June Fabric of the Month: Double Gauze
BE ENTERED TO WIN THIS SUNGLASSES CASE WHEN YOU BUY 1/2 YARD OR MORE OF THE ADORABLE FABRIC.
June’s fabric of the month is a lovely 100% organic cotton double gauze with a sweet lily pad and frog print. The shop’s sample (and giveaway this month) is a soft glasses case (great for your sunnies!) but the uses of double gauze reach far, far beyond small accessories.
Several Make It Sew customers have asked recently about this fabric, which is unfamiliar to many sewists and seamstresses. To my knowledge, It seems to have become widely available somewhere between 5 and 10 years ago. It’s constructed of two thin layers of woven gauze that are tacked together at regular intervals. These tacks are either integrated in the fabric design as in this polka dot fabric, or they are relatively undetectable from the right side of the fabric.
THE GRAINLINE FARROW IN BIRCH DOUBLE GAUZE—FABRIC BOLTS ON DISPLAY TO LEFT.
Double gauze can be made of different fibers, though all of the double gauze stock at Make It Sew is 100% cotton. The fabric is machine washable and dryable and will get better (softer, cozier, more comfortable) with use and laundering. Not all double gauzes are created equal and there are even differences between the “hand” of the fabric from the same company. Make It Sew currently carries double gauze from birch, Cloud 9, Michael Miller, Monaluna, and Shannon, with amazing Kokka Japanese double gauze coming later this summer. I hope you’ll stop in and check it out soon, and remember, if you buy ½ yard or more of the lily pad print before the end of the month, you’ll be entered to win the sunglasses case.
SUPER SOFT AND GREAT FOR PJ PANTS, BABY ITEMS, OR WHATEVER YOU CAN IMAGINE.
If you haven’t sewn with double gauze before, you needn’t be afraid of it. You should, however, be prepared for a material that’s made of two layers. Use a sharp rotary cutter or scissors, and because of the fabric’s tendency to ravel, use a marker or chalk rather than snips to mark it. Thread marking (like tailor’s tacks) is also a good technique to use on your double gauze. Use fine pins like the glass head pins available at Make it Sew and be sure to use a fresh needle—a size 70/10 or 75/11 will be your best choice. If you have a serger, this is a good time to use it. If not, a French seam or flat-felled seam will be the best options for seam finishing since the fabric wants to ravel.
Project ideas for double gauze:
Swaddling blankets (tutorial), accessories like infinity scarves, and quilts.
Kids’ clothes: Geranium Dress, Oliver & S layette
Women’s garments: Farrow, Ann Carolyn smock, Charlie Caftan.
During June, purchase any double gauze and receive 10% off your pattern purchase.