Stretch Denim: Comfort meets classic denim look
Not every project requires heavy, rigid raw denim. For comfortable everyday jeans, skin-tight cuts, or kid-friendly clothing, stretch denim is the perfect choice. Thanks to the clever addition of a little elastane, this fabric offers maximum freedom of movement, is forgiving of minor fit errors, and is excellent for sewing beginners. With a few simple tricks on your sewing machine, you can achieve professional results with stretch denim, too.
Sanforizing is an industrial process in which the finished fabric is mechanically pre-shrunk using heat, steam, and pressure. Almost all modern denim is sanforized. The big advantage for you: the fabric will shrink only minimally (usually 1 to 3%) during the first wash at home.
Sanforizing is an industrial process in which the finished fabric is mechanically pre-shrunk using heat, steam, and pressure. Almost all modern denim is sanforized. The big advantage for you: the fabric will shrink only minimally (usually 1 to 3%) during the first wash at home.
This fabric comes straight from the loom exactly as it was woven – without any pre-washing or heat treatment. It is initially very stiff and rough. Most importantly: unsanforized denim shrinks significantly upon its first contact with water, often between 5 and 10 %.
This fabric comes straight from the loom exactly as it was woven – without any pre-washing or heat treatment. It is initially very stiff and rough. Most importantly: unsanforized denim shrinks significantly upon its first contact with water, often between 5 and 10 %.
When working with unsanforized denim, you should first wash a 10 x 10 cm test piece of the fabric at the same temperature you plan to wash the jeans later. Measure the piece again after it has dried. If it now measures, for example, 9 x 9 cm, you know that you need to enlarge your sewing pattern by exactly 10 %.
When working with unsanforized denim, you should first wash a 10 x 10 cm test piece of the fabric at the same temperature you plan to wash the jeans later. Measure the piece again after it has dried. If it now measures, for example, 9 x 9 cm, you know that you need to enlarge your sewing pattern by exactly 10 %.
Yes, that is strongly recommended. Even sanforized fabric still has a slight residual shrinkage of up to 3%. Furthermore, pre-washing removes excess indigo dye, which protects your hands and your sewing machine from staining while you work.
Yes, that is strongly recommended. Even sanforized fabric still has a slight residual shrinkage of up to 3%. Furthermore, pre-washing removes excess indigo dye, which protects your hands and your sewing machine from staining while you work.
For many denim purists, this is the Holy Grail. Because the fabric is untreated, it retains an extremely fascinating, raw texture. If you sew a pair of jeans from loomstate denim and process them unwashed (shrink-to-fit), the fabric will adapt exactly to your individual body contours during the first soak.
For many denim purists, this is the Holy Grail. Because the fabric is untreated, it retains an extremely fascinating, raw texture. If you sew a pair of jeans from loomstate denim and process them unwashed (shrink-to-fit), the fabric will adapt exactly to your individual body contours during the first soak.
