Knit Fabric Isn't Always Polyester... Let's Compare!

[@sarahperry8013]

My calendar told me that it’s time to tell you that it’s time for you to clean your sewing machine again😂!! I think you mentioned it in a video six-ish months ago? But yah. This is your reminder to service your sewing machine.

[@taytribe806]

You're amazing 🤣 I'm commenting to bump your comment higher!

[@katelynjackson935]

I just cleaned mine yesterday. It makes a difference! We need a machine maintenance update from Charlie

[@mirjam3553]

+1

[@AngeliqueStevens]

Oh my gosh I need to do the same thing.

[@AvieDavis]

What a babe, I hope she sees this

[@micktheflowerchick4880]

As a linen-lover, I can tell you that the somewhat woody texture that the knit has does soften the more you wear it. So don't be quick to judge that one on snuggability 😊

[@reneechristensenpillow8373]

I agree..linen will soften over time as you wash

[@kkcliffy2952]

It also wrinkles less easily the more it's washed ans worn

[@YetAnotherJenn]

I wear linen bloomers, essentially longer, prettier shorts/pants to avoid the rub exclusively. How you finish seams matter in this department. And may I add that for this fabric, crotch gussets are needful, although I am not using linen knit, just regular linen fabric. ❤ My linen has been so well loved they feel like butter honestly. Not the most pleasant to make-up but long term? The best in my book. ❤

[@reneestuckyneale1599]

Very true❣️ Love that softened linen.

[@CosnerCoPiloting]

Here to second this comment! I live in natural fibers, I love linen and my favorite time of year to go shopping for them is the winter!

[@unrightist]

As someone who will go on a hate campaign against polyester (the fabric - NOT people who wear it) due to it being too hot when it's warm, and causing enough sweat that it doesn't keep me warm when it's cold. It literally feels like wearing solid plastic to me - I have never conflated "knits" with "polyester". Especially since the first I used knits of old t shirts, 100% cotton. It surprises me that is the way a lot of people think about knits.

[@alexanderh8129]

me too thank god im not alone aha

[@mellie4174]

Same I was surprised too because your basic t-shirt is cotton knit.

[@BethAge95]

I came here to say the same... Was thinking maybe it's a US vs. Europe thing, but most knit garments over here are mostly made out of cotton with some added poly or elastane or something like lyocell and nowadays also often bamboo for underwear and socks. I would have never assumed knit fabric to be polyester predominantly. Honestly, any fibre you can spin into tread, you can knit, so why shouldn't there be all sorts of knit fabrics...?

[@spasecat3322]

Do I sew clothes or do embroidery? No. Do I watch every one of your videos? Yes.

[@saracastlebury3669]

Same! ❤

[@hippiekathy420]

do I sew every single day? Yes it's my passion do I watch every video? Yes and saved several to a playlist called Charlie. this was a fun post 😊

[@maxime11041]

You should give it a go one day! It’s super fun

[@stephaniehight2771]

14:56 The answer to the question, "Aren't you hot in that?" Is to channel your inner RuPaul, and answer, "Honey, I'm hot in everything!"

[@jenninstitches]

The giggle snort this instantly gave me :) thank you. We should all be more RuPaul about hotness

[@linnwarme]

Textile fiber science, my favorite topic! 🥰 But it’s so interesting to me that you associate knit fabrics with poly, where I live (sweden) it’s much more common to find cotton and viscose yersey/knit. Fun facts viscose is the umbrella name for man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF) It just means that it’s a cellulose based fabric made in a synthetic way. You turn the cellulose into a paste and squeeze it out through a tiny hole and that makes the fibres. 1. Lyocell, rayon, modal and viscose are basically the same thing. They are all made from wood cellulose, What does differ is the production method’s, where Lyocell is a newer process that uses less chemicals and energy for a more environmentally friendly product compared to viscose. Rayon and viscose are the same thing, rayon is the older name and more commonly used in America. The difference between modal and viscose are that the process with modal is slower but uses less chemicals. Its also softer, stronger and more water absorbent than regular viscose. Cupro is also a type of viscose, but are made out of cotton leftovers rather than woodpulp. Bamboo is also a type of viscose but made of bamboo. 2. Elastan is added to knit fabric to make it more user friendly. knit fabric is an actual knit in a tiny format produced in a giant circular knitting machine that creates a long tube which is later cut open and pressed flat. Im not gonna go into too much detail but since the knit has looped threads (whereas woven threads go straight) there is strech in the loop and the elastan helps the fabric bounce back after being stretched out. otherwise your clothes could stretch and loose it’s shape. However many cotton jersey fabrics that are designed for kids don’t have elastin in it because kids clothes don’t need to be super form fitting.

