Stretch Twill... Stretch WHAT?

Stretch Twill... Stretch WHAT?

Stretch Twill... Stretch WHAT?

This might be your first time hearing about stretch twill. So, let's dive right in and talk about:

What is Stretch Twill? Natural fiber or synthetic fiber?

What impact does Stretch Twill have on your pattern?

What can I make with Stretch Twill?

 

What is Stretch Twill?

Let's dive right in. Twill is made using cotton or a cotton polyester blend (unless otherwise noted by the fabric producer). Be sure to check what the material is made of. WayMaker Fabrics stretch twill is made up of cotton, polyester and spandex to give it that little bit of stretch.

Twill is a specific type of weave where the fibers are woven in a diagonal pattern. Twill will usually be a heavier weight than standard quilting cotton, but it can be made in a wide range of weights and thicknesses. As you can see from the photo the diagonal direction of the weave. I snagged this graphic from the Three Fundamental Weave Structures » School of SweetGeorgia if you are interested in learning more about weave structures.

Stretch Twill just means there is spandex/elastane added to the fabric to give it a little stretch. 

What Impact Does Stretch Twill Have on a Pattern?

This is a great question! WayMaker Fabrics Stretch Twill only has 2% spandex in it, so it just provides the slightest bit of stretch. In most cases you would use stretch twill for a pattern that calls for a woven material. You might want to know if you need to size down when using stretch twill. The answer is no. The majority of people will not need to size down, but I can't say with 100% certainty that there might not be an occasion to size down. 

If you want to use it for a knit pattern or a pattern that calls for a stretchy fabric, please check the level of stretch the pattern calls for, and you will probably need to size up to use the stretch twill on the knit pattern. 

What can you make with Stretch Twill?

As a self-taught sewist/seamstress, I don't always know what the different fabric types are. I am a visual person, and you might be too. I like to get my hands on fabric and see what other people are making to get my creative juices flowing. If you want to get your hands on any of our fabric bases, you can order a swatch book HERE.

But let's take a look at what you can make using WayMaker Fabrics Stretch Twill.

Jackets
This beautiful jacket was made with our stretch twill, and the fabric design was Echoed Steps. Stretch Twill is great for a lightweight spring or fall weather jacket. This jacket is lined to give it that interior softness and contrasting design feature.

The jacket on the right is made using Ice Maze and was a perfect jacket for winter in Texas.

You can also use stretch twill for pants or shorts! If jackets are too complex for your current skill set, and you aren't ready to go too far outside your comfort zone, try a woven pant or shorts pattern.

Or if you have always sewn with knits, and you aren't quite sure if you have the chops to sew with wovens, try the Stretch Twill. It gives you the best of both worlds. You get to get your hands on a woven fabric, but it has a little stretch, so it forgives a multitude of errors.

Pants and Shorts
Stretch Twill gives you the ability to try out making clothing with wovens but still gives you the flexibility to make some sizing mistakes and your garment still fits! You have the freedom to make a zipper and button, or you can do a faux button/zipper and just add elastic. 
WayMaker Fabrics Stretch Twill is super soft and flexible, but still gives you that little bit of structure you expect from a woven base.

At 225gsm's it's light weight enough that when it bunches together it doesn't create something too bulky. As pictured, the shorts are made using elastic at the waistband, and you don't see any fabric bulk showing through.

You don't need to limit yourself to just clothes for stretch twill, you can use it to make simple and fun things like a simple pencil pouch or use your scraps to wrap a headband. You can also use it to make hair bows that are on a clip, or anything else you can think of that calls for a woven base.

WayMaker Fabrics Stretch Twill is so versatile! You truly can make a variety of projects that call for medium weight fabrics. Some things to keep in mind. It is medium weight, so if you have a woven pattern that calls for light weight, this isn't the right fabric base for your project. You MIGHT be able to use it on something that calls for a heavy weight fabric, but you'd probably want to add some stabilizer or lining to your project to give it that extra weight and thickness.

Extra things to know about stretch twill

Stretch twill is a woven fabric so the ends will fray!  

When sewing with wovens, be sure to either hide the seams, finish them before you start sewing, or use a serger or coverstitch that will finish the seams for you.

The last thing you want on your amazing new outfit are fraying end.  

If you are looking for a woven that has all the possibilities, but doesn't have stretch, I recommend our canvas! It is great for shorts, pants, jackets, and handbags! Head on over to our Canvas blog if you want to learn more about our American Milled Canvas.

If you are like me, and would prefer to see the stretch twill in action, have a look at our YouTube video HERE

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