All-season knitwear cashkorse is one of the cotton fabrics used for sewing comfortable and hygienic clothing and accessories for adults and children. What are its features? The first and most obvious is, of course, its textured surface. There is a characteristic rib on both the front and back sides of the fabric, and it is this that “gives out” French cashcorse knitwear, giving it incredible elasticity and tactile comfort.
Let's find out what cashkorse is and how it can be useful to those who sew. Let's begin!
Elastic textiles
Bright swimsuits, sexy dresses, stylish sportswear and school uniforms have long become commonplace. In any person’s closet, more than 70% of things are made of stretchable fabrics. It wasn't always like this.
History of origin
In the mid-50s of the last century, chemists in the USA conducted experiments. They were looking for an alternative to rubber. The experience turned out to be fatal: spandex was born. Its founder is the American D. Shivers. At first, this flexible material was used for corsets, and later for underwear and sports products. Gradually he “captured” all the elements of the wardrobe. In the territory of the former USSR, miracle matter began to be produced in 1975.
Spandex is a polyurethane fabric.
What is the difference between spandex and lycra and elastane? Many people mistakenly distinguish between these terms and are confused about the names. In reality, it's all the same thing. The first option is an American name, the second is European, and the third is post-Soviet. Using any variation in the lexicon will be correct.
Spandex in its purest form was demonstrated in the film “The Mask”. The main character dresses his face in the thinnest fabric, which looks like a second skin.
Main characteristics
The key advantage of elastane is its stretchy fibers. When put on, dresses and skirts beautifully fit the female body, and afterward, the garment returns to its original shape. This fabric is wear-resistant, durable and affordable. Spandex is classified according to fiber types:
- four-dimensional (stretches in any direction);
- two-dimensional (stretchable either along the length or width).
Elastane is 85% polyurethane.
Lycra is a symbiosis of various polyurethane raw materials. This includes nylon, acetate, and other types of polymers. It is not used in its pure form, but is added to other types of synthetics or natural fibers.
Advantages and disadvantages:
- tendency to develop puffs;
- does not tolerate high temperatures during wet-heat treatment;
- an inexperienced seamstress may have problems with cutting;
- light and durable;
- repels moisture;
- stretches to any figure parameters;
- It can be dyed without problems (which is why swimsuits are almost always so bright).
Things that contain a large percentage of spandex stretch 3-4 times.
The appearance of this raw material in the textile industry has made life easier in many ways. Clothes and accessories began to look richer. They did not fade in the sun and were not deformed.
Monostretch
When stretch fibers are woven into warp or weft threads, the fabric stretches either in width or in length. What types of monostretch are obtained with this processing method?
Barbie
It is often called a “suit”. It fits perfectly, is pleasant to the touch and adapts to the curves of the body. Tailors love Barbie because it is easy to cut: it does not slip and can be cut with any scissors, and there are no traces of pins left on it. The only caveat is that it can shrink, so it’s better to soak a small piece of it first.
Lycra is added one weft at a time, but the synthetic threads are loosely twisted. Therefore, Barbie is dense and elastic. The production produces 2 types of fabric according to composition:
- mixed (40% cotton, 55% polyester, the rest is spandex);
- synthetic (90–95% polyester and 5–10% stretch).
Barbie is used to make elegant and casual dresses, business suits and skirts.
Jersey
What to make a budget and practical dress from? Of course it's jersey. We should be grateful to Coco Chanel for her. It was she who drew attention to the stretchy and comfortable material. Jersey drapes without problems, springs, but maintains proportions.
Its main feature is the same appearance on both sides, which makes sewing easier. Jersey practically does not wrinkle, hides figure imperfections, and if wool is added to its mixture, it warms well in cold weather.
Poplin
Cotton is the main raw material in the production of poplin. But lycra gives him new opportunities: “breathable” clothing appears, with a long service life. It is used to make: light skirts, thin men's shirts, underwear, budget bedding sets, workwear, home textiles, towels and curtains.
Poplin was actively used in sewing uniforms for soldiers during the Second World War.
It is hypoallergenic and hygroscopic. And adding 5-10% spandex does not deprive it of these qualities. Poplin is durable and easy to care for. The recommended temperature when washing it is 40°C.
Bengalin
The appearance of this textile is associated with India and the city of Bengal. Initially it was a canvas made of pure natural silk. But to reduce the cost, cotton components began to be added to it. Now bengalin is a mixture of artificial and natural ingredients. The key additive is spandex. Ideal composition: 98% cotton and 2% stretch.
