Types of fabrics for skirts and tips for choosing for different styles and seasons

When choosing fabric for a skirt, you need to take into account your body type, season, style, purpose and a number of other parameters.

The composition and structure play an important role; it is the properties of the textile that determine how durable and comfortable the clothing will be. In this instruction you will learn how to sew a year, flared, pencil, trapezoidal, fluffy and other skirts. A review with tips will help you navigate the diversity. And the calculation formula will tell you how many meters of material to buy for a particular model.

1. Main characteristics of skirt fabrics
2. Popular types of fabrics for sewing skirts
3. Features of choice based on style
   What is better for a circle skirt and a half-circle skirt
4. The best fabric for the year
5. What to make a pencil skirt from
6. Options for a pleated skirt
7. Materials for a full skirt
8. What to buy for an A-line skirt
9. What is suitable for a floor-length skirt
10. Seasonal selection
11. How to calculate material consumption

Main characteristics of skirt fabrics

The composition of the material is important. The quality of the textile fabric depends on the properties of the fibers. First of all, you should pay attention to the hygienic properties: hygroscopicity, breathability. Properties such as strength, wear resistance, and creaseability play an important role.

The skirt material must have good hygienic properties, at the same time be highly resistant to abrasion and practically not wrinkle . All these requirements are met by mixed fabrics consisting of fibers of different origins.

Natural fibers (linen, cotton, wool, silk) are characterized by good hygienic properties, which is important for light clothing. In turn, synthetic and artificial fibers (viscose, lavsan, polyester, spandex) provide elasticity and strength.

What to look for when choosing suits

Back in the USSR, a common school uniform was introduced for students, which met all quality standards. Today, unfortunately, not every manufacturer strives to sell “safe” children's clothing. Rospotrebnadzor calls on all residents of Russia to pay special attention to fabric composition. Any store must have quality certificates. Don’t be afraid to demand them, because your child’s health depends on it.

The uniform should not restrict movement, because the child will spend about 8 hours a day in it:

• the jacket must be selected according to the size of the shoulders;
• trousers should not be too tight around the hips;
• if you need a tie, then for kids it is better to choose models with an elastic band, they are more practical;
• The correct choice of fabric for a school uniform will make it easier to care for and increase their wear resistance.

Many parents are simply outraged by the current quality of children's clothing. The high content of synthetic fibers in the materials leads to overheating in summer and freezing in winter. Children often complain of itching and headaches. The first sign of low-quality material is a sharp, unpleasant smell of rubber.

The color scheme of the uniform is approved by the school council, so it will be different for each educational institution. It is better to sew clothes for a schoolchild yourself than to spend a large amount of money on a uniform of dubious quality. The following video will tell you how things are with the purchase of school uniforms in Russia and their quality.

Popular types of fabrics for sewing skirts

It is impossible to list all the materials used for sewing. The most popular types of fabrics for skirts include:

• Gabardine . Ribbed suit fabric. As a rule, a mixed composition, for example, wool and synthetic fibers. It is easy to care for, holds its shape well, and practically does not wrinkle.
• Tweed . Soft wool with little lint. It has a textured surface, does not wrinkle, and has high heat-protective properties.
• Linen . For sewing skirts, fabrics with a mixed composition are most often used: linen with the addition of artificial and synthetic fibers. These wrinkle less than natural ones.
• Poplin . Thick cotton material with a smooth surface. Pleasant to the touch, holds wrinkles well, and practically does not wrinkle. It is better to use types of mixed composition, for example, cotton with a small addition of elastane.
• Chiffon . Transparent with a matte sheen. Draps well and is easy to fold. Natural chiffon has a high cost, but is softer and more pleasant to the touch than mixed fabric. Requires delicate handling and is difficult to care for.
• Velvet . Soft, fairly dense fabric with thick pile. Cotton-based velvet is coarser and denser than silk-based velvet. Thin silk threads give the fabric plasticity and softness. Velvet is tricky to care for and sew.
• Atlas . Smooth with a shiny surface. Satin with a dense structure is used for sewing straight and flared skirts. Lightweight with a high content of silk threads, suitable for models with a flying silhouette.

