only fabric with such attributes. The easiest way to identify Crepe fabrics is with their surface that looks like a pebble or a puckered, crinkled texture.
How to unshrink Crepe fabric
To unshrink your Crepe fabric is to steam them once after they dried up. If the fabric’s original shape is still not restored, just stretch them out and hang them to dry.
How to sew stretch Crepe fabric
- Before you start to sew the stretchy Crepe fabric, make sure it is prewashed and left to dry for 24 hours to keep its shape.
- Make sure to use the correct pattern that will suit this fabric type. You can use Love Notions, Chalk and Notch, Hey June, or True Bias.
- Use a very sharp needle. The ideal needle to use for a stretchy Crepe fabric is Microtex or a universal needle. Do not use a Ballpoint needle, as they can make holes in your material.
- The best thread to use for your stretchy crepe fabric is a polyester thread, as this type of thread has some stretchiness.
- You can stitch your Crepe fabric with overedge stitch, twin needle stitch, narrow zigzag, or straight stretch stitch, depending on your sewing machine.
How to clean Crepe fabric wedding dress
The best way to wash your Crepe fabric wedding dress is by washing them in the washing machine unless it is stated in the care label that you dry clean them. Check the details below.
- Pour cool water into the sink and mix with mild detergent to create a cleaning solution.
- Soak the Crepe wedding dress in the solution and leave it for close to 30 minutes.
- Rinse afterward with cool water to get rid of the soap lather and press out the water instead of wringing the fabric.
References:
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-crepe-fabric
- https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/7288/awe-inspiring-luxury-of-crepe
