This guide provides a comprehensive list of different interfacing available in the market, how to use them, some examples and ideas in where to use them, as well as where to find them.
“Interfacing is a textile used on the unseen or “wrong” side of fabrics to make an area of a garment more rigid. Interfacings can be used to: stiffen or add body to fabric, such as the interfacing used in shirt collars, strengthen a certain area of the fabric, for instance where buttonholes will be sewn.”
-Definition from Wikipedia
Interfacings are the key to sew garments, home décor, crafts, and bags and give your projects a professional look. Understanding the interfacing options available in the market and how to use them is a great skill and will help you succeed in your projects.
Since there are many options, this guide is divided in four sections:
• Woven
• Non-woven
• Knit
• Weft
These sections are subdivided into Fusible and Sew-In interfacings, and also per weight: light- weight, medium weight, and heavy weight.
Woven
Woven interfacings make fabric thicker and stable maintaining the fabric texture. These interfacings provide firm support and are available in different weights. Woven Interfacings have a grain line and should be cut the same grain line as the fashion fabric.
Non-woven
Non-woven interfacings also make fabric thicker and stable but these interfacings do not have grain lines. Usually (with a few exceptions), non-woven interfacings are not suitable for garments, they should be reserve for craft projects.
Knits or Tricot
Knits or Tricot interfacings are drapeable and soft and have both a lengthwise grain for body and stability and a crosswise stretch for flexible shaping. It is best used with light to mid-weight knits, wovens, sweater knits. It keeps the stretching ability of knit fabrics.
Weft and Warp Insertions
Weft and Warp Insertions are knit fabrics with threads woven through them combining the functionality of woven and knit interfacings. It gives fabrics stability keeping the drapeability of knit interfacings.
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Sew-In
Sew-In or Non-fusible Interfacing keep a softer look to the garments. It is the preferred interfacing in couture and in the construction of tailor jackets.
Fusible
Fusible interfacings are fused to the wrong side of the fabric with and iron and are more popular because its application is faster.
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