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

Beautiful information. I’ve just spent myself a bunch of time replying to different parts of this video myself. Will you be my friend? Going to go try to follow you. I don’t have a channel up and running yet, but I’m here participating often on several channels. I’m a textile fanatic. Knitting and sewing. Also, I’ve worked at a yarn shop and a fabric store. And I collect garments. My best woven one is from Uzbekistan, hand embroidered with hand dyed silk yarns. I also have a few hand spun, hand woven hand embroidered cotton dresses from Ethiopia. My special, Knitting finds are hand spun, hand dyed hand knit socks from Turkey and hand knit wool/alpaca hats from the Andean mountains

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

Beautiful information. I’ve just spent myself a bunch of time replying to different parts of this video myself. Will you be my friend? Going to go try to follow you. I don’t have a channel up and running yet, but I’m here participating often on several channels. I’m a textile fanatic. Knitting and sewing. Also, I’ve worked at a yarn shop and a fabric store. And I collect garments. My best woven one is from Uzbekistan, hand embroidered with hand dyed silk yarns. I also have a few hand spun, hand woven hand embroidered cotton dresses from Ethiopia. My special, Knitting finds are hand spun, hand dyed hand knit socks from Turkey and hand knit wool/alpaca hats from the Andean mountains.

[@Rhaifha]

Good info! Though anecdotally I must say that I find that garments with elasthane tend to lose their shape faster than garments without. I think the Elasthane itself just wears down faster than other fibers, making the garment on the whole less durable

[@moonbasket]

+

[@yhmkriek95]

@@Rhaifha You are correct and it is not anecdotal. Eleasthane is added to make less sizes as to keep costs down. The little stretch makes it so that garments will fit in the store but it breaks easaly when washed. This is a fast fashion trick.

[@elisabethjade3837]

as a neurodivergent and disabled person, fabric and fabric content are super important to me. I prioritize breathability first, than stretch - I want things to be breathable above all else since i run extremely warm, then stretchyness/softness right underneath that. So linen or other natural-fiber knits sound like a dream!!!

[@lavenderoh]

I am exactly the same. I also knit and crochet myself so I like to add handmade sensory friendly pieces to my wardrobe. My favorite breathable fibers to work with and wear are cotton, rayon/bamboo, tencel, linen, lyocell and of course blends of these! Cotton and bamboo blends are amazing!

[@elisabethjade3837]

@lavenderoh bamboo fabrics are some of the softest and most comfortable!! i dont have many but they are truly a dream. i dont knit as much as i used to, but i do sew, so buying fabric or clothes its always on my radar 😂

[@NikolaHoward]

Note about your Linen comment and it's "off the bolt" feel - it relaxs and softens over time, and is honestly the best fabric to wear against skin in the heat, as well as being most excellent underwear, has it helps to keep us and our outer clothes clean - as shown by our ancesters and current reenactors/recreators. I LOVE linen :-)

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

Linen is a plant fiber that is not broken down and reconstructed. It is the part of the plant that is designed to wick moisture from the ground up to the leaves and flower. Picture The threads in celery, for example. That means that the fabric also wicks moisture away from our bodies.

[@MissDebi]

I have linen tops and pants that are so scratchy. Do you have a recommendation to soften it?

[@ReaGool09]

@@MissDebi I googled it, and the first result said that friction (wash it with towels) is the key to softening it faster. It also mentioned a trick with vinegar. I think I'll avoid buying linen new though, but I might be more open to thrifted linen, since it should have already softened over time/with use.

[@BethAge95]

@@MissDebi Depends on the linen how scratchy it is from the start, very coarse linen will probably never get very soft, but I wear linen underwear for reenactment all the time and it gets a lot softer with washing. My dress made from over 100 year old hand-spun linen is the softest I have. It's a little stiff when I first put it on, but then with the body heat it relaxes a lot and is super comfy :)

[@TehTeh911]

As a knitter and sewist this whole intro is insane to me. Honestly it's weirder to me for wool to be woven because my brain associates it so heavily with knitting. Does yarn with metal fiber in it count as knitted metal? Because you can definitely get that.

