NO BURN! How to Tell if a Fabric is Natural or Synthetic Fibre?- Learn the skill to identify fabric!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- How to tell natural and synthetic fabrics WITHOUT a burnt test! Let me show you the methods I use to identify natural fabric fibre and synthetic fabric fibre when you're at the shop! I also show you how to train yourself to get good at identifying fabrics types! Learn to know fabrics better to become a better sewer!
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Was that scrunch test or crunch test? Hahaha! I said both so many times! Let's go with 'scrunch test'! 😂 Let me know your best ways of identifying natural vs synthetic fabrics and tell me your home work too!
One other way I can tell if a woven cotton fabric is 100% or a poly blend is by rubbing the fibers against each other along the straight grain (not on the bias) between my fingers. If it is a blend, it will often feel a little different by the way the fibers are almost "slippery" against each other...it's hard to explain. It takes practice, like anything in sewing!
😀 That 'slippery' feeling would likley because the polyester made in fillament way, one long smooth strand of fibre!
I don't understand the video, don't fabric stores in Australia have to put the fibre content on a label?
@@discodiscordia probably. However, most second hand sources (thrift stores, garage sales, rummage sales, etc.) won't have any labeling of the fiber content and this is where these techniques come in handy! If we get to know the feel, characteristics, and wrinklability of know fabrics, we will be better able to identify the fiber content of mystery/unlabeled fabrics.
I meant "known fabrics" not "know"...
As a knitter, I handle so much yarn I can tell by touch, what's what. Cotton feels kind of like paper unless it's mercerized, it feels very dry like it's trying to absorb all the water from my hand. Linen feels crisp and crunchy the yarns will almost feel like twine. In a fabric it will have that papery feeling like cotton but won't feel so fuzzy. Silk feels cold and fluid it always slinks. You can literally lower a silk scarf onto your hand and it will form soft, liquid pleats. Polyester satins are quite stiff in comparison, resist draping, and if you rub two edges together feel static-y. I also find with polyester, that if I put my hand inside the garment, it will begin to feel warm quickly. Acrylic is made to mimic wool and thus is meant to be fuzzy, but if you pull at a pill it won't pull off easily. If I put my hand inside an acrylic sweater, I will warm and start to feel clammy quickly. If I put my hand in a wool sweater, I will warm, but not get clammy. An acrylic sweater will get static and a wool sweater will not.
YUP! Exactly. Knitter here too. Different fibers have a different hand
In the 2 years I did dressmaking "Applied Fashion Design & Technology" at TAFE, we did a lot of fibre identification, and I had an amazing teacher who brought in samples of anything new she came across. We were taught that fibres fitted into 3 categories - Natural (silk, wool, cotton, linen etc), Man-made (Rayon, a 'natural' product but needing a lot more processes to convert it into fribres), and Synthetic (nylon, polyester, etc - all petro-chemical byproducts). Might be a good way to describe your categories! ☺
I’m doing my course there now! The teachers are so lovely :)
Your armpits will detect a natural fiber from a syntetic one: the natural one, you can wear for several days; the syntetic only one day...
wait what do you mean tho
@@the.secret.of. smell :)))
This is so real haha
buying lots of different garments from the thrift store and checking the label, then memorizing the feel is the way I am learning. Best find so far was a cotton shift that turned out to be cotton/linen blend!
Yay!! It takes time, but you learn right!! I love linen cotton too!!
Cool way of learning!
I would suggest also smelling the fabric - I know its sounds nuts, but I find silk has a very distinctive smell. I've actually had a fabric seller decide to do the burn test because they thought this was silly - the burn test proved me right!
Wow!! You must have a keen sence of smell!
I know wool has a distinct smell - at least wool yarns, I'm not familiar with wool cloth.
Linen has a distinctive smell to me, that I always notice when I take it from the drying line on sunny days, or when I iron it.
Of course, you have to avoid scented laundry products... There's nothing like that smell of freshly laundered linens to me!
@@Evelyn__Wood Not really, I'll just bury my nose in fabric quiet happily - may have to re-think that one atm!
Yes! When I press silk it has a very distinct odor for me but when I mention this to others they can’t seem to smell it.
One if my favorite games pre-lockdown was going to the thrift store and go up and down the women's clothing aisles to (1) ID fabric types by look (weave vs no identifiable weave, amount of shine, texture, drape.) For items that might be natural fibers, (2) I feel it to see if it feels natural, I look closely at the weave and maybe scratch it gently with my fingernail and shake it to see the drape. If it still looks natural then I look for the fabric tag to see how I did. Many times I am fooled! I have gotten to this point by doing my game almost weekly the past couple of years because it is fun! I miss it!
