Shawl Tutorial: Material Discussion

[Elia LePhant]

I personally like the second one better.

Now y’all have me wanting to fabric shop.

 

[Roheryn ni Galghandhrei t'al'Djinn]

I like the first one better.

 

[Maiara]

I like all of them. All they are gorgeus. I prefer a lightweight fabric and.. I like that the color of the shawl itself to match the fringe but diferent color its gorgeus too. I love that the shawls have embroidery (I dont know if "embroidery" is the correct word). I'm attaching a picture like example below.

Spoiler

 

[Polegnyn Nemeara]

Honestly it depends on the thickness of the fabric. I've seen that weave on thin flimsy fabric and on thick upholstery fabric. What kind is it?

The alternate photos make it look thinner but **shrug** your guess is better than mine. Here's the LINK. **crosses fingers for thin, flimsy fabric***

Which do folks like better between these two?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/504411416/gold-blue-multi-color-melrose-floral
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1060089999/exquisite-blue-flower-embroidered-lace

I'm a fan of the second link mainly because I'm not a fan of yellow. However, the yellow flowers will pop better against blue fabric.

 

[Melearlin Valar]

I emailed both sellers for clarification! (For the first, which direction across the fabric the flowers go. For the second, whether it's more of a border print or if the vines are even). There are tons of beautiful floral embroidery fabrics which are more like border prints, which doesn't really work for a triangular shawl (unless I want a big honking seam up the center, and I'm not sure I do)

 

[Merena Orithana]

@Melearlin Valar Sedai - those laces are gorgeous! I love your Moiraine dress too!

 

[Melearlin Valar]

Second seller: "It's not a print, it's embroidered! Buy some if you like it!"

:rolleyes Ok I know I called it a border print, but the important takeaway there was BORDER.

 

[Elia LePhant]

Wow so helpful.

 

[Elania al'Manir]

The alternate photos make it look thinner but **shrug** your guess is better than mine. Here's the LINK. **crosses fingers for thin, flimsy fabric***

So it looks similar to a quilting cotton, maybe a little heavier but not into upholstery territory. You'd be able to make a shawl out of it, although I'm not sure I'd call it thin or flimsy. More... stable without being stiff. Does that make sense?

 

[Maddie Vitalia]

Years ago, I was commissioned to make a Brown Shawl. The main fabric was this absolutely beautiful embroidered heavy silk while the lining was silk satin. It took me forever to get the lining right since the stuff was so thin and slippery! The finished Shawl was wonderful and I learned a lot about working with silks.

One Shawl design I came up with was using the lining fabric to create a several inch wide border along the bottom edge of the Shawl. This often gave me a firmer hem that was better for my hand-tied fringe technique.

 

[Elania al'Manir]

One Shawl design I came up with was using the lining fabric to create a several inch wide border along the bottom edge of the Shawl. This often gave me a firmer hem that was better for my hand-tied fringe technique.

Do you happen to have a picture or two you could share with us? I'd love to see that!

 

[Maddie Vitalia]

I'll have to see if I still have any pictures... its been at least two computers since I last made one. *blink*

 

[Elucia Nileran]

I'm crocheting the whole shawl using bamboo viscose, cotton, merino, and silk yarns. It's going to be a light, warm-weather shawl for casual library work. I'm thinking of crocheting a shawl for winter weather, made 100% out of wool yarn. I haven't found a fabric in the stores near me that I like enough to sew a formal shawl.

 

[Maddie Vitalia]

I completely understand your situation Elucia! The only place in my area that sells fabric is Walmart. While their offerings are good for some things, Shawls are definitely not one of those things.

I highly recommend you explore online sources for Shawl fabrics. The selection is almost endless and most of the time the prices are pretty decent. If you want to see and feel the real thing before buying, many sources allow you to purchase fabric samples are a relatively low cost.

 

[Elucia Nileran]

I completely understand your situation Elucia! The only place in my area that sells fabric is Walmart. While their offerings are good for some things, Shawls are definitely not one of those things.
I highly recommend you explore online sources for Shawl fabrics. The selection is almost endless and most of the time the prices are pretty decent. If you want to see and feel the real thing before buying, many sources allow you to purchase fabric samples are a relatively low cost.

I have hobby lobby and Walmart. The hobby lobby has nothing useful.
I will try fabric samples online.

 

[Laralelle Susandrea]

There’s a list of to buy materials online here. Happy sewing!

 

[Elucia Nileran]

There’s a list of to buy materials online here. Happy sewing!

Perfect

 

[Cassie Dainar]

I use Joann’s for my base fabric and Huntington Fabrics on Etsy for my fringe.