fabric - Caspar

How To Choose the Perfect Fabric for Your DIY Project?

Caspar Design — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 07:36:55 +0000

DIY is a term we encounter everywhere.

Everybody already knows it’s short for Do It Yourself.

But what does DIY include?

Some will instantly think about patching up holes in the wall, others about making their own bath bombs, cutting their own hair, manufacturing furniture or sewing their own clothes.

Correct answer is – well, all the above! DIY includes performing tasks on your own, instead of paying for a product or service.

However, we’re Caspar so, in this case, we’re going to focus on the last task: sewing. Clothes, bags, pillowcases, curtains, tablecloths, accessories like scarfs, clothes for children, blankets – you can make all of these at home.

Take it easy, it’s not as simple as it sounds.

What does DIY sewing at home look like?

Some will think that a sewing machine, a couple of threads and a fabric are enough.

But that’s far from it!

Sewing involves a certain level of knowledge, some of which you can acquire only through practice. Still, you can start simply by watching a YouTube tutorial, reading a book or (this) blog.

There are A LOT of fabrics and knits. And not all of them will be suitable for every project – one will be great for making clothes, the other one for curtains, and another one for scarves. One will stretch and glide through your sewing machine so it won’t be an ideal fit for beginners, while others will stand still and patiently wait to be formed by you.

Keep this in mind before you throw yourself into a project, and answer these questions:

What are the properties of each fabric? In our web shop, every fabric has its detailed description along with its purpose.
What are your sewing skills? If you’ re a beginner, choose non-stretchable fabrics of medium thickness.

If you’ve successfully answered these questions, we can move on.

To make your DIY projects easier, we’ve made a list of suitable fabrics according to the various types of projects. You just need to click on the link and see which fabric corresponds to your task.

Casual clothes

Cotton. Everything made of cotton is so light, so breathable, it feels so good on the skin – clearly there’s no better option for casual clothes in which you’ll chill on the couch or take a walk through the park.

Of course, viscose doesn’t lag behind either. It’s equally soft and drapes down the body beautifully.

Fashion accessories

Bags, shawls and scarves – which materials are ideal for fashion accessories?

It’s easy to choose – just keep in mind whether you need a light and airy material (for a shawl) or a firm one for a bag. Here’s the solution:

Kids’ and baby clothes

If you’re thinking about designing kids’ or baby clothes, be especially careful while choosing the right material. Their sensitive skin will love natural materials like cotton, as well as viscose.

Fashion clothing

Why did we put fashion clothing in its own category? Because materials used in the making of tracksuits are different from the ones you’ll make a fashion dress out of. For skin-tight pieces there is no better material than viscose, while the twills are used for firmer and sharper lines.

Home decor

You’re probably aware that you won’t need the same type of fabric for comfy undershirts and for pillowcases which will be placed on the terrace couch, right? Home decorations acquire somewhat firmer materials, and twill and linen are the rightful winners.

Have you found your fabric? Take a peek at our Fabric Types page and find the one that suits you!

The post How To Choose the Perfect Fabric for Your DIY Project? appeared first on Caspar.

Single Cotton Jersey: Why Do We Love This Fabric So Much?

Caspar Design — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Where do we start with the description of Single Cotton Jersey?

We all know and own that one classic, breathable, light cotton shirt which we, because of its feeling on the skin, want to wear for the whole day.

Well, that’s Single Cotton Jersey – a material with a very interesting story we’ll tell you more about.

Let’s start at the beginning.

We don’t know about you, but at Caspar we really like fun facts, so let’s begin with some of those.

How was Single Cotton Jersey first created?

The history of Single Cotton Jersey and its name begins in the Middle Ages.

It was first manufactured on Jersey Island in the English Channel where fishermen used it to make sweaters, and it was made of wool. As time went by, jersey switched from wool to cotton and became the material used for underwear.

As is always the case in the fashion world, something is perceived as ordinary until it’s made popular by someone famous.

In 1916 that was Coco Chanel, who included Single Cotton Jersey in her women’s collection. Of course, the use of underwear material on fashion runways was pretty shocking at the time, but thanks to Coco, the world realised the benefits of this material, which can be used to make casual clothes too.

