EP 23: Sewing with Rayon/Viscose Fabric - Yes You Can!

So first of all, all rayon fabrics have a fluid and flowy drape.

Rayon was created to mimic silk and a key characteristic of any fabric that has a substantial amount of rayon is that drape.

Now the second positive characteristic is that the rayon will bring a softness and smoothness to the fabric and it just will feel soft and smooth against the skin.

The amount of softness varies depending on the fabric.

A challis may have quite a bit, a ponte less.

but the rayon will bring some degree of softness.

Now the third positive characteristic is rayon is more absorbent than cotton and it wicks away sweat.

So it is a great warm weather fabric.

The fourth Positive characteristic kind of goes along with number three is it is highly breathable.

And so again, it's cool to wear, making it ideal for warm weather garments.

Ran also absorbs dye well, which makes it a very popular fabric for printed fabrics.

it resists pilling and we hate a fabric that pills a lot and finally it has no static so it won't cling like a polyester now of course no fabric is perfect and so rayon has several negative characteristics as well now In the previous episode, I discussed the environmental impact of rayon and concerns over working conditions in the rayon factories.

So please go listen to that episode.

Again, I will... link that down below for you, but let's focus just right now on the negative characteristics of a fabric that is made out of rayon fibers.

First of all, rayon is not strong when it's wet.

Now the strength returns once it's dried, but the fabric is weakened when wet, so it must be handled with care.

Rayon should be washed on the gentle or delicate cycle in the washing machine and then lay flat to dry or dried in the dryer in a very low setting.

The exception to this is Modal rayon.

Again, I discussed what that means in that previous episode, but Modal was created primarily to combat the weakness of rayon when it is wet, and it can be washed and thrown in the dryer.

Now, the second negative characteristic is rayon doesn't like heat.

So, as I mentioned, it needs to go in the dryer.

If it goes in the dryer at all on a low setting, it also needs to be ironed on a low setting.

The third negative characteristic is rayon shrinks.

And it can shrink substantially.

So always make sure that you pre-wash your fabric and then dry that rayon fabric however you're going to dry the finished garment.