[@Charcharazard]

me too, I was like 'wait, she's never heard of knitted wool?' it took me a second to realise what she meant.

[@makerjanedesigns6405]

I’m only half way through but washability would definitely be a category in my spreadsheet.

[@chelseamortensen6573]

Just FYI, the origin point of the cellulose in rayon, bamboo, and all of the fabrics in that family doesn't actually matter much if at all. They're all broken down to the same cellulose molecule. However different manufacturing processes can make a big difference in texture etc so it is still worth comparing different companies/brand names/types.

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

It is unfortunate that much of the rayon being made these days comes from old growth trees. This is why bamboo is promoted as better for the earth. The problem with that is that they are tearing out other things to plant bamboo fields for Fiber, which then distorts the way the ecosystem was made originally.

[@lifeofjoy9404]

Great point!@@ColorJoyLynnH

[@Jude-riveroak]

The nettle fabric is called rame. Also if you sew stretch fabric with a straight stitch, try gutermann maraflex thread. It is slightly stretchy and gives so won't pop/ snap when stretched out, good for neck and waist seams/ high pressure areas. Loved your video 😊❤

[@Lutefisk445]

​@@ColorJoyLynnH unfortunately, there is no ethical consumption under capitalism. No matter what you use, it's overproduced and somehow messes something up. It's very sad.

[@sleepydrJ]

@@ColorJoyLynnHand cupro is recycled cotton into rayon

[@Hippiechick11]

Wool jersy knit fabric was used a lot in the early 1900s. And if you see ramie as a fiber in a knit, that is nettle fiber.

[@dawnmoriarty9347]

I looked (briefly 😂) at making nettle fibre this year. Interesting that ramie is part nettle

[@kkcliffy2952]

I had no idea ramie is nettle fiber. That's so cool!

[@Creativelicense459]

I love vintage ramie/cotton sweaters, I had no clue it was nettle!

[@jennykoczur9339]

Ramie is in the same family as stinging nettles, but different species. But you can definitely get nice spinnable fiber from stinging nettles too! It’s quite the process to do it by hand though. 😅

[@bellablue5285]

I used to have a bunch of stuff with ramie in the 90s, seemed to have a good mix of comfort and durability, but haven't seen it in ages. Wild to think it's from nettles

[@lanageorge5865]

I love that you are making spreadsheets and doing a scientific comparison. This pleases my analytical brain. 🤣

[@kkcliffy2952]

Linen and wool are both wonderful fibers that last a long time and have antimicrobial properties, which keep them from getting smelly. Also, linen is one of the only fibers that is stronger when wet, so it holds up better than most to washing

[@lazylazyjayn]

But you do have to finish your seams, unfortunately. With linen and finer wools. I’ve had some linen clothes I made with too-narrow seams, and they open up. But it’s not a huge deal once you know to make them wider and do “fancy” finishes.

[@StraylightWintermute]

Linen knits are really delicate to wash in my experience.

[@kkcliffy2952]

@@StraylightWintermute I haven't worked with the knit version, but the fiber itself should hold up well. Maybe something about how they process it for the knit fabric damages the fibers

[@Shetooktothewoods]

Where linen gets stronger, wool gets warmer when wet. I love that quality, but it’s probably not great for chub rub shorts. 😂 Also, to clear up any confusion: wool is washable. People would not have worn wool undergarments for centuries if it wasn’t. You can wash it in a front loader washer (on cold). It does need to be air-dried, whether that’s just laid out to dry or *alone* in the dryer on the air dry setting. You need moisture, heat, and friction to felt wool.

[@kathleensanderson3082]

It's interesting that you prefer polyester knit fabric -- I seriously dislike it, preferring natural fibers. I'm quite a bit older than you (67, currently), and remember when polyester double-knit first came out. My mother and grandmother both loved the stuff (no ironing!), but I hated it from the first touch. (To this day, my mother -- now 88 -- still doesn't 'get' my dislike for polyester!). A few years ago, I got a polyester skirt and a couple of tops for a trip, because they pack just fine. Other than that trip, I never wear them, because I hate the feel of polyester! It's like wearing plastic against my skin. I used to have a linen t-shirt -- it *was* a bit stiff initially, but after a few washings it softened up nicely. That was my favorite shirt for several years, until I wore it completely out! I do enjoy your videos!

[@QuentinPlant]

The polyester sweaters of the 70s - how I hated them, but there was nearly nothing else.

