Raspberry Creek Fabrics just released their new designs on Stretch Crepe, Rayon Challis and Ponte. I have always been a HUGE fan of their rayon challis along with tons of other sewists. But, I have learned that not everyone is familiar with stretch crepe or how to sew it. SEW~ I’ve pulled together some info for my readers and visitors! I hope you find it helpful!
So let’s talk about Stretch Crepe. To begin, we’ll go over all the Pros and Con(s) of stretch crepe.
Pros
There are just soooo many!
- Doesn’t wrinkle easily, which makes it great for travel.
- Simply wash and dry! Hang up after removing from the dryer and no ironing necessary!
- Soft to touch
- Amazing drape!
- Easy to work with, making it great for beginners!
- No need for lining, even with light background colors
- Has a touch of stretch, making it comfortable to wear.
- Can be used for custom designs that are full coverage. (darker backgrounds especially)
Cons
All great things always have a few, but don’t let it sway you.
- Polyester fiber content
- Doesn’t hold a crisp press (but a product like Sally’s Best Press helps a ton!)
That’s the only con I can think of. I know that many sewists prefer to sew with natural fibers for a variety of reasons. I’ll be honest, I typically do as well. I love nothing more than rayon and linen, but this stretch crepe certainly has a place in my wardrobe.
So there you have the Pros and Cons of stretch crepe. But what is it exactly?
First off, don’t let the name fool you. It is a woven fabric, not a knit. RCF stretch crepe is 98% polyester and 2% spandex. That small amount of spandex content gives the fabric just a touch of stretch. It makes movement when wearing it just a tad easier. This small amount of spandex does NOT mean you can use it for patterns designed for just knits. FYI: Not all crepes have spandex in them.Crepe is a woven fabric. During weaving a yarn is twisted . That twisted yarn gives the fabric surface a slight texture. This crepe texture adds dimension and interest to the fabric. Some like to refer to it as “pebbled” or “bubble” crepe. You can see this texture in the photo below
RCF stretch crepe is great for flowy dresses and pants, skirts, tops and blouses. It is a nice weight and drapes beautifully. It is heavier than RCF rayon challis. It also has more body than a rayon challis, so it creates THE best flutter and bishop sleeves. I absolutely adore a stretch crepe flutter sleeve! Stretch crepe is comfortable to wear, and can easily work for both a casual or work settings.
Tips for Working with Stretch Crepe
- Because of the polyester fiber content, it is more difficult to press. Always use a press cloth to avoid melting your fabric. Because of this, I prefer to use this crepe for flowy and softer silhouettes. I personally would avoid more tailored styles that require crisp pressed details.
- Always use a brand new needle when sewing stretch crepe.
- My first choice would be a Sharp(Microtex) needle. This needle has a very fine point which helps to prevent snags in your fabric. If you don’t have a Sharp needle, you can try a Universal needle. Make sure your needle is either 70/10 or 80/12. Always test your needle on your fabric first!
- Do not use a Ballpoint/Stretch needle~ remember this is a woven fabric. These needles have rounded tips to prevent them from making holes in knit fabrics. These needles WILL snag and damage stretch crepe. See an example of this in the photo below.
Raspberry Creek Fabrics has added 4 new designs on Stretch Crepe to the shop. (See above photo) Stretch crepe is also available for custom printing as well. Colors print vibrantly on stretch crepe, making it perfect for bright and dark colors.
You can find all of there retail prints available on Stretch Crepe HERE.
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