Perpendicular single torsion is used in production. This method gives bengalin strength and flexibility. It drapes in graceful folds, so it can be used to create beautiful attire for special occasions.
tiar
What fabric is suitable for sewing a suit? The tiar is durable, smooth and affordable. Its components: viscose, wool, polyester and lycra. With the help of different fibers, the suit will allow air to pass through, adapt to your figure, be used for a long time and keep you warm in bad weather. The higher the percentage of wool, the warmer the outfit.
Sometimes silk is added to the tiara during production. The garment becomes lighter, more tactilely pleasant, but loses its heat-protective properties!
Gabardine
Fabric that is not afraid of moisture. She has an unusual way of weaving. The reverse side is smooth, and the front side is ribbed. Gabardine is made from cotton, wool or mixed raw materials. Elastane is added for strength and durability. Uniforms for technical personnel and doctors, nightgowns, and underwear are made from it. And from woolen textiles - short coats and coats.
Other types
The prefix “stretch-” immediately imparts elastic properties to the fabric.
Products made from cotton and lycra are stretchable and suitable for any body type. Jeans with this composition do not fray or stretch at the knees. The clothes do not deform and easily, even after washing, return to their original appearance.
Linen is the standard of hygiene and environmental friendliness. But it has disadvantages: it quickly becomes wrinkled and does not stretch at all. Lycra corrects this drawback: products are easier to iron, they look brighter and have elasticity.
Any canvas can be made flexible and springy. The main thing is the processing of the yarn and the type of weaving, and not the components.
How to care for cashcorse products?
If you follow all the requirements for caring for knitwear, it is easy to achieve long-term preservation of the original properties of cashcorse.
It is better to wash the material at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. It is easy to remove dirt from the canvas due to its special structure. Can be washed either by machine or by hand using delicate detergents. You can maintain the softness of cashcorse by using conditioner when washing.
Drum spinning is allowed at low speed in the centrifuge. It is recommended to dry the cashkorse spread out on a horizontal surface to avoid deformation.
The canvas is practically wrinkle-free. If during transportation or long-term storage creases still appear on the cashmere, iron the products from the inside out using an ironing iron or a steam generator.
Our catalog contains thin and dense cashcorse of various shades - you can choose the material that suits you yourself or during a consultation with our manager. High-quality fabrics made from high-quality raw materials will allow you to realize any sewing fantasy! Ribana, footer, interlock and other types of knitwear with convenient product cards, which have detailed photos and descriptions of each item - for your comfortable choice.
Bistretch
When threads are woven into longitudinal and transverse fibers, the material becomes more pliable and stretches along all edges. Bistretch garments are suitable for people who love an active lifestyle and are not used to restricting their movements.
Diving
Textile made of viscose and spandex, smooth on both sides. Diving was originally invented to make diving gear. When tights and leggings appeared on fashion platforms, its popularity grew. Currently, this fabric is used in the production of various types of clothing: men's swimming trunks and women's swimsuits, shapewear, bodysuits and T-shirts, casual tunics and skirts.
Diving is not suitable for people with sensitive skin and a tendency to allergies, since the body practically does not “breathe” in it. But it is ideal for those who want to show off the beauty of their figure. In such clothes it is pleasant to play sports, walk with your child or swim. Diving does not wrinkle, stretches in all directions and is easy to wash.
Ribana
When choosing fabric for children's clothing, tailors often pay attention to lightweight and breathable ribana. Lycra is added to cotton, and the item acquires tensile properties. The child can play actively without sweating and harming his health.
Adults do not neglect ribana, as it makes comfortable turtlenecks, breeches and T-shirts. Strength, durability and comfort are the main advantages of the material. For the cold season, there is a ribana with fleece. The addition of wool and a special type of weaving makes it stronger and warmer.
Oil
What to make a budget but attractive outfit from? The “oily” and flowing texture favorably emphasizes the curves of the female body, allows air to pass through and does not create a “greenhouse effect.” Manufacturers create oil based on viscose, elastane and polyester. The developers decide what their percentage will be.
Products made from this fabric fit beautifully, but are prone to puffs. Plastic and elastic textiles do not hinder movement. And its wearer need not worry about the outfit getting wrinkled.
Footer
Unpretentious to use cotton with the addition of spandex has good wear resistance. And the fleece on the back side protects from the wind in autumn and winter.
Even a novice needlewoman will like it, as it is easy to cut and sew. The more cotton it contains, the more environmentally friendly and safe the fabric.
Footer does not like high temperatures and direct sunlight. They destroy its structure and shorten the service life of the product.
