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Working with silk charmeuse versus a polyester satin for a slip dress
I mean, I made two versions of the same slip dress pattern last spring. One was with real silk charmeuse that cost about $45 a yard, and the other was with a poly satin from the local fabric store for $8 a yard. The silk just draped so much better and felt cool against the skin, but it was a nightmare to sew, I swear I ruined a whole yard. The poly was way easier to handle and held its shape, but it just looked and felt kind of cheap. Idk, maybe it's just me but the difference in the final look was huge. What do you guys think is the better choice for a high-end feel, dealing with the hard stuff or trying to make the easy stuff look good?
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the_drew1d ago
Tissue paper trick is a lifesaver, but honestly, I just use a walking foot now. The silk is always worth the fight.
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parker_webb1d ago
You just described my exact sewing life. That silk charmeuse feel is unbeatable, but who has the patience for it to slide everywhere under the presser foot? The poly satin is so much less stressful to work with, but you're right, it never quite loses that shiny, synthetic look. Isn't it frustrating that the beautiful fabric is also the most difficult? For a high end feel, I'd say the struggle with the silk is worth it, but only if you're ready to accept some wasted yardage as part of the process.
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