And then Marlon Brando enters the scene in 1951 with the movie ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ along with James Dean in ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ in 1955. What did they have in common? That classic white jersey shirt. Thanks to these iconic looks, endorsed by the popularity of aforementioned movies, jersey T-shirt quickly became a hit across the globe. Today, this material is used for a wide range of clothes, not only shirts.

Starting with fishermen’s clothes, walking through fashion runways, and ending up in our closets today.

Who would say, right?

What makes Jersey cotton special?

Jersey is a material made by knitting – it has a special way of thread overlapping. Every loop is dragged through the loop under, which results in light vertical lines on the front of the fabric, and “cross” pattern on the back.

Jersey is lighter than the rest of knits and it stretches in the direction of these lines.

Like other cotton fabrics, it’s very breathable so it creates a light and soft feeling on the skin. Cotton is also a material known for – and here comes another fun fact – its absorbing power. It can absorb about 25 times its weight in water! Such power means you will have no problems with sweat staying on your skin, this being another reason why jersey is just so comfy!

In other words, jersey is pure comfort made for casual clothes that will be worn at home, at the gym, while taking a walk or on any other occasion that requires comfort, flexibility and lightness.

Suma summarum?

Single Cotton Jersey is everybody’s favourite knit.

It’s a good match for everything ranging from T-shirts, jersey dresses, underwear to comfortable bed sheets and we can wear it all year long – it’s perfect for both summer and winter.

Its maintenance is simple: it’s enough to wash it on 30℃ (don’t put it on higher temperatures because it will shrink) and use a mild detergent. Another advantage of cold washing is its eco-friendliness – colder water needs less energy required for heating, which reduces the carbon footprint.

After washing, shake it lightly to return it to its original shape and avoid direct sunlight when drying (to avoid color fading).

In the end, turn it on the opposite side and iron it to avoid eventual creases – and that’s it folks! You can enjoy the softness again.

Shhh – there’s also a blog post which explains our care instructions in detail

We also have another one about classic cotton T-shirts that really like Single Cotton Jersey!

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Cotton Twill: All secrets of this famous diagonal pattern

Caspar Design — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 10:57:00 +0000

There are plenty of materials on offer today – natural or synthetic, heavy or light, with diagonal or horizontal patterns, smooth or sharp – something to soothe everyone’s taste, one could say. One of the most popular materials in the world is cotton twill – the king amongst fabrics with its recognizable diagonal lines.

First things first: have you ever wondered when people started using fabrics? When did it occur to them that they could use plants to make clothes? Let’s start with the history of fabrics (materials made by weaving) so we could tell you the story of cotton twill.

The history of fabrics

When did humans first start using materials (and who came up with the idea), we cannot say for sure. Perhaps a caveman was bored, he took those fluffy cotton balls and started intertwining them. The earliest proof we have are flax threads found in a cave in Georgia dating back to 34 000 BC. Whether they were weaved or knit materials, no one knows for sure.

The first evidence of weaving was found in Czech Republic – fabric imprints found on pottery. Keep in mind that fabrics are degradable – those poor ones won’t even last a year, let alone 27.000 years, the age of these imprints, so it’s rather difficult to find perfectly preserved samples.

Now that we know when it all started, we may begin the story of cotton twill, our most famous fabric.

How is cotton twill made?

First we must clarify one thing. There are three different types of weave:

Regular weave: has a simple, cross pattern
Twill weave: has a diagonal, parallel pattern
Satin weave: characteristic smooth surface

How can there be three types of weave, you may wonder? Weave is made of two strings (in this case cotton) intertwined in different ways, forming different types of weave. These two strings are called warp and weft.

In twill weave, warp passes above one or more strings of weft, and then below them. Repeating this process results in characteristic diagonal pattern with two different sides of fabric. The front side is more resilient and visually appealing.

Twill weave can be made of different materials – wool, cotton, polyester, silk, flax and viscose. In this case we are focusing on cotton twill.

What are the main characteristics of cotton twill and what is it used for?

