Do you ever wonder what makes the collars, cuffs, waistband, etc., of your clothes a bit more rigid than the entire garment? If yes, then you should know that the fabric used to make certain parts of the garments rigid or tough is known as interfacing. It is used to give a more defined and polished look to the shirts, pants, etc. when you wear it.
In this article, we will be knowing about several other materials that you can use instead of interfacing. What are the best-suited options to carry on with the sewing work if the interface is not available or needs to be avoided using? All the questions related to the same will be answered and discussed in detail below. So, without any further ado, jump into the article and get the answers unveiled.
It strengthens the particular side of the garment that needs to be kept in a particular manner or needs to be embellished with buttons, chains, and other things. Using the interface is an important thing when one is stitching such a garment that demands it. Although, there are a few other options that can be considered if the use of interface needs to be avoided.
Most people are stuck to this question that, ‘Can they use any other fabric as the substitute of interface?’ The only answer to the question is, YES, you can. There are several other fabrics present in the markets that can provide a perfect substitute for the interface fabric.
What can i use instead of interfacing- Guide For Choosing The Right Alternative For The Interfacing Fabric
As mentioned, there are many substitutes available for the interfacing fabric that can be used while sewing. But, you need to be careful while selecting any of them and should not pick any fabric blindly. Here’s a guide that explains a few paradigms that should be followed before selecting a fabric.
- Use the same weight fabric
First things first, make sure that the fabric you will be using instead of the interfacing fabric should be of the same weight as the main fabric of your clothing item. Keep this in mind before buying the fabric from any shop.
- Buy the same color fabric
The color of the fabric you are buying should not be different from the color of the main fabric you are using for your garment. The colors of both fabrics need to be the same to maintain uniformity.
- Test the fabric
Before finalizing any fabric, do a small test and check whether the fabric you have selected as your substitute for the interfacing fabric can work in the manner you want it to. Do not get your hands on anything that does not satiate the needs.
- Use a pre-shrunk fabric
If the fabric you are using as an interfacing substitute gets wrinkles and is shrunk badly, you might not be able to iron it well and remove all the crimps. This is why it is advised to use a pre-shrunk fabric that is free of all the crimps and shrinks and will provide you with a perfect finish when you will use it for sewing.
- Use a fabric that will not affect the fall of the garment
You need to look for a fabric to substitute with the interfacing that does not affect the drape or the fall of the garment you are sewing it in. Just like the interfacing, it just provides rigidity and stiffness to the parts where it is needed. If it will affect the fall or the hand of the garment, the entire look of the garment will be affected.
These are the five parameters that need to be followed before selecting fabric as a substitute for the interfacing. The interfacing fabric has several substitutes in the market, but the selection of them is an important thing that needs to be done wisely and only then it will fulfill the needs.
General FAQs About The Substitute Fabrics
Q1. What are the options that can be considered?
Ans. Many options can be considered for use at the place of an interfacing fabric, such as linen, muslin, broadcloth, cotton. One can choose any of these fabrics in place of the interfacing fabric and use them as and when needed. All of these fabrics do a pretty decent job in providing a firm and rigid look and support to the garment wherever needed if used correctly.
All that is needed is to be careful while using these fabrics and follow the right process of using these alternatives while sewing. They will do a good job in sufficing the needs of the garment you are sewing and will easily take the place of interfacing fabric.
Q2. Can a felt be used in place of an interfacing fabric?
Ans. Yes, you can go for using a felt fabric instead of the interfacing fabric. But, felt is a more expensive option than the interfacing fabric and might cost you more if you are working on several garments. This is why, it is advised to use other alternatives like cotton, silk, etc., but not felt. Although, you can use felt if budget is not your constraint or you are working on just one garment and want the parts to be perfectly rigid as they are when interfacing is used.
Felt is a much reliable option and will provide perfect support to your garment as well. So, if you can and you want to use it, felt can become one of the best alternatives of the interfacing fabric.
Q3. Can I stiffen a fabric without using interfacing?
Ans. Yes. If you do not want to use the interfacing fabric and want to stiffen the garment fabric on your own, there is a DIY you can follow! Here you go- In a pan, add two cups of water and a teaspoon full of gelatin. Mix the contents well and leave them for about half an hour to settle down well.
Once this is done, add four cups of hot water into the mixture and you are good to go! You can either store this mixture in a spray bottle and spray it directly onto the fabric or can simply soak your fabric into it and wait for it to dry. This is one of the easiest ways to stiffen a fabric without using any interfacing.
Q4. What precautions do I need to take to use a substitute in place of interfacing?
Ans. If you are using any other fabric or alternative in place of interfacing, there are a few precautions you need to take. Below is a list of do’s that you need to follow before using the alternative fabric with the main fabric:
- Before starting the sewing process, make sure that you have washed the main fabric as well as the alternative fabric to skip any possible issues you might face shortly. Pre-washing both fabrics is always advisable if you want to fetch good results.
- While sewing both fabrics together, make sure that you are using the baste stitch technique, that is, the stitches need to be about 3.5 or even wider to get a better finish. This will also make the job of adding your alternate fabric to the main fabric a bit easier.
- Make sure that you have cut your fabric on the grain. The one you are going to use as the alternative for the interfacing fabric needs to be cut primarily before you use it. This will also help in easing out the process for you.
These are the three main points you need to consider before attaching and sewing it to the main fabric of your clothing item.
Q5. What is the process of attaching an alternative of interfacing to the min fabric?
Ans. Once you have found the best alternative for the interfacing fabric, the only thing left to do correctly is the attachment or the sewing part. To do it perfectly and ace the sewing game, you can follow the given process:
- Lay the fabric down correctly and iron it well to remove all the crumples and shrinks.
- After this, measure and cut the fabric into the size that is needed by your garment.
- Start with the baste stitching method.
- Once done, make sure to sew the hems well to avoid any fallouts of the threads.
- Iron the entire piece again to get a firm finish.
Conclusion
Using interfacing fabric to give proper stiffness and rigidity to your garment is one of the main steps of sewing. But, what if you are short of the interfacing facing and want to give the same effect to your clothing item? You do not have to worry, as there is a bunch of fabrics that can be used as a good alternative for the interfacing fabric and you can use any of them as per your needs and requirements. You just need to select the right fabric depending upon your clothing item and use it in the right process to ace the game!