I miss thrift stores too!!
Thanks for making this the majority of my stash has been gifted to me from arranged relatives, and co-workers great grandparents. So gaining this knowledge from just random bits and bunches of fabric is awesome!!
I'm so glad to hear it will be useful for you! You will have to try it and let me know how it goes for you! 😘
@@Evelyn__Wood It has been perfect especially since I've been trying to make masks.
Yes. I'm used to do the testing. I touch the fabric and feel it with my hands.
I have been sewing for probably over 40 years, but wasn't taught the importance of finishing or overlocking. Thank you for showing us how and why. Also, I have been doing the same guessing game, I'm pretty good at it. I was surprised that anyone else did it. I used to work in a fabric store, so that's where I taught myself. It's worth learning for everyone. I don't like synthetic fibers. I know pretty much by feel, and sight.
i tend to determine fiber content by sight or by running my hand along as i shop. almost all i wear is 100% cotton so i'm very attuned to it no matter the fabric type.
Love the video! I learned fibres in fashion school. I found it just a little bit off, that you describe fully synthetic as "not breathable" when in fact it is. That's the reason why most sportswear is made from full synthetics. It doesn't "save" the water in the fibre, it actually transports it out of the garment / fabric faster than any other fibre does. It can't hold the water the body produces so that where the illusion comes from, that people think they sweat more, when wearing those fibres. Nonetheless polyester and acetate are bad for our environment so I don't want to take that away. But it's usually more involved in the process than the "melting" of plastic to create those fabrics. The whole process is really interesting (same for Rayons).
In relation to some of the newer man-made fabrics I was wondering about the 'wicking' properties of the fabrics and how comfortable they are to wear.
This video put into words what I unconsciously do at stores.
Theres also something about natural fibers that feel different. Im not really sure hoe to describe it, but I consciously noticed it for the first time when I bought a pure merino wool baby blanket for my 7 month old. It wasnt the same kind of softness as the synthetic baby blankets of my older daughters. With the synthetic fibers it feels smooth, like theres no individuality to the fibers. But with natural fibers its like you can feel the individuality of each fiber. I know this isnt making much sense, but with synthetic fibers, the strands are identical, but natural fibers have to first be spun into yarn and each strand of yarn is different.
Evelyn, I just found your channel, and it's so lovely! Last week I went to La Parisina fabric store and was surprised to see the signs above the bolts of fabric describing Cotton and in smaller script at the bottom "Polyester" or "Polyblend" I asked about this and was told, yep it's mostly Polyester. Then why?...silence.
Because of my mom's sewing (she so would have loved your style) I can actually tell Cotton from synthetics, so: lucky me! ☺️ Greetings from México
Homework done! I have lots of cotton and rayon. The sneaky things I found were that I had several rayon knit tops that had a pinch of some kind of stretch fiber added. Also, the weave and finish of cotton can be so different and a bit deceptive as to the content; sometimes obvious and sometimes not. Take two button up tops for example, similar weave, but one has 5% spandex in it and the other doesn't. Thanks for the scrunch test tips, I'll be taking that to the thrift stores once they open again. Thankfully I have a good supply to keep me busy in the meantime! Happy scrunching and sewing!🙂
Yay!! Ashley You did fabulous! I can tell you already know your fabrics better! It's an exercise that is so surprising when you fist do it!
thanks to you i got to differentiate between the clothes . i have a science project to bring different types of clothes and i could not under stand which is which but thankfully this video helped me
My mom taught me the scrunch test when I was a kid and I have taught many others. It is very easy for me to spot 100% silk. When I sell something on-line and say that the lining is silk, I just know. I have also sold vintage beaded sweaters and have known they were cashmere. You just know. Who knows if the people actually believe you you or not. But you know!
I love the design on your sewing box.
Thank you ❤ happy for those who love to wear natural.
I love this video! When not social distancing because of a pandemic I love to go to estate or garage sales and find fabric. I sometimes do the burn test when I get home, but your tips will make me a better shopper. I’ll know when fabric isn’t worth the money. One other way to tell is to check the selvage. Sometimes the information you need is printed along the edge.
The scrunch and creases is precisely why my mother dislikes natural fibers, she hates ironing.
Mine too 😉!
My mother too. I don't care about wrinkles nearly as much as does it breathe.
