Type of fabric?

[surfcrashrepeat]

Again, I need help with a fabric. It's very lightweight and has a soft texture to it. I feel like this should be an easy call but I'm lost on it.

 

[cmpollack]

It "reads" as a cotton/poly blend, but your best bet if you're uncertain is a burn test. Here are instructions on how to do one, from the VFG's Fabric Resource.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Thank you so much ! I was thinking cotton but poly may be that unknown that was throwing me. I'll definitely do the test, thanks for the link!

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I agree that it likely has a synthetic component. It needs it to hold the texture.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Thank you Nicole! It's funny because I've run across this type of dress many times before and never gave a thought to the mixed fabric, but now that I need to know I kept getting stuck on "cotton, aaannnd ?" Your help is much appreciated!

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Looks like the fabric is a crepe. The fiber it is made from is polyester or some synthetic like acetate or nylon.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Thank you so much Barbara! That is a huge help!

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

here's a better photo as well

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

In the close up, it is looking more in the line of a plisse' than a crepe. Hard to say without handling it or seeing it even closer.

I love the soft colors and paisley inspired pattern.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Thank you Barbara!! I don't know if it helps but it's very soft to the touch and the feel of the texture doesn't really come through.

Isn't it sweet! I used to search for dresses exactly like this on on Ebay as a kid for hours. To have one now is rad!

 

[PastPiecesVintage]

From the closeup, it looks like what we used to call 'whipped cream' in the South in the late 1960s. It was a very lightweight, thin polyester fabric with a texture, kind of crepe-y but not quite.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

I wonder if it might be a type of crimplene.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Thank you both! I definitely don't think it's crimplene? I'll look more into it. So many possibilities! I think it may be what pastpiecesvintage is talking about?

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

I looked more into whipped cream fabric and it definitely is that. Thank you for helping me solve that mystery!!

 

[PastPiecesVintage]

My sister made all of her clothes (and much of mine) and I remember her making several things from that fabric because she loved it so much. I also remember how unique it was at the time because it was polyester, but not that ugly, thick, knitted stuff. Truly revolutionary, or I thought so at the time lol.

 

[surfcrashrepeat]

Yeah I'm pretty sure this one is handmade but it's super rad! I definitely love the fabric and I'm pretty sure my mom had some in her sewing drawer at one point in time because it's super familiar to me. She used to make us outfits and costumes so, oh, the fabric I've seen and forgotten! & I still think it's pretty revolutionary! It's so lightweight and comfy!