SILK CHIFFON FABRIC

Silk chiffon fabric is an elegant, sheer fabric with a soft, beautiful drape and a crepe-like texture. It is similar to silk georgette fabric but a little bit softer hand feels than silk georgette. Silk chiffon fabric yarn is strong than silk gauze fabric, woven in a way that even the heaviest weights are sheer.

Silk chiffon fabric from the French word for a cloth or rag is a lightweight, balanced plain-woven sheer fabric woven of alternate S- and Z-twist crepe (high-twist) yarns. The twist in the crepe yarns puckers the fabric slightly in both directions after weaving, giving it some stretch and a slightly rough feel.

Chiffon is synonymous with elegance in the fashion world. This weightless, sheer fabric is often used in luxury garments such as evening wear or lingerie to add a touch of class. Chiffon has a lightweight texture and a semi-mesh weave which is what gives the fabric a chic transparent appearance, as well as making it slightly rough to the touch.

Silk chiffon fabric can be dyed to almost any shade. Under a magnifying glass, it resembles a fine net or mesh which gives chiffon some see-through properties. Chiffon can be made from synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester and is most commonly created using polyester due to its low cost and durability – as well as stain resistance.

Chiffon can also be made using natural fibers like cotton or silk. Silk chiffon is considered a premium option because of its shimmer, smooth texture and strength. Along with cotton and nylon, silk chiffon can be dyed almost any color. However, synthetic materials generally tend to take dye more easily, aside from polyester. Polyester is manufactured using high heat and dye during the initial heating stages.

A similar fabric, georgette (or crepe) is also used by weaving silk. However, it’s a thicker and more opaque fabric but still drapes like chiffon. Natural fibers such as cotton result in a more matte finish to the fabric and make the chiffon substantially less floaty.

When sewing silk chiffon fabric, many crafters layer tissue paper in between the two pieces being sewn together. The tissue paper helps keep the fabric together, with the rough surface of the tissue holding the chiffon in place while it is handled. After sewing, the tissue paper can be carefully ripped out. Silk chiffon fabric is also pinnable, as it will spring back, concealing pin marks. As a general rule, sewers should work slowly and steadily with this fabric, taking care not to run it through a sewing machine too quickly or it will bunch and gather.

Chiffon is created by weaving yarns using an alternating method. High-twist yarns are used, which means the yarns are alternatively twisted, resulting in the gentle puckering of the fabric and creating a light crumpling effect in different directions. This also causes the slightly rough feel and stretch of the fabric. When you hold chiffon up to the light you can see a sheer mesh effect, which is caused by a criss-cross patterned weave.

Silk chiffon fabric is most commonly used in evening wear, especially as an overlay, for giving an elegant and floating appearance to the gown. It is also a popular fabric used in blouses, ribbons, scarves, and lingerie. Like other silk crepe fabrics, silk chiffon fabric can be difficult to work with because of its light and slippery texture. Due to this delicate nature, silk chiffon fabric must be hand washed very gently or dry washed preferred.

Chiffon is often used to add an essence of elegance to a garment, particularly with evening dresses. Gowns and wedding dresses commonly have a chiffon overlay to give the dress a floating appearance and an element of luxury. Because of the light and airy feel of chiffon, it’s also used for decorative scarves or for blouses. Chiffon is also used in shirts, scarves, and lingerie for similar reasons.

Silk Chiffon Fabric