[@lesfibresfantastiques7265]

I always say to my mom that wearing polyester feels like wearing a garbage bag

[@sallythekolcat]

1:42 re: how to get nettle knit, Ramie / nettlecloth is is mostly made from Chinese nettle which is used in fabrics all over east Asia. and is available from etsy as a jersey knit. Ramie and Hemp are as traditional there as linen is in Europe.

[@sophiaeressea5687]

I love hemp fiber... so breezy in summer, easy to layer but judging by Charlie's reaction to linen, she would start using negative numbers when rating it 😂

[@sallythekolcat]

@@sophiaeressea5687 and so sturdy. I had a hemp canvas messenger bag through all of college and for years after. I swear it got softer and stronger every year.

[@LaineyBug2020]

Lol, I had a comment all ready to go about a company that does sustainable biodegradable knits! That's what I get for commenting before I finished the video! I do appreciate your POV. Even the company I had in mind states that the delivery process is the biggest part of their carbon footprint, so they wait until theyhave a set amount of orders they can send out at once. What I love about how your process is that by shopping 2nd hand or dead stock, you keeping fabric out of the landfills. The clothes you make last far longer than commercially produced clothing too. Not everyone can afford the specialty sustainable farics. Concentrating on taking care of what you do have, and buying 2nd hand where possible, is something everyone can do even if they don't make their own clothes!

[@JustIsold]

I would love to know the name of the company!

[@believeinfaeries8713]

"The jazz, the jazz everyone uses, the jazz specifically designed to be used by everyone." I absolutely read this in Kronk's voice and I adore it. I always enjoy your captions!

[@almasalsa6]

You can wash wool, it just has to be hand wash cycle on low temperature and minimum amount of soap, because soap while rubbing makes it easier to felt wool. I am washining almost all of my knitted sweaters in washing machine with no problems

[@dyerswoad7088]

Yes, me too! Some of our washing machines even have specific wool programs. In my experience it’s soap, HEAT and rubbing. The heat opens up the wool fiber and it gets like small barbs/hooks all over the fiber, then the rubbing with help from the soap makes the barbs hook on to one another and thus felting the wool more and more. So either take away heat or rubbing and you are all good 😊

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

Same, here. We fill the washer before we put the wool in and we swish it around just long enough to get wet. Then we let it soak for a while. Then we press the Fibers one friend uses a small plunger she only uses for this to do the pressing. Then we rinse it out. Agitation can felt wool. If you run water directly on wool fabric, that is essentially agitation. One way to avoid having to rinse it in Clearwater is to buy a wool wash that can be left in the fiber, sometimes with a scent that discourages pests. I use a brand named Eucalan which comes in several cents, including eucalyptus and grapefruit and lavender and unscented. it includes a tiny bit of lanolin which is essentially a wool-derived conditioner. Other brands are unicorn and soak.

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

@@dyerswoad7088 I used to teach people how to shrink their wool on purpose. Agitation, and the change of pH, which happens when you add some kind of soap or detergent are the two essentials, but heat or brisk cold also can encourage felting faster.

[@danielalaatz57]

Me too. Obviously I wash my socks. But still, there is a reason wool is usually an outer layer. You wear something easier to wash on the skin and the wool can be washed less often and less aggressive.

[@jules_2.0]

Yes, I just use cold water, a delicate cycle and wool wash.

[@mariont3806]

Your mood modal contains Tencel, which is the brand name for Lyocell. Kudos to you for going through so much trouble getting all these!

[@dragonchild569]

@@mariont3806 I too thought Tencel only made lyocell, but it turns out they do also make a modal!

[@mariont3806]

@@dragonchild569 I did not know that. I always used Tencel and Lyocell interchangeably. I learned something new. Thanks 😊

[@charissa8252]

ooh I wondered what Lyocell was. I have tencel, and pretty sure I knew it was a brand name/trademarked but got it as deadstock from my cousin's business. Who also probably got it as deadstock lol, so limited labelling. also from NZ so often find US/European names different. not sure about the model though. Ive only seen (usually in ready to wear) tencel as a woven and modal as a knit ( with lycra/elastine).

[@elizabethashley2313]

Part of the fun of being subbed to both of your channels is seeing things like this, where you mention what you're working on, and very casually making a note of when that outfit shows up in another video. It's a fun little behind-the-curtain kind of Easter egg!