Cotton twill may vary in its weight, depending on how much strings are there in the weave (usually between 100 to 500 strings). Our classic cotton twill weighs 245 g/m².

There are different types of cotton twill according to its weight: from a light chino fabric used for casual pants and skirts, to heavy denim which we all know as our favourite jeans (no, not the stretchy ones we have today but those classic cotton ones, popular in the eighties).

No matter the weight, all cotton twills have some common characteristics:

Due to its structure, cotton twill drapes wonderfully and clings to the items draped by it.
It is stronger and thicker than classic weave, and the stains aren’t so visible.
It isn’t so prone to wrinkles as classic weave fabrics.

What can you use cotton twill for?

This matter once again depends on the weight of the material. Lighter twills are perfect for skirts, shawls, neckerchiefs and ties, while heavier twills can be used for classic jeans, jackets and outdoor work clothes for more demanding jobs such as construction.

In conclusion, cotton twill can be used for:

Clothing: jackets, polo shirts, underwear, work clothes
Home textile: bed linen, blankets, mattress covers, tablecloths, curtains, carpets, towels, kitchen towels etc.

Interesting facts about cotton twill

Serge is a type of cotton twill considered to be the original name for denim. Today it is used for raincoats and work uniforms due to its smooth surface.
Chino fabric was initially used in the USA for summer military uniforms in World War I. In the fifties and the sixties it became a symbol of prestigious “Ivy League” look. In the end it was made famous by GAP commercials and the “casual Friday” concept.
The biggest world manufacturer and exporter of cotton twill is China, followed by USA, Pakistan and India.
The word twill comes from old English word twili, meaning woven with double thread.

What makes cotton twill our web shop’s most famous fabric? Its quality and wide range of use. Come up with your own design, and we will print it on the fabric so you can make the most creative DIY projects.

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Differences between natural and synthetic fabrics

Caspar Design — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 00:21:00 +0000

Natural and synthetic fabrics – Main differences

Have you ever wondered why is that dear cotton shirt of yours so comfortable to sleep in, but not quite appropriate for gym practice? Or how come that stuffed winter jacket dries faster than the light spring one? The answers to these questions lie in the type of materials these clothes are made of.

All our clothes, shoes and other textile objects we have at home can be divided into three types, based on the materials they are made of: natural, synthetic and mixed. While some fabrics are very light and soft, others have a stronger texture in order to retain their shape. Each type of fabric has its advantages, and you can choose the one that will best suit your needs.

The origin and history of fabric materials

We get natural materials from plants or animals, and their main representatives are cotton, wool, silk, linen and leather. Ever since the first needle was invented 20 000 years ago, natural materials were used in production of clothes, jewellery, furniture etc. Cotton, the most famous natural fabric, began its journey 5000 years ago in Pakistan, and it dominated the fashion industry up until the 1970s.

During this period, it was overthrown by polyester – a type of synthetic material which was, as it is the case with all materials of this kind, produced by submerging a natural-occurring substance to chemical reactions. In this case, petroleum was altered and it resulted in firm, elastic and durable strings. Despite the fact they are rather new, synthetic materials are ubiquitous, so it’s no wonder they make up for 60% of fabric market.

Comfortableness of natural material fabrics

Natural materials are especially strong and durable thanks to their structure but are also soft and comfortable. This cosiness is present due to their main characteristic: they are absorbent. A cotton shirt will draw the moisture away from the skin and we get the feeling it can “breathe”. This is especially important when producing items we use or wear every day like pyjamas, bed linen and towels. This also makes cotton materials ideal for summer months.

Another reason why natural materials are so skin-friendly is the fact they are hypoallergenic and possess unique antibacterial properties. In other words, they won’t cause allergies and we don’t have to fear that a certain shirt will cause a rash, making them ideal for everyone with a sensitive skin, as well as for that soft newborn skin.

Synthetic fabrics: durability and strength

Synthetic fabrics are unbelievably durable, resistant to shrinking and creasing. The most famous material in this category, polyester, is incredibly flexible, stretchable and doesn’t attract moisture. It’s no wonder it’s the primary choice in sports clothing. Because of synthetic fabrics athletes can say goodbye to those awkward sweat marks on their clothes. The fact it isn’t absorbent and that it holds the heat, polyester is also the ideal candidate for winter clothing.