Rayon is the best of both worlds.
I hate ironing, too. I also hate having things crease as I wear them. A blend suits me.
That's Laziness...
Thank you Evelyn. I have always wanted to know how to know about the fabric.😊
Another fabulous video! I can often feel the polyester even in a cotton/poly blend. Feels slippery compared to cotton. But I will take up your homework and try in my own closet since we can't go to a store for the next few weeks.
It's a fun game to play andI think you'll learn alot!!
I can also feel the blend and I would never buy poly cotton sheets. I’m a bit of a textile snob.
You are an excellent teacher! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I am seriously considering taking your classes. I want to learn how to sew (I took a few basic classes years ago and have a brand new I never used). I am big on fundamentals and learning all I can on a subject and your classes sound perfect!
Shonda I'd love to habe you in class! Yes, I like to take an approach that is about learning the fundamentals, that will take you through any project! It's wuite different than most! Access to a monthly Q&A and monthly challenges for those that want extra accountability (and support from the community!) to get their goals acheived! If you have questions just email at info@evelynwood.com.au 😄
I thougt the same of Evelyn's class. It's sounds very interesting.
This is great. I took a lot of my Mum's fabric stash when she gave up sewing and I didn't want to go through and burn them all to figure out which were natural and which were synthetic.
What I hate is a cotton, linen or even wool garment sewn with polyester thread. Causing horrible puckering at plackets and button holes. I had some beautiful white percale shirts from the GAP when my son was a baby....he's 33 now....when ironing on a cotton setting the polyester thread burned black...lovely.
😓😓😓
Good reminder to change my thread when I sew with the beautiful linen fabrics I bought recently. Thanks, I might not have thought to do that
I've been checking all sorts of tutorials on how to tell fabrics apart when I was able to thrift myself a silk bandana for 2€ and I've been in disbelief of coming across such a good find.
My friend who took me there said that it felt like fabric and the sides being hand sewn was a telltale sign. And another friend of mine I met later also said that it.
Both older gentlemen of exquisite taste, so they should know how to spot silk too.
And it does make a snowy crunching snow when scrunched and it doesn't feel sweaty at all while worn around the head for hours in the sun so I guess it really must be real silk.
Even managed to pluck a couple fibers of the corner and burn them and it smelled organic.
Another tip for buying used fabric, synthetics pill a lot more, of course a wool sweater will pill in areas of friction, but its significantly worse when its synthetic or mixed with synthetic. This tip is especially good for buying used t-shirts, or the like.
Great video! I cannot remember not looking at the labels of clothes I buy, so my mother must have taught me to do that. I’m fairly good at feeling the fabric. Silky scarves can be tricky though - so this is a great way of finding out if they are silk or just silky. Thanks
I wonder if that's why our local Spotlight (Melville) burned last month!!! (probably not but your intro made me remember that sad sad day!! :) )
Awesome tips. Thank you so much. Now I will feel more confident at the thrift store. And leave the lighter at home 😃
YEP! Burn it when you get home 😄
So I shouldn't do the burn test in Spotlight anymore. Bugger! 😷 I've heard they are having a sale today! Yay! But no lighter, I promise. 💜🇦🇺🐨
🤣🤣🤣🤣
I used to work in spotlight about a decade ago and we had sample cards so if you came in and wanted just a sample (usually about 1-1.5cm wide and 3-4cm long tapering from selvedge to nothing) you could get a few samples for free in case you wanted to pop out to the car park to do a burn test (the intention was really to allow people to do things like look at the colour in natural light or check how it looks with something at home but burn tests are also a possibility)
This was packed with great information! Just bought 3 yds of fabric at thrift store for $2.50. Turns out to be silk!
I am a weaver and a shepherd with a very real working knowledge of wool in it's raw state. I like to weave historical fabrics and often rely on wool, cotton and flax for that purpose. To me, Satin is a weave structure, not a feel :-). At any rate, when I am trying to discern what a mystery fiber is on a cone ( as periodically I come across yarn on cones in the thrift store ) I use a magnifying glass and a hand help inexpensive microscope. No doubt what I'm looking at then. Each fiber has a distinct characteristic specific to it. Once you know what that is, discerning what the fiber is is relatively easy. Otherwise, I do the burn test. :-)
Thanks, we have a very old and beautiful child's yukata from Japan that we need to check before sending it off as a gift. Let me check...
In the USA fabric stores have to label fiber content. I buy a lot of fabric second hand, so these tips will be very helpful to me.