[@Adrian13rams]

As a knitter/crocheter, youll be surprise what we can find in yarn form. Like theres bath scrubb yarn and denium out there. Wool & cotton are the most common besides synthetics

[@alecsgirl]

Yes, as a fellow knitter, I would like to add, not all wools are equal and YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY WASH WOOL. Use a wool wash and cool water and wash by hand. Or gift it to someone who likes wool 😁

[@mercywalschek2695]

Don't forget planning and t-shirt yarn.❤

[@colin5227]

I suddenly remembered a yarn i think i found once called cot-lin, a cotton linen blend. No clue what it felt like anymore tho

[@Begotchi]

@@colin5227 It is usually like a rustic looking cotton but it softens up really nicely as you use it and it's a bit cooler and more breezy to wear than pure cotton. It's also incredibly strong so whatever you make will last a lifetime. Downside is that is has almost no elasticity so it's a bit hard on the joints. DROPS has a version which is decent and affordable. 😊

[@jirup]

@@colin5227 Cottolin is a cotton linen bend made by Maurice Brassard, I weave tea towels (dish towels) out of it.

[@Lfuboi]

Thanks for taking the time to help everyone understand how fabrics are different. Your ratings can serve you better if you multiply each metric by a scale representing how important the metric is to you (e.g., breathability: 3 x importance of breathability: 5 = 15). The fabrics that have more of what you think are important will move to the top.

[@tynebaker]

I know these deep dives are incredibly hard work, but I love them! It satisfies both my analytical and crafty brain parts.

[@Hippiechick11]

I think the linen gets softer as you wash it. And it does fray. I do love linen. This was so interesting to watch! Thanks for your experimentation!

[@danielalaatz57]

But only woven linen frays, at least that's how I learned it. The fun of knits is that they don't fray. But sewing is less easy. Choose your pain.

[@Katrinalotrfan]

My pupper kept getting excited when you'd ask if your puppy wanted to go for a walk 😄

[@EarlGayTea711]

I love these semi scientific videos! As a somewhat new sewer, it was so interesting to see how each material did.

[@danielalaatz57]

It is quite interesting. But still, as she said fiber content is not everything, you can get most of these in very different varieties...

[@Angela-hn6mb]

Nice. I typically sew with cotton or rayon knit (can't stand wearing polyester personally). I knew linen, silk, and wool knit existed but they're kind of pricey so nice to have someone else "test drive them" and give us a good spreadsheet. :)

[@Barryalejandro_288]

Hello 👋🏻

[@nyves104]

"the walk I take him on is 20-30 minutes depending on how many bushes he has to stop and pee on." that 10 minute difference is hella relatable and part of the reason I miss having a girl dog (I know it's not 100% guaranteed, but the odds are better). my boys have to investigate and pee on everything

[@RoundMtnDryGoods]

My girl dog investigates/pees on everything during walks, just like a boy dog!

[@debrablue7011]

I have a female mini Aussie. She "marks"as much as a male. 😮

[@AnnaReed42]

​@@debrablue7011maybe it's a mini Aussie thing, then, because one of my female mini Aussies does too 😂 the other one has only really done it while in heat, though.

[@debrablue7011]

@@AnnaReed42 hmmm

[@QuentinPlant]

Our late cairn terrier lady (yes, she was a lady. she had opinions on behaviour) was a leg-lifting peer. Although not that interested in "reading the pee-mail" ;)

[@amys3168]

I recently went through a similar comparison, though not for sewing, just for deciding which fabric works best in the heat for me. I think we are almost the exact opposite on what kind of fabrics we like. Though I don’t looove the super scratchy stuff, like wool, I do prefer a stiffer, more scratchy fabric to anything soft. The kind of fabric that might be called cloud like, yuuuuck. Makes my skin crawl! I would put brand new fleece in that category too. It’s so funny how we all like different textures.

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

There is more variation in wool than there is in cotton and other plant fibers. I have a book that is as thick as an old style hardback dictionary, which talks about just the Fiber animals that are endangered right now. The difference between Shetland wool, and merino wool, and Icelandic wool, are as different as mountains, oceans, and desert. They are all protein fibers that come from sheep, but the textures and attributes are totally different. Icelandic wool is perfect for lightweight but warm clothing went outdoors and there is a light mist or some snow. Some variations of Merino wool are so soft. You can wear them next to the skin unless you are literally allergic to the protein itself. It is not itchy. When I met my husband almost 30 years ago, he thought he was allergic to wool… and now he wears merino T-shirts all the time, next to his skin.