Polyester was popular in the 1970s as a material which can be worn for 68 days straight and it still won’t crease. Its biggest fan was John Travolta in films such as Saturday Night Fever. Nevertheless, technology has advanced since that period of artificial, shiny polyester suits. Today polyester is a high-quality, durable material, easy to print and the colours are durable and permanent.

Natural fabric

Synthetic fabric

Which material is right for you?

Different materials have different properties and based on those we can define the purpose of each one. If you are buying bed linen, you will probably choose a cotton one that will allow your skin to breathe overnight. On the other side, you will choose light and stretchable polyester clothes for your gym practice that won’t bother you during your workout.

The advances in technology lead to advances in material production. Today mixed materials are taking their share of the market. For example, they can offer the best of both worlds – cotton breathability and polyester flexibility. This means you will have a comfortable sports shirt which won’t cause electricity. Each type of fabric has its advantages. Most important thing is that you choose high-quality materials that will let you enjoy them for a long time.

Which type of fabric suits your needs? On our web shop you can choose between many different types of polyester and natural materials. We are positive you will find just the one you need!

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How can you take proper care of our apparel and fabrics?

Caspar Design — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 10:27:57 +0000

How many times have you destroyed your new piece of clothing by improper care? Perhaps you washed the white shirt with red socks. Maybe you ironed a polyester shirt on cotton settings, or washed it on 60°C. In order to prevent further mourning over your favourite pieces of clothing, we present to you a brief overview of proper care instructions for all items and fabrics purchased on Caspar Design web shop. Proper care of our products reflects our idea of sustainability and eco-friendliness. How can I take proper care of my printed fabrics and products?

Wash on low temperatures

It is a well-known fact that synthetic materials should not be washed on high temperatures, which are reserved for natural materials. However, lately we can hear about the importance of washing all apparel on lower temperatures, regardless of the material they are made of. Even brands such as Ariel and Tide started campaigns reflecting the importance of such procedures when it comes to sustainability. How can this help us preserve energy?

Let’s start with the most important fact: most CO₂ emissions that occur during the washing cycle (90% of total energy) comes from water heating. Therefore, lower temperature means less energy needed for washing.

Research has proven that if you lower the washing temperature from 40°C to 30°C, you save about 57% in energy costs. Asides from saving energy, these washing cycles are much shorter, meaning you will also save on water consumption.

If the entire Europe would lower their washing temperature from 40°C to 30°C, we could save 3,5 million tons of CO₂ per year. This is the equivalent of removing two million cars off the road.
If your clothes aren’t very soiled, and you use a detergent meant for cold washes, the washing results will be the same as if you have washed it on a higher temperature.
If your clothes are soiled, lower temperature can be compensated by a larger amount of detergent.

Asides from saving energy and helping with sustainable future, cold washing doesn’t damage the fabrics as much as washing on higher temperatures. In other words, by washing your shirt on 30°C, your favourite shirts will have those bright, cheerful colours for a longer period of time.

What about ironing clothes and fabrics?

If your clothes are made of materials that are prone to wrinkles, such as cotton, ironing will be that one chore you won’t be able to get out of. To prevent your iron from “accidentally” destroying your new favourite shirt, it is important to follow the instructions on proper ironing. These depend on the type of material the apparel is made of. If you aren’t sure about it, peek at the product’s label.

Cotton

Every iron either has settings based on the material type, or based on ironing temperature, most often in the shape of a wheel. Cotton is on the edge of this wheel, i.e., on the highest temperatures section. When ironing, choose standard cotton settings (high temperature). Another important piece of advice is to iron the apparel on the reverse side to preserve its colours and/or print.

Polyester settings are located at the beginning of the wheel (low temperatures). Be very careful and lower the temperature because colour transfer or material burning may occur.

Polyester

Linen

Even though it’s a natural material, linen doesn’t like higher temperatures because they can cause colour loss or material breaking. The right choice is a setting similar to those of polyester materials.

