Collection: muslin

fabric science of muslin

What properties does muslin fabric have and how is it made?

Muslin fabrics, which are named after the city of Mosul, are mostly made of cotton, less often of wool, viscose fibers or even silk. The respective raw material is loosely woven in the so-called plain weave and made into a textile. This method of production gives the material its great properties and its diamond-shaped structure.

Muslin is a loose fabric that has a very fine thread and looks. This makes the material wonderfully soft and extremely comfortable to wear. Muslin is breathable, absorbent and yet opaque, which makes this textile the ideal material for spring and summer. In the double gauze version, muslin can also be worn in autumn and winter without any problems due to the warming double layers of fabric that are interwoven at certain points. Muslin is usually made of 100% cotton, which makes it a very natural fabric. Due to its crepe-like look, the material does not need to be ironed. The texture and appearance also offer advantages when processing, as seams that are not worked exactly straight are less noticeable. The textile is therefore very suitable for beginners in sewing.

What is muslin fabric used for and what can be made from it?

Muslin fabrics were already used for beautiful women's dresses at the end of the 18th century. Today, muslin is often used for diapers or burp cloths for babies and toddlers. But muslin fabric can do much more, which is why it has been rediscovered today for adult and children's clothing. Due to its soft, loose, airy texture, absorbency combined with its great drape, muslin is particularly suitable for DIY clothing or decorative sewing projects such as:

• blouses
• Cover
• Pillow
• Dresses
• Pants
• skirts
• tunics
• towels
• curtains and drapes

Muslin is not just suitable for diapers and burp cloths when it comes to baby and children's clothing. Muslin fabric sold by the meter can be used to sew beautiful children's clothing, such as cute dresses, bloomers, T-shirts and so on. The loose, soft material is therefore suitable for children and adults alike.

Interesting facts about the care and processing of muslin fabric

How is muslin fabric processed?

Muslin fabric should definitely be washed before processing, otherwise you run the risk that your self-sewn garment will no longer fit after the first wash, which of course should be avoided. Depending on the manufacturing variant, muslin can shrink by 10% - 20%.

Muslin is ideal for beginners to sew with because it is a non-elastic and grippy fabric that does not need to be fixed so laboriously, which makes sewing easier. However, it is a very fine fabric, which is why you should definitely use the right needles . For fine muslin, we recommend using a thin sewing needle such as the 60 or 70 universal needle or a so-called Microtex needle. For coarser variants, you can also work with a 70 to 90 sewing needle. Then sew with a simple straight stitch and, because the fabric has a loose weave, with the standard stitch length of 3mm to 4mm. It is a loose material, which is why the presser foot pressure should be reduced; alternatively, the walking foot can be used. Due to the material's own appearance, seams that are not perfectly straight are not so noticeable, which is another advantage if you have just started sewing. Muslin fabric frays quite quickly after cutting, as is usual with woven fabrics, which is why it is necessary to finish the material afterwards. The best way to do this is with an overlock or you can finish it yourself. For some items of clothing, an additional lining fabric may also be required, as muslin is processed quite loosely and may therefore show through a little.

How do you properly care for muslin fabric?

Muslin fabric should be washed at 30°C, preferably on a gentle cycle or by hand to preserve and protect the fiber quality and colors for as long as possible.

The loose and light textile should be air dried normally and not in the dryer due to the high cotton content and the resulting risk of shrinkage. Due to its nature, the textile also dries very quickly.

When washed, the fabric contracts and the muslin's own crepe effect is created. The fabric can be smoothed out again using an iron and the effect reduced. To achieve the full effect, muslin fabrics should therefore not be ironed before processing. Ironing is therefore not actually necessary with muslin.

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