French Terry: What Is It? How to Care for it? How to Buy it? How to Sew It?

[@joanneblair2087]

I so enjoy your vlogs. Have never sewn windows French terry but will soon give it a try.

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you 😊 I recommend cotton French terry with some spandex- it sews well and is great to wear 😊

[@janmiller1850]

Loved seeing all your french terry makes in one place ... this was fun! 😻😻😻

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you 😊 (and I wish that was "all" 🤣 I'm seriously addicted to French terry 😘) x

[@janmiller1850]

@@GingerheadCo About that stash ... 😼😼😼

[@GingerheadCo]

@@janmiller1850 I might need to do a few videos about my stash 🤣🤣🤣 but it makes me feel very guilty! 😱

[@janmiller1850]

@@GingerheadCo I thought we already covered the whole "guilt" thing.

[@GingerheadCo]

@@janmiller1850 it never really goes away 🤣

[@kellywilliams7262]

Thanks for sharing this information. I’m new to sewing and it is very helpful.

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you 😊

[@debrariley2057]

What a great video. So informative. Thank you

[@kerstinshadbolt1003]

I shall watch you vlog again, then pull my piece of French Terry from my minimal fabric stash. I hope I'll remember why I bought horizontal stripes, and hope my Freya will turn out well. Looking forward to your next vlog.

[@GingerheadCo]

Horizontal stripes are super cool (and I believe they never go out of fashion 😊). I think you'll love your Freya 😊 you can baste it first to match the stripes if you don't like taking risks (and if they are tiny stripes nobody will care - I would seriously worry about anyone who inspects other people's tiny stripes to see how well they match 🤣) You're going to look très chic 😘

[@Devongal]

Thank you for a very informative vlog.

[@GingerheadCo]

I'm glad you liked it 😊

[@monicanicholls]

Can we see more of your workroom, like me you have pets in the house, interested in your sewing machines. Loved the explanation of French Terry fabrics and uses.

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you 😊 There's a video showing my sewing room (most my machines are there, though it's without the industrial coverstitch) 'sewing room tour' - I will make another one as it's still changing 😊

[@lapalma1928]

Very informative video. Thank you!!

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you 😊

[@janicek6399]

Thank you Alex, that was very informative and helpful. I believe I have seen some French Terry but didn’t know what I was looking at in the past, but not for years. I’m sure any future purchases will be online, so I really appreciate your listing some options. Possibly I’ll buy myself a gift👍

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you Janice - the shops in the description are my tred and tested ones, but I haven't got any from the US. When I know of any good shops there I'll add them to the list x

[@purplkaret]

This was so helpful! I'm about to make some loungewear and gonna make it with cotton French Terry!

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you 😊 good luck with your loungewear 😊

[@anessaharris9947]

😀 lots of good information thank you... I wish it was easy to find here

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you ♥️ I know it's not always easy to get (and the shipping from Europe would make it extortionate ☹) x

[@lynneprentice4278]

Great vlog Alex - I always struggled with what the difference was between loopback jersey and french Terry! ❤️. V h doggie coats 😍😍😍

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you Lynne ♥️ we (me and Hedgehubby) have matching jackets from this fabric 🤣🤣🤣

[@keezytv7854]

nice video

[@izabelagunkiewicz4659]

I love your love of French Terry, sis ;-) I wear it a lot:-))))

[@GingerheadCo]

Good thing I have a sister who helps me with my addiction 🤣😘

[@markcory215]

you probably dont give a shit but if you are bored like me atm then you can stream all the latest series on Instaflixxer. I've been binge watching with my girlfriend for the last couple of months xD

[@jefferymyles5323]

@Mark Cory yea, been watching on InstaFlixxer for since november myself =)

[@delowarsarker2499]

Need More explain about french terry fabric consumption

[@pollydolly9723]

Thanks for the primer (aka French Terry 101). I’ve only sewn one garment with FT, a zippered hoodie for my sweetheart, and it really was great to work with. I think a Stella will be my next FT make. I shall call it my Alex Stella 🥰

[@GingerheadCo]