• Taffeta . Thick silk with a noble shine. It is characterized by high strength and low drapability, while retaining its shape well and being easily folded.
• Denim . Dense, slightly rough, characterized by high strength. Classic denim has a 100% natural composition (cotton), but for sewing skirts it is better to use denim with the addition of elastane.
• Eco leather . Dense material with a leather-like surface. A woven fabric made of cotton or polyester is used as a base. In appearance it resembles genuine leather. It is flexible and allows air to pass through well.
• Jersey . Knitted fabric is soft and elastic. It stretches perfectly, drapes well, but does not hold wrinkles.
• Coupon fabrics . Silk and cotton fabrics with repeating patterns, such as graphic and floral patterns. Most often, the main pattern is located along the edge, and small elements are located across the entire surface of the canvas. It is best to sew products of a simple cut, without finishing details.
• Pleated . The pleated effect is created due to special processing of the material. Most often these are silk, chiffon, cotton types with a relief surface, that is, in a fine fold.

For suits

Picacho fabric is 97% polyester and 3% spandex. It has a structural twill weave that resembles a rib and does not wrinkle. Used for sewing suits, jackets and trousers. It feels rough to the touch, rough on the face and smoother on the back, holds its shape.

Angelica fabric has a similar composition, the material is softer, more falling than the previous version.

Tiar (TR) is a mixed material that can have satin, twill and regular weaving. The composition includes PE + viscose fibers, or cotton. The percentage depends on the manufacturer.

Features of choice based on style

Properly selected clothes help highlight your strengths and hide your figure’s flaws. For skirts with a straight and tight silhouette, fairly dense fabrics that can hold their shape are suitable. Soft, well-draped ones are best used for sewing flared models with frills and ruffles.

What is better for a circle skirt and a half-circle skirt

Flares are easy to sew and cut: a circle or semicircle with a hole in the middle. A flared skirt allows you to hide both excess and insufficient volume in the hip area. It looks beautiful on women with any type of figure, the only nuance is the material of manufacture.

The secret is that the fabric for a half-sun or full flared skirt should fall freely , forming soft folds. Therefore, you should not choose dense materials that hold their shape but do not drape well.

To sew a summer flared skirt, it is better to use light, well-draped fabrics: chiffon, silk, cambric. You can sew multilayer models from transparent materials; they will not weigh down the silhouette.

Another option to avoid possible see-through is lining. Business-style skirts are made from thin suiting fabrics: gabardine, crepe. For miniskirts with a flared silhouette, you can use stretch denim or eco-leather.

The best fabric for the year

Godet has a characteristic feature - a tight fit in the hips with a smooth flare from the knee line. A year skirt consists of wedges of the same shape or different configurations. The model is suitable for women with any type of figure. Vertical lines visually elongate the silhouette, and the flared hem balances the curvy hips.

For sewing a classic year, thin suiting materials with the addition of wool are suitable. A spiral godet skirt is made from soft flowing types: chiffon, silk, thin satin.

Godet with graduation (the bottom line lengthens from the front to the back panel) is better to sew from fairly dense fabrics: velvet, taffeta. It is possible to use materials of different textures: a combination of wedges made of dense fabric with chiffon or openwork inserts.

What to make a pencil skirt from

A straight silhouette skirt is the basis of a basic wardrobe. For sewing a classic model, medium-weight suit fabrics are suitable. An important condition: the material must keep its shape and not wrinkle too much. It is better to give preference to mixed species.

The composition can be anything:

• wool and elastane;
• wool, lavsan and elastane;
• wool, viscose and elastane.

For summer models, the following options are quite appropriate: linen, thick cotton, knitted fabric, denim. You can also follow the tips for choosing material for a summer dress.

For the cold season, dense materials with high heat-protective properties are suitable: tweed, lightweight drape, corduroy. For a better fit of the skirt, it is recommended to add a lining to it .

Options for a pleated skirt

Pleated styles look feminine and are suitable for all occasions. When it comes to ironed folds, the fabric should be dense, but not stiff. Natural materials do not hold their shape well enough, so it is better to give preference to types with the addition of synthetic fibers. For example, gabardine, tartan, poplin.

For light styles with soft folds, materials that drape well : staple, cambric, silk, crepe-satin. Pleated fabric deserves special attention - a textile fabric with firmly fixed small folds.

