Have a question
#2
#3
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,783
I can usually tell rayon just by feel--it feels 'slippery", and cotton doesn't. Often I can tell if there is polyester mixed with the cotton by ironing the fabric after I've washed it. If you iron on the hottest setting, which is cotton, the fabric with polyester in it gives off an unpleasant, pungent smell, while 100% cotton just smells sweet if there is any odor at all. I know you can also examine the fabrics under a blacklight and some synthetics show up somehow. I'm unsure what they look like--I'm guessing they glow. I've never done it, so I can't say for sure.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,783
Something else I remembered: sometimes you can tell a synthetic by the frayed threads along the edge, because they are often much finer than cotton threads, almost hair-like by comparison. Take a good look at the frayed cotton threads along the edges of your known cotton pieces first, and you'll see what I mean.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Important(going to fabric shop 2morrow; IF YOU HAVE 2 PICK ONE RULER WHICH ONE WOULD IT HAVE TO BE??
sunnyhope
Main
23
06-29-2009 04:46 PM