Stretch knitwear and its composition
Italian fashion designers were the first to promote tight-fitting, sophisticated, but comfortable clothing. Comfortable knitwear has conquered the whole world. It’s hard to imagine, but previously even hosiery consisted of 100% natural ingredients. They wore out quickly, which is why the clothes were so expensive. Stretch knitted products are used both in wardrobe and in medicine.
Compression garments are made from stretchable knitted fabrics. It fixes the joints well and regulates blood flow after surgery.
Flexible knitwear consists of admixtures of various components. Depending on what properties the product should have, synthetic threads are woven into natural or artificial ones. The most common:
- polyamide is a material that can withstand heavy loads during stretching, it easily returns to its original position;
- Lycra is a strong and soft thread that can be modeled well;
- microfiber – suitable for insulating things;
- Tactel - new generation polyamide threads that allow air to pass through.
Different types of weaving and percentages of ingredients affect the density, softness and strength of stretch knitwear.
How is cashcorse made?
Resembling the texture of hand-knitted fabric with an English rib pattern, this type of knitwear is its complete analogue, only knitted on special knitting machines from thin but durable natural cotton threads. That is why cashkorse is not a fabric, but a knitted fabric. Alternating, the front and back loops form textured stripes. The interweaving of knit and purl loops can have a ratio of 1*1, 2*2, 3*3. Often the ribbed fabric is knitted like a stocking - without beginning or end, like a “pipe”.
The history of the creation of this type of knitwear begins at the very origins of the appearance of the machine for knitting knitted fabrics. Initially, the technology was used for knitting stockings, then, at the beginning of the 20th century, the materials began to be used for sewing clothes.
Fashion trends: clothing and accessories
For every person, comfort, pleasant appearance and long service life are important in clothing. Fashion is constantly changing, but products must correspond to their intended purpose: to keep you warm in winter, not create a “greenhouse effect” in summer, and elegantly “fit” your figure. What models of products made from elastic fabrics should you take a closer look at to look stylish?
Dresses
What fabric to choose for a dress so that it is always relevant and stays in your wardrobe for a long time? Natural or artificial textiles with the addition of lycra are a guarantee that the item will not lose its brightness during the first wash and will maintain its proportions for years. Cotton, linen and viscose are a spring or summer option, wool is an autumn or winter option.
Dress styles that are always in demand: bandeau, sheath, wrap, sundress, shirt dress.
Allergy sufferers and connoisseurs of environmentally friendly materials should choose products with a maximum lycra content - up to 5%. Linen textiles are the most impractical for active people. But it’s worth adding a small percentage of stretchy components - and the garment does not wrinkle, looks brighter and becomes more tactilely pleasant.
Recently, girls and women often choose muslin sundresses. This is a soft, lightweight and wear-resistant fabric. Muslin is finicky when cutting due to its delicate, fine texture. Usually it is cotton with a small addition of spandex. If you decide to sew a robe yourself, do not forget about the petticoat, as dresses made of muslin are see-through. For lining, it is better to choose mixed fabrics made of cotton, silk or viscose. The petticoat for fluffy dresses is made of tulle.
Dress stretch fabrics
| Type of fabric | Characteristics |
| Barbie | Matte, rough; consists of viscose and elastane |
| Stretch velor | Soft, plain dyed |
| Oil | Knitted fabric made of viscose, lycra and polyester |
| Staple | Lightweight, durable: viscose, cotton and elastane |
| Georgette | Form-stable, translucent |
| Neoprene | Foam rubber material |
| Jeans | Cotton + Lycra, ideal for everyday wear |
Lingerie and swimwear
Gone are the days when wearables were made from 100% cotton. They quickly lost their shape and attractive appearance. In recent years, women have increasingly chosen high-rise styles and vintage styles. Such styles allow you to hide flaws and highlight advantages.
Linen should be pleasant to the touch, allow air to pass through well, and not contribute to the growth of bacteria. The more natural the composition, the more comfortable a person feels. When sewing underwear, it is better to leave the choice on fabrics made of stretch cotton or viscose, and use guipure as decoration. Lycra gives a tightening effect and prolongs the original appearance.
The ideal swimsuit is elastic, bright, stylish, without gaps, wear-resistant. Therefore, it is sewn from synthetic materials: elastane, nylon, supplex.
Tracksuits
Fitness, aerobics, boxing, tennis are useful hobbies that improve health. When choosing textile products for sports, you need to pay attention to the stretchability of the fabric. The more spandex in the composition, the easier it is to move.
Cotton knitwear is another option for active people who value the hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly properties of the product.
Tops, sweatshirts, tights and leggings are elements of sportswear that are made from stretch cotton, tencel, diving, etc.