Sewing from pleated fabric is quite simple; you just need to cut out the parts and stitch them on a machine. The following materials are not suitable for sewing a pleated skirt: thick knitwear, lace, drape.

Materials for a full skirt

Skirts gathered at the waist look impressive and allow you to hide excess volume in the hips. The best fabrics are those that are easy to fold, but not loose in structure. Often tulle . In this case, pomp is achieved by layering several tiers of rigid mesh material.

No less elegant, but more comfortable to wear, are skirts made of noble materials with a shiny surface: thick satin, taffeta, jacquard. To add more pomp, it is recommended to use a petticoat made of tulle or organza.

What to buy for an A-line skirt

To sew a skirt that is slightly flared at the bottom, it is recommended to choose dense fabrics that hold their shape well. The material should not be loose, otherwise it will hang in soft folds and not create a “trapezoid” silhouette.

Suitable for women with any type of figure, but ladies with curvy figures should not choose models with a wrap or voluminous patch pockets. Recommended types of fabrics for sewing an a-line skirt: denim, thick knitwear, gabardine, eco-leather, faux suede, tapestry.

What is suitable for a floor-length skirt

A maxi skirt looks elegant and is suitable for any body type. The ideal length is ankle length. For short girls, it is better to combine a maxi with heels. We talked more about maxi here.

Light, well-draped fabrics are perfect for summer pleated skirts: chiffon, satin, silk. For straight and slightly flared styles, you can choose natural cotton or linen fabric. Classic models for everyday wear are made from thin suit varieties, jersey or denim. For elegant floor-length skirts, noble materials are best suited: taffeta, brocade, velvet.

Leather flared skirt: goes or doesn't go?

We hasten to please you: the sun skirt suits almost everyone! But... There are several nuances that need to be taken into account. Before choosing a circle skirt, be sure to check out the recommendations of expert stylists.

The style of the flared skirt is a little frivolous, so it is more suitable for young girls. Women over 30, unfortunately, will have to give up short fluffy skirts.

• Plump girls can wear a circle skirt, but it is better not to be very short. Skirts below the knee, called midi, have now taken the reins of leadership again. This is great news for those who do not consider their figure ideal. Such girls need to choose a leather midi skirt and be no less stylish than long-legged models.
• Women with curvy hips are better suited to a style where the extension comes from the hip.
• Too thin legs? A revealing mini would also be inappropriate.
• Too narrow hips? A sun skirt will visually correct this! Choose skirts that flare from the waist.

If you are tall, an image with a leather circle skirt may turn out to be too shocking. But girls of medium and short height do not need to be afraid of this. For short girls, experts recommend choosing a skirt with a half-corset. This model visually adds several centimeters to height.

Season

Winter models are made of thick leather. Summer ones are lighter, often decorated with perforations or lace.

Seasonal selection

Depending on the wearing season, different requirements are placed on skirt textiles. In hot weather, it is better to give preference to species that allow air to pass through well, are highly hygroscopic, and do not become electrified. Therefore, to sew summer skirts, you need fabrics with a high content of natural fibers : cotton, linen, silk.

For demi-season options, dense, fairly flexible fabrics that retain heat well and protect from the wind are suitable. These are not only pure wool, but also mixed varieties: tapestry, thick knitwear, denim, velvet, corduroy, eco-leather.

In the cold season, you cannot do without woolen fabrics with high heat-protective properties. The higher the percentage of natural wool in the composition, the warmer the skirt will be.

Such materials have a dense structure, do not drape well, but protect from the cold. The traditional choice for sewing winter skirts: cashmere, lightweight drape, boucle, thick knitwear.

For sportswear

Supplex consists of 90% polyester and 10% spandex, has good stretch both along the lobar and across. It comes in two types, matte and shiny, and has very bright shades.

Mixed footer - the composition includes polyester and spandex, plus viscose fibers or cotton. It has stretch in the transverse direction and slightly along the grain.

This is interesting: Taslan fabric: description, features, where it is used

How to calculate material consumption

To create a pattern you will need the following measurements : waist circumference, hip circumference, product length. The style is also taken into account when calculating.