I am new to all this and have trouble with linen and cotton especially at thrift store.
The fiber content is suppose to be on the end of the bolt of fabric. Or it used to be in the USA. Don't want to burn or wash fabrics I want to sell. This video was helpful. Thanks.
Hi Evelyn!! Awesome vlog.. Great information , this will really help a lot of people.... 💜💜🧵🧵
thanks for this video. I knew how to tell them apart with the burn-test. Im a bit sad Im not able to do your "homework" because I only own 2 synthetic clothing items and I know exactl which two items that are xD (I dont like to wear synthetics, I never did, so I only buy viscose or the true natural fibres)
But I tried that guessing game at my workplace (we sell clothing) but I found it really really difficult the most time, because most items were blends or knits/jerseys. And natural fibre jerseys wont crunch that much :(
Yes knits makes to hard!! I love you know exactly the 2 items that are polyester in your wardrobe! 😄
This is so useful, thank you! I'm definitely going to check vintage sewing school!
Wonderful! I'd love to have you in class! We are habing a special month of extra content in April! If you have any questions just email me at info@evelynwood.com.au 😄
Very useful video. Thank you so much.
I just found out that synthetic materials are not good for men, so I am trying to change my wardrobe to mostly cotton (underwear, shirts, etc.) I tore off the tags off my shirts long time ago because they caused itch on my neck so now I cannot tell which shirt is what, and which one to keep. Buying everything new, made of cotton or organic cotton is kind of expensive lol
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I make welders caps and our Fabricland will often move mark down materials but will tag them fabric content unknown. I need 100% cotton so that if a welding spark hits a cap it won’t melt to the persons head. Being able to get discounted cotton will help keep my prices down. Thanks again
You can sometimes tell by how a fabric has worn over time. Cotton polyester blends tend to pill, especially under the arms while pure cotton doesn't.
Excellent. So helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching Susan! I'm glad you found it helpful!
Great video! I'm so happy to learn these tips. I'm wary of rayon, because I read it has big shrinkage issues and is fragile when wet. I'm seeking a workhorse shirt for a tiny travel wardrobe, so every piece has to be 100% dependable and easy care. I fear the rayon would tear or shrink. Would you recommend a rayon blouse as one of only four tops going on a month-long trip?
I like rayon! Just pre wash, and wash in cold water, this will take care of any shrinkage! Take your own wadh bags. I would think more about ironing and access to it while traveling!
I have had excellent luck with my thrifted rayon shirts--i machine wash them on cold/gentle and hang to dry. The most ironing they ever need is a very light touch up!
Oh! Do you happen to travel with a hair straighter! I have seen numerous posts that they can be used to lightly iron clothes as well! However, beforehand please do a trial someplace hidden (maybe on a facing that stays inside) and if there is any synthetic be especially careful!
Evelyn Wood Thank you!
mmw55122 Great news. Thank you!
Great advice, thank you.
Thank you, this was so helpful. Going through my stash and found a gem in it: a lovely yard of light gray. The only problem: I couldn't remember if it was natural cotton or a poly blend. I'm still not sure, but sure enough not to use it for projects that require 100% cotton. Thanks for the video :)
Thank you Evelyn. Appreciate.
What about synthetic/natural blends? Like cotton/poly?
thx smmm! this was very helpful!
You have an amazing smile! Thank you for the upload. :D
Finally have time to sit down and watch this. Blends confuse me because they have mixes.
Retired person in Mexico. It is extremely difficult to find 100% Cotton here. Everything is polyester or a poly blend. Even if the display sign says 100% Cotton, it is more than likely not. Would love to find a source for all natural fabrics (Cotton, flax, hemp, bamboo ...).
Very helpful!
Awww I tested this lovely soft fabric using your methods and the listing said it was 100% cotton but the creases dropped out. Sad times
Something that I have found with silk is that, unlike synthetics, it's triangular fibers will stick to your skin if you rub a fold between your fingers. However, this might only work if you have prominent dermal ridges (fingerprints).
GREAT tips! Thank you, thank you.
This was very helpful thank you! I’m so glad I’m not the only one that plays that game anytime I around fabric 🤣
I really really want the pattern for that blouse.
Very good video.
Hy! Thank you for the lesson! I remember the burn test to check fabric, , from school, at the sewing class!How you check fabric when you buy it on line?
Personally I have some trusted site from witch I buy so it's ok! Anyway thank you! 🌹
I've not totally bought fabric online, I like to feel it!
