What is crepe material?
The word crepe comes from the crêper which means “to crinkle.” It is a material that has a distinct crinkled surface, that can feel rough and grainy, or slightly softer, depending on the construction. Crepe material can be both woven and knitted, although it is the woven versions that are springy and can also fray quite easily. This is a material that can be made from any fibre or yarn; both man made and natural. They can also be made from a blend of fibres. Many crepes take their names from the yarn from which they are made from, “silk crepe”, “cotton crepe,” and so on.
Some of the most popular crepes include:
Crepe de Chine – Fine, soft, lightweight, dry and crisp handle with a beautiful drape
Crepe Jersey – Tightly knitted, medium weight, solid, breathable, lovely drape, crepe face
Scuba Crepe – Heavyweight, knitted, solid. Similar to think neoprene with crepe face
Crepe Chiffon – Soft, flimsy, sheer. Lightweight like chiffon but with the distinct crepe texture
German Crepe – Very soft, flat, lightweight. Inexpensive crepe option made from twisted yarns
Crepe Georgette – Fine, lightweight, woven crepe with a crisp, grainy and dull surface texture.
How is it manufactured?
Crepe is a twisted weave material. The almost pebble like handle does not wrinkle or crease easily, which is one of its main benefits. When being manufactured, it is usually made with highly twisted yarns in the weft and sometimes in the warp – or even both. It is usually made with a plain weave and the surface can be either smooth or quite rough. Crepe material can be manufactured from all major fibres, both natural and synthetic, making it a universally versatile, affordable, and popular material option.
Purposes of crepe material
Crepe is a wonderful material that is used to make a wide range of clothing. Crepe is rich in texture and style and is fairly easy to work with. This makes it a popular choice with designers and dressmakers for making fashion garments. Consumers love crepe because it is so easy to care for, and because it is such an affordable textile. It varies in weight and opacity, which helps make it an all-round versatile fabric.
Crepe is well suited for any item of clothing that requires a flowing and draped aesthetic. Garments such as blouses, skirts, and dresses all work beautifully with crepe.
Properties
Crepes shrink significantly as they relax during finishing. This is something that should be taking into account when planning the fabric dimensions that you need. Some other common properties of crepe include: Crisp handle
Crimped appearance
Textured face
Tightly woven
Twisted fibres
Dry handle
Mainly lightweight
Solid structure
Lots of variations
Flexible
Beautiful drape
Soft
Comfortable to wear
Absorbent
Easy to work with
Advantages of crepe material
Because crepe can be made from any fibre, a main advantage of this popular fabric is that it is versatile and can range greatly in price. Wool and polyester crepes are common and overall very affordable. There are also crepes made from natural and more expensive yarns, such as silk, which gives them a luxurious edge.
This is a low maintenance and easy to care for fabric (depending on the fibre it is made from. Synthetics are always easier to care for over natural fibres such as silk). It wraps well and does not wrinkle easily and therefore requires very little care to keep it looking good. It is a lightweight material that has excellent draping qualities, making it a constant popular choice for tops, dresses, and trousers.
What is canvas material
Renowned for being sturdy, strong and tear-resistant, canvas material is a material which has been in use and in demand since 3,000 BC where it was used to make sails, canopies, awnings and outdoor shelters. Cotton canvas material is firm as well as heavy and closely woven in a plain weave or a plain weave variation.
Heavy duty canvas material is tightly woven and has therefore been used for a great many end uses, ranging from outdoor equipment to art canvases. The name canvas derives from “cannabis” from the Latin word for hemp. Some canvases are still made from hemp, thus keeping this versatile material traditional.
Canvas can be constructed from several fibres, including:
Cotton canvas material – one of the most common types of canvas. Medium strength that is between 10 and 20 times stronger when wet as opposed to dry.Linen canvas material – another natural fibre, which can be used for making canvas. It is 2 to 3 times stronger than cotton and is extremely taut.Synthetic fibres – canvas can be constructed from synthetic fibres, or blends. By blending them with natural fibres, you can retain the natural abilities and combine them with durability and resilient.Hemp canvas material – this natural fibre is resistant to mildew, rot, and sunlight. Hemp canvas is naturally repellent to insects are is more elastic than cotton or linen.
How is it manufactured?
Canvas material especially UK made is usually constructed of cotton or linen. However, other fibres, such as hemp, jute, polyester, nylon, and blends are also sometimes used to create canvas.
Canvas has a very simple weave; the weft thread just goes over one warp thread and under the next. It is a warp-faced fabric in which the warp yarns have more crimp around more or less straight weft yarns.
The purposes of canvas are wide and varied, from art canvases to furniture. It is a diverse textile and many of the original uses of canvas are still being utilised. Painting surfaces, sails, tents, shelters and outerwear are still popular uses for canvas. Some are given a contemporary twist, for example, deckchair canvas fabric, thanks to its strength, durability and resilience to water.
Purposes of canvas material
The purposes of canvas are wide and varied, from art canvases to furniture. It is a diverse textile and many of the original uses of canvas are still being utilised. Painting surfaces, sails, tents, shelters and outerwear are still popular uses for canvas. Some are given a contemporary twist, for example, deckchair canvas fabric, thanks to its strength, durability and resilience to water.
Because of its abundant strength, manufacturers use canvas to create anything that requires a tough and robust finish while still retaining a natural and almost traditional look. Bags, backpacks, shoes, totes, trampolines and ever coats as well as outwear all benefit from canvas fabric.
Properties
Because it is so tightly woven when the material becomes wet, the fibres will swell, filling in any gaps and creating a waterproof canvas fabric. Some other notable properties of canvas include: Strong
Durable
Sturdy
Thick
Relatively stiff
Made from a simple weave
Tightly woven. Can be made from different fibres.
Wind proof
Stress and ladder resistant.
When treated properly, is waterproof and flame resistant.
Some constructions have a degree of stretch, where others are taut
Can be blended with synthetic and natural fibres
Advantages of canvas material
Canvas materials have a whole range of advantages which makes it a great fabric choice for so many end uses. You can buy canvas fabric wholesale and online, in a range of sizes, weights and fibre compositions.
One of the major advantages of canvas is that it readily accepts a range of chemical treatments to improve upon its natural qualities.
By combining synthetic materials with natural fibres, you can create a canvas which is light yet robust, and is completely weather-resistant. This blend has made canvas a popular choice for industrial, architectural and marine uses.