Calculation of fabric for a skirt:

• Straight or trapezoid: product length plus 10-15 cm (allowances for seams, hem and waistband).
• Folded: approximately 2-3 lengths of the product (depending on the type of folds and their number).
• Sun: approximately 3-4 lengths.

For a more complete calculation of consumption, you should take into account the individual characteristics of the figure, the presence of additional finishing details: patch pockets, ruffles, frills.

Now you know which fabric is best for a skirt, and you can buy one that will be comfortable to wear, easy to care for and flattering on your figure.

Symbols on clothing

A label with recommendations for the care and use of clothing (how to properly clean, wash, dry, iron it (and whether these operations can be carried out) should be on each item. Usually, there is also a tape indicating the fiber ratio (raw material composition, in percent) The table shows typical signs on labels: cleaning, washing, drying, ironing.

Where to buy a full skirt? Online stores

You can buy a fluffy skirt without leaving your home. For this purpose, various online platforms have been created, offering many styles and colors of outfits.

• ru.aliexpress.com. Payment immediately using a bank card or electronic wallets. Long delivery, the need to convert your size to American or Chinese. The item may be damaged during transportation. However, the cost of things is indecently low.
• wildberries.ru. Fast free delivery, frequent promotions, the ability to order and try on several sizes of one item. Payment upon receipt. If none of the items fit, you don’t have to pay anything.
• ozon.ru. Free delivery, bonus system, there are promotions and discounts. It is possible to pay online or upon receipt.

Most clothing stores have their own online resources where you can order the selected item. The goods are delivered directly to your home at a convenient time, but you must pay for it immediately.

Clothes storage

Proper storage of clothes will not only ensure order, but will also eliminate excess dust and premature aging of things and preserve their appearance:

• After a season of wear, outerwear must be cleaned and stored in a closet in a separate case.
• If clothes are rarely worn, it is also better to store them in a separate section of the closet and in a case. For convenience, a case or container has a window opening.
• It is better to keep evening dresses in linen covers. If the clothes are light in color, it is better to take a dark cover, otherwise the light fabric may turn yellow.
• Silk or satin items should hang on hangers. This way they wrinkle less and don’t stretch.
• Don't hang dresses and suits on top of each other. Everyone needs their own hanger!
• Do not store leather items in synthetic packaging - the leather may change color.
• Keep your closet tidy and ventilate it from time to time.

Layering trend: double skirts with tulle

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Posted by Blair Eadie/Atlantic-Pacific (@blaireadiebee)

Finally, let’s pay attention to the layering trend. After all, we already wear a dress with trousers or leggings, why not wear a skirt on top of a skirt? This technique will help pacify an aggressive mini or diversify an already boring dress.

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Evening look

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Posted by Maria Boucher (@mariiboucher)

If in the daytime look we focused on simple silhouettes and bright jewelry, then in the evening look we can complicate the details a little and play with nudity. So, a piquant option for those who are bolder would be a combination of a tulle skirt with a jacket on a naked body. A wide belt and elegant jewelry will complement the fashionable ensemble.

However, not many are ready for such a daring decision, so you can choose a calmer option. Take a closer look at romantic blouses. Models with bows or flounces will balance the voluminous bottom, and light textures will not overload the top, leaving the image airy. Also, feel free to combine a tulle skirt with translucent turtlenecks and tight-fitting bodysuits.

For footwear, give preference to over the knee boots or pumps. The main thing is to choose the most neutral options.

Casual look

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Posted by Katie Giorgadze (@katie.one)

For a casual look, pair a tulle skirt with an oversized sweater or a plain turtleneck to create a cozy outfit for the start of spring or fall. When it gets warmer, you can try on a skirt with basic T-shirts or crop tops, and to make the duo sparkle, complement it with accent earrings, beads or rings - everything is entirely at your discretion. Shirts, T-shirts, cardigans and other laconic styles can also be used. The main thing is that they are no brighter than the skirt itself (it is the main accent in the image), otherwise wars for supremacy in the image may begin, and this will definitely not lead to anything good.

There will be no problems with shoes; your favorite sneakers will fit perfectly into the utilitarian concept, and if your soul requires elegance, pumps and ankle boots are always welcome.