I love Alex Stella ♥️♥️♥️ (you know that the Ulysses trench coat is called Nancy coat?) Alexidas range here I come 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Stella will work perfectly in French terry and you'll be cosy and snug (maybe a tiny doggie hoodie from leftovers? just sayin' 😘) x

[@laurajones4088]

Brilliant and informative video, Alex! I think I could easily become addicted to FT if I lived in a colder climate and if I could find the gorgeous, colourful prints.😍 I made a toaster sweater using French terry I found in a clearance bin for $5/yard-not the best quality but I love it. Just bought 3 different "baby" FT's (tiny loops) that I'm looking forward to sewing (wonder who may have influenced me?🤣)

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you Laura ♥️ and I'm not jealous about the weather 😉 not jealous at all 🤣🤣🤣 toaster sweater works brilliantly in French Terry- I think baby FT would be called t-shirt weight here (usually 240gsm, almost like cotton jersey) and it's lovely - the tiny loops are super smooth against the skin (perfect for kids...of any age). I'm definitely guilty of converting quite a few people into FT addicts (Hedgehubby included) 🤣 but it's just such a great fabric- feels like a hug and we all need more hugs 🤗🤗🤗

[@amandarossouw493]

Thank you

[@suepratt2536]

This is brill 😃

[@GingerheadCo]

Thank you Sue ♥️♥️♥️

[@foxxybrown291]

You have some gorgeous French Terry. I’ll let you know how my first time goes 😊 lol xx

[@GingerheadCo]

I hope it goes well 😘 and you'll get addicted, too 🤣 looking forward to seeing what you make x

[@foxxybrown291]

Gingerhead & Co 😘 xx

[@halesmoore]

Thanks for this, I've been so confused when looking at online fabric shops which is which.

[@GingerheadCo]

Check the composition, cotton spandex blend is best. And if it has loops then it's French terry 🤣 even brushed back FT should still have visible loops (covered with some fluff 😉 but visible underneath) x

[@elygale2001]

I love making raglan hoodies out of bamboo French Terry!

[@GingerheadCo]

Yya! I knew there are more of us hoodie fans 😍 I'd love to see what you make 😍

[@spencerray7590]

What would you consider to be the strongest Organic French Terry available. Strongest meaning most likely to hold together over years and years of wearing and washing. Thank you for making this video!!

[@GingerheadCo]

I really like Evelyckan Design - the fabric is not as smooth as non-organic ones, but the colours last and it doesn't change the shape after many washes. Organic French terrys can sometimes have less soft hand (they tend to have less lycra/rayon and use less dye), but I've been happy with the quality (my fabrics.uk do quite a lot of organic solids that are really good quality) I use mostly Oeko Tex certified French terry - they are produced without any harmful substances and the standards are really high (the cotton is not organic as such though - some shops sell them as organic...but it's not the same thing). I'm not a big fan of polyester/viscose/cotton blends - they are cheaper but nowhere near as good to work with and wear. Cotton wears nicely, even if the colour fades it has this 'well loved and snug' look (and lycra adds to the good recovery, thus my favourite French terrys have 3-5% lycra/spandex/elastane)😀

[@tdodo3026]

Hi Alex, how are you? What is the difference between cotton stretch and French terry if both are 95% cotton 5% spandex. Just the way they construct the fabric? One is with loops in the back and one without? It’s so hard to find good French terry in the us. If anyone know of any place, please share. Thanks

[@GingerheadCo]

French terry has looped back and the way it's made will always make it slightly less stretchy than jersey of the same composition. But french terry is also heavier (light weight FT is 240gsm, jersey is normally around 200 gsm) I think in the US you have mostly polyester/viscose/spandex mixes so your French terry is less stretchy and (for me) less soft - it's more for adults than children. In Europe cotton spandex FT is far more popular (it's also more expensive because it's often organic or Oeko certified) but I'm pretty sure there are places in the US that sell FT from Europe, I know someone was telling me about it, but I can't remember where they got it ☹

[@tdodo3026]

Thanks Alex. I will keep looking :)