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i’m looking to make cloth flowers and need a fabric that’s stiff and holds its shape well. i tried silk dupioni and taffeta. the silk dupioni was awesome but is more expensive than i want to spend….the taffeta was priced nice but did not work well. any suggestions on any other fabrics that are not too expensive and have an assortment of colors?
There are various fabrics that are stiffer than others, but many people who make flowers also stiffen the fabric themselves in one way or another.
Many fabrics can be stiffened with "fabric stiffeners" (like Aleene’s) or with home made stiffeners like diluted permanent white glues (Elmers GlueAll, for example), and even fabric starches, etc. Liquid polymer clay has also been used.**
Or they can have various iron-on interfacings put on their backs.
Or they can be treated after shaping instead of beforehand.
**http://glassattic.com/polymer/sculpting_body_and_tools.htm
(… click on FABRIC STIFFENING, under "Clothing"
…also look under WINGS > Non-Caned for using silk pongee with liquid clay, with silk flowers, etc.)
http://glassattic.com/polymer/mixing_media.htm
(… click on FABRIC, then scroll down a bit)
HTH,
Diane B.
remnant sales
I know of a material that is put under other material and it is stiff but I don’t know the name of it. What I would suggest is going or calling a fabric store and asking them what they have or some place you may go to find it. Something like a spray to stiffen the material but not harm the shape, color or texture of the material.
Here is a website that gives advice on stiffening crochet items but will work just as well for fabric. There is a link within the paragraph entitled "Types of Solutions" that gives a variety of ways you can stiffen fabric and some pro’s and con’s as well.
Another idea would be to adhere two pieces of fabric together using Steam-a-Seam II Lite (http://www.warmcompany.com/lsaspage.html). The fabric will be stiffer because of the bonding agent. If you want a stiffer fabric, you could use the regular Steam-a-Seam II. Steam-a-Seam is clear once it has been fused so it won’t show between the fabrics.
Either way, the stiffening will allow you to find fabric that works best for you.