How would you recycle synthetic garments if you are more inclined to natural fibers? If they aren't used or damaged, they go to the dump eventually, and I'd like to find a way to be as environmentally conscious as possible.
An added note about Spotlight. If it's not too busy and you are very nice to the shop assistant, they might cut off a LITTLE patch that you can take home to match with a project. Then you can easily do a burn test. This will vary from store to store and assistant to assistant so don't assume they will do it.
Thank you.! Brillant...
Thank you
THANK YOUUUU
I'm struggling with identifying 65/35 cotton poly blend. I sew pillowcases for charitable organizations and they must be 100% cotton. I was donated some fabric, some were on bolts showing 65/35, others were off the bolt so I'm not sure. Any tips for that particular fabric? I live in Canada, but was in Perth at Christmas to visit my daughter and as always, made a few trips to Spotlight!
How to differentiate natural vs cotton lycra/elastane syretchy fabric that is kind of heavy?
interesting, thank you
Profuse thanks ,,mam ♥️♥️❤️😊😊
Spotlight has the fibres clearly marked on the roll. My difficulty is identifying the satin in my stash that has been stored for more than 10 years. I had satin that I knew to be polyester. It just felt different from the satin that I believed to be silk from silkworms.
The burn test will do it. Polyester satin is very glossy, but silk satin is more muted. The polyester doesn't crease. Silk satin and rayon satin do.
Isn’t the fiber content labeled on the end of the bolt?
Please make a video about cotton
What about non-iron cotton? I had one of those. Didn't crease, but felt like cardboard to wear, and cold as well, so I got rid.
Your hand is so beautiful
what happens if they are a poly blend of cotton
Do the fabrics at some fabric stores not have the fiber makeup? I’ve only been to Joanns. Can they be incorrect?
Is crepe back satin made out of polyester?
Thank you !
OK, so something I would like to do by eye is tell apart poly-cotton from viscose, and perahps silk (i'm guessing more deliate). Often shirts online have lost their care lables, and asking people to do a strand test usually get's a deafening silence. :) Any suggestions, thank you x
@Evelyn__Wood
What about mixed fibres?
My local fabricland labels all the fabric content of everything
I’m trying to identify knits. Any tips for those?
They will be knitted rather than woven!
AWESOME!!
I'm disappointed to discover that everything I own is synthetic. My goal is to learn to sew apparel with natural fibers exclusively because I think they're healthier. I've got a long learning curve ahead of me.
Same! I couldn't find a natural jacket anywhere 😪 so now I am trying to sew one
Thanks but there are no care labels on material when it's given to you second hand not even when some of it is still folded up like it's new.
I just cant stand synthetic clothes, feels like I'm wearing a plastic bag and I start to sweat like crazy only 30 seconds after putting it on, even if I'm freezing! I've found that I can tolerate a small percentage of synthetic fibers, like 10-15% anything more and I'll sweat really bad and get big sweat marks even if I just put it on a couple of seconds ago.
I have several yards of various cotton/sateen fabric. I know the cotton is a natural fiber. However, what is the sateen? Synthetic/Polyester?
Sateen is the name of the weave of the cotton fibers.
Yes Karen is correct! The cotton is the fibre (the raw material), the sateen is the type of fabric the cotton has been woven into! Learning about how fabric is made is fascinating and worth studying more to get your sewing even better!
@@karenmalay97 Thanks so much!
@@Evelyn__Wood What books do you recommend for studying fabric? I have a Claire Schaffer and a Sandra Betzina regarding fabric.
I like to see if i can gently blow a breath thru the fabric.
What about fabrics that are part natural and part synthetic?
That's the 'half half' or 'regenerated cellulose' like tge rayon I talked about!
the first way is to read the tag !! :)
Tags aren't always on thrift store items.
Rayon is underrated imho.
So... I assume reading the label is not enough?
Why not just look at the fiber content on the bolt? I can see that this would be useful for thrifting, but, at least here in the US, the fiber content has to be provided with a new garment, and new fabric yard-goods.
But the store keepers in Bangladesh🇧🇩 won't let me scrunch their goods before buying it. 😔
Cotton has coarse feel and no sheen as opposed to synthetic fabric
But I read a few days ago that natural fibers don’t crinkle because they bounce back…. Also, brands lie and say that something is 100% cotton or whatever….
Aren't they labeled in a fabric store???
Yes, but you might be buying from a garage sale, a thrift store or buying garments to recycle.
I love your presentation! Just curious...but I am guessing your preference is cotton LOL :-)