Waxed cotton is a durable and waterproof material suitable for sewing backpacks, bags, jackets, accessories. How to work with this fabric: tricks and tips.
Waxed cotton (waxed cotton) - a cotton fabric impregnated with natural beeswax or a similar composition (it may also include paraffin, various oils and resins). Waxing gives the fabric waterproof properties and makes it more rigid, well-kept shape.
Bags, backpacks, other accessories are sewn from waxed fabric, and it is also used for outerwear.
Waxed fabric can be denser or thinner, shiny or matte, with or without texture. In terms of properties, things from it are somewhat reminiscent of leather or suede, however, it is easier to sew waxed cotton than these materials, and care must be taken to care for it.
How to make your own waxed fabric
Here are some tips for working with waxed tissue:
- To mark the fabric, a wooden stick or something similar (for example, a knitting needle) is suitable.
- When working, do not use tailor pins, but plastic clips.
- The foot, as a rule, fits the usual, but the needle is better to take for denim.
- It is usually recommended to use especially strong or sufficiently thick threads (the latter - depending on the thickness and density of the fabric).
- The stitch length is at least 3 mm.
- When ironing, use the heating of the iron no more than average, iron through the iron (thin cotton fabric). You can try to smooth the seams by simply properly clicking on them with your finger.
- Especially thick places before stitching, helps to tap with a hammer, as when working with denim.
- If wrinkles or creases form on the fabric, try blowing a hairdryer on them, turning on average air heating.
- Waxed fabric cannot be washed in the usual way: the impregnation will be washed off. In addition to water-repellent, this material also has dirt-repellent properties, therefore, most often, contamination can be removed with a damp cloth, in extreme cases - moistened with a solution of detergent. You can also look for special means for caring for waxed tissue, usually they are sold by companies that sew clothes or accessories from this material.
- In some cases, it is possible to restore the impregnation in the damaged area using shoe wax and a hairdryer or a natural beeswax iron with an iron. But in that, and in another case, be sure to pre-try the method on a patch or, if there is none, on an inconspicuous part of the thing.
- When finished with waxed fabric, clean your machine. Impregnation can form "growths" on some of its details. Details about car care are here:
5 things to do if you care about your sewing machine
Photo: blog.colettehq.com, diaryofaquilter.com, thelastthingsfirst.com