T-shirts and shirts
In recent years, the “oversized” style has not disappeared from fashion platforms - loose-fitting outfits, as if from a man’s shoulder. People no longer want to wear clothes that restrict movement.
Nice smooth shirts made of viscose and spandex, stylish T-shirts made of stretch cotton are a real hit of the season. They do not need to be ironed; they retain their original appearance for years.
Printed and plain, short and long blouses and T-shirts, made from mixed fabrics. And small proportions of lycra in the composition “extend” the life of the products and “sit” advantageously on any figure.
School uniform and trousers
What fabrics are used to make high-quality products for schoolchildren and business people? Most often it is either wool with lycra or a tiara. The latter option is more practical, cheaper and easier to maintain. The formal, finely ribbed fabric contains 2–3% elastane, so this suit will last for an entire school year.
There is no need to chase natural ingredients. Such products quickly lose their shape and become deformed. There are pellets and abrasions on them. It is worth paying attention to polyviscose, tartan, and pikachu. This textile meets hygienic requirements, drapes well, and is comfortable to move in. You can sew trousers, jackets and vests from it.
Three-piece suits with cropped trousers, loose-fitting blazers and pleated skirts do not lose their relevance.
Flexible fabrics: secrets of cutting and sewing
Why are stretch items considered universal? It's simple: they stretch 3-4 times. That’s why some things are written “one size”. This property is a big plus when creating a pattern, since you can make errors in measurements. Such products will adapt to the silhouette.
- When cutting, it is important to consider the direction in which the fabric stretches. For example, for a tight-fitting jacket or skirt, you should choose a cut that stretches in the transverse direction. And when sewing trousers, use fabric that stretches both lengthwise and crosswise.
- The outline of the pattern must be transferred with a special plastic wheel or a pen without ink.
- The needles are round.
- Seams with a double needle and a zigzag stitch.
Elastic knitwear can exhibit a noticeable percentage of shrinkage at high temperatures. It is necessary to pre-decate.
What you need to know when working with stretch fabrics
Experienced seamstresses know that there are no difficulties when cutting elastic materials. When constructing a pattern, you need to take into account some nuances, for example, the absence of chest darts, the amount of allowance for a loose fit and the placement of seams. A necessary condition for working with stretchable fabrics is the availability of equipment that can grind down parts cut from stretchable materials.
Modern sewing machines are configured for certain types of seams, but for overcasting supplex, a carpetlock is required. This is special equipment designed to work with all types of knitted fabrics. Having it in the workshop gives the seamstress the opportunity to sew not only dresses, but also underwear, swimsuits, and tight clothing for dancing and sports.
Care hacks
Improper washing, ironing and storage will shorten the life of the outfit. This can be avoided if you care for products depending on their composition.
- It is better to immediately take stretch wool and silk to the dry cleaner. Home machine washing will cause shrinkage and loss of appeal.
- 40–60°C is the maximum temperature for stretchy cotton, linen and viscose.
- If there is a lot of spandex in the composition, wash with gentle detergents without chlorine.
- All elastic fabrics are ironed with a moderately heated iron. The more synthetic components, the lower the temperature should be.
- Storage space for stretchable items: shelf - for T-shirts, swimsuits and sportswear, hangers - for blazers, blouses and dresses.
Swimsuits, leggings and sports tops do not need to be ironed! They will just start to melt.
How and from what to make comfortable clothes is everyone’s personal choice. Pay attention to the natural composition with the addition of lycra. Such garments are suitable for people with sensitive skin, they are easy to care for, and can be cut without strict measurements. School, sports and business suits, denim skirts and trousers, swimming trunks and swimsuits - this is an incomplete list of what can be created from flexible and elastic textiles.
What can you sew from cash corse?
Natural cotton cashcorse with low density (thin) is ideal for sewing children's clothing, including items for newborns. This material makes it possible to provide an optimal microclimate for the baby. Air passes well through the fabric, which means the risk of irritation is minimized.
A denser cashkorse is indispensable in the manufacture of individual elements of sportswear and outerwear - cuffs, collars, belts, elastic bands at the bottom of products. Without pinching the skin, the fabric perfectly copes with protective functions.
A turtleneck, dress, sweater and jumper made from cashcorse will turn out perfect! It’s easy to sew a noodle dress from cash corse - a popular “fitted” model with maximum fit to the body. The fabric is thick enough not to be see-through, but extremely comfortable and breathable.
Hats are most often made from hosiery knitted with a pipe. The process of sewing them is thus reduced to a minimum of actions. The hat will be comfortable and fit perfectly on your head.