Steam ironing

Using ironing steam certainly helps with those pesky wrinkles. Nevertheless, avoid spraying the clothes with water. This can cause staining due to the materials found in water (irons use distilled water).

Why do new products smell like vinegar?

You have finally received that shirt you have been waiting for. You open the box and unfold the paper. Then, all of a sudden – a smell of vinegar. How come? Did someone prepare pickles in the warehouse?

Don’t panic, this is completely normal. The smell of vinegar comes from eco-friendly textile dyes. Vinegar has been used as a fixation agent for quite some time now. It is the agent that helps the colour attach to the surface. Without it, the colouring would fall off the material. So, if you smell vinegar, you can rest assured that you have purchased an eco-friendly product which uses natural ingredients in its colouring, instead of those heavy chemicals.

Dry-cleaning

Sometimes grown-ups are worse than children when it comes to stains. And sometimes these stains are so pesky that they cannot be removed by a simple detergent. Instead, we take the clothes to the cleaners. One of the chemicals that can be used in the dry-cleaning process is perchloroethylene, an industrial solvent. If you are visiting your dry cleaner, ask the clerk if they use this solvent, popularly called perc. Assuming they do, know that it can cause colour damage on your shirt or tablecloth.

Still have any questions? Contact us and we will gladly answer them

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What are the main differences between woven and knit fabrics?

Caspar Design — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Differences between woven and knit fabrics

Present since the stone age, fabrics had about 100.000 years to develop according to our needs. This is why today we have warm and cold weather clothes, work and gym clothes, sleeping and swimming clothes. Tents, umbrellas and windbreaker jackets are made of one fabric, and curtains, pillowcases and tablecloths of another. In the modern world there is an abundance of different fabrics made of natural and artificial materials, each of them holding different properties and serving different purposes.

Alas, why are some shirts more stretchable than others? Why do some dresses have that edge that keeps curling up? If you take a close look into the threads that make up your clothes, you will get the answer to this question. Threads reveal the main difference between two types of fabric – woven and knit.

Clear and firmly woven lines

The threads inside a woven fabric are divided into warp and weft, and are interlaced in different shapes: canvas, atlas, twill etc. Wovens, unlike knits, must have sewn-in edges that will keep them from falling apart. The most widely known examples of these fabrics are denim, muslin, velvet, flannel and chiffon – known for their easy manoeuvrability.

Unlike knits which are used in clothes that adhere to the body, wovens are firm, non-stretchable fabrics that maintain their shape. This makes them ideal for suits, shirts, jackets and home textile. You will recognize these clothes by their buttons, zippers, snap buttons and other additions that are used to facilitate their use.

In other words, if you are looking for clear lines and bold silhouettes, choose clothes made of woven fabrics.

Knit fabrics – eternal symbols of comfortability

If you have ever seen your mother or grandmother knit, you will know how knit fabrics are made – one thread that is interlaced, resulting in little loops that form a braid pattern. The structure of these loops is responsible for the knits’ main characteristic – stretchability. Have you ever seen a knit piece of clothing on a hanger in a store? We hope not, because this can result in over-stretching, and in the end the fabric is deformed.

Besides those warm, knit woollen sweaters, knit pattern is also found in textiles such as fleece, combed polyester, interlock and jersey cotton. Due to their stretchability, these textiles are ideal for underwear, shirts, leggings, hats, socks, pullovers and cardigans, and we especially like them because they don’t wrinkle as easily as wovens.

When should you choose each fabric?

When will you choose a piece of clothing made of woven fabric, and when will it be knit? It all depends on their purpose. We will hardly do sports in stiff denim pants, just like we won’t use bed linen that is made of stretchable interlock that will separate from the bedding.

The dress we plan on wearing for the entire day, first at work and later when having coffee with friends, would probably be quite wrinkled if it were made of woven fabric, while with knits you won’t even see the difference. Choose the fabric that will suit your wishes, but keep in mind that you need to follow care instructions carefully. This way your favourite pieces of clothing will be well-kept for a long time.

Choose the fabric that will suit your needs, and then come up with a creative and unique design. We will make sure it is transferred onto the fabric perfectly.

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