[@leahnichol6665]

@@ColorJoyLynnHThank you for putting this out. I will add that many people will call alpaca, camel, llama, cashmere, etc all ‘wool’. There is a massive difference in texture between them all.

[@synteis]

Breathability is probably the most important aspect for me in clothing I make (or buy) followed by texture and comfort so I own *a lot* of bamboo (and some tencel/lycocell, cotton, linen, wool, etc). The only thing I don't own (yet) is silk. Bamboo was a real miracle fabric for me when I discovered it and these days I definitely seek it out when I'm buying my basics. I do love my other knits too but bamboo really hits the sweet spot for me.

[@sewmytroublesaway]

I have two wool knits, one from a big box fabric store (Spotlight in Australia) and one from a nicer local fabric store (Draper's). The big box one has a noticeable texture making me aware of it all the time...annoying, but the one from the nicer shop is SO soft it's a shocker. Blows my mind how much quality can affect fabric with the same content (100% wool). The nice one also has more stretch. Weird. Love your video!

[@melb.4609]

I hope to be in Australia in 2026. May I ask where Draper's is located? I think I would like to visit them/

[@unrightist]

@@sewmytroublesaway there are many breeds of sheep which produce a wide range of different qualities of wool. Wool from first shearings of lambs also tends to be softer. AFAIK Australia is a big producer of wool, not sure if it is like corn in the US (most of it is one type, meant for livestock, some for popcorn, some sweet corn... But precious little variety), or if there is a diversity though.

[@t.t.6861]

Oh lovely, a new video (I throw everything away and snuggle closer to the screen).😀 And thank you for sacrificing yourself for the sewing- and fabric science.

[@emh.1178]

I love hemp knit (very similar to linen)- I can keep practicing circus arts in the summer heat without dyingXD I can totally see where you are coming from with the texture, but it doesn't bother me personally (however I absolutely cannot stand the plastic-y feeling of most polyesters on my skin) I do really wish it came in more prints though! great video, I'll have to save up some money to try out some silk jersey sometime:D

[@purpleicicles]

Deeply interested by the apparent commonality of polyester knit - I live in the UK, so I don't know if it's a geography thing, but I hear "jersey" and instantly think "cotton". I feel like cotton jersey is way more common than poly here! Thank you for the science in your sewing - I genuinely love it as a sciencey type myself! ❤

[@MultiStarchick]

I'm in the US and think cotton when I think Jersey too. But I'm normal in the vintage textiles.

[@danielalaatz57]

Yeah, same for me in Germany. I came to the comments with that thought. Knits is mostly T-Shirts and underwear in my head and everything I own there is cotton. Some thinner and softer some more firm, everything cotton. The other knits for me are the ones I knit, and that is usually wool if I wear it as an outer layer or cotton if it touches skin (allergic to wool).

[@AppleHeinz]

+1 on cotton being the default knit material from Austria. I think the whole EU is big on natural fibers. We also have jersey made from hemp which is eco friendly and incredibly soft and breathable.

[@P0nyl0ve]

In the Netherlands as well! Most of our t-shirts and sweaters and stuff are cotton I think

[@raquelfantoni2812]

I think the same thing.

[@UraniumFire]

Oh, the chafing. 😢 I started buying bike shorts about 20 years ago. Lifesavers!

[@QuentinPlant]

This. I have several pairs of simple cotton bike shorts for summer (wool or a fibre mix in winter). Cheap and durable.

[@annetteavery3349]

Wool, in general, can be washed by hand. In the knitting world there is‘super wash wool’ for the machine. There’s a whole rabbit hole on wool as opposed to acrylic but, at the end of the day you use what you can afford, what your senses will accept (we’re all different) and what sews up nicest for your style. Loved this little test, thank you. Yes, silk is the most beautiful for keeping cool, that’s why it’s used in Asian climates for saris and kimonos. I have a silk dress that’s 60 years old and it is beautiful ❤🇬🇧

[@BarbieDollNL]

SPLOOT!! 44:42 🥰 Also, super appreciate your effort with captioning Charlie! Must be pretty time consuming, but does not go unnoticed! ❤❤

[@anne-marie9842]

Wool? My favourite material! I wash it on a wool cycle in the washing machine, and wear it as underwear in winter, layered with more woolen garments. But I live in New Zealand and the wool is merino, which is soft. Thank you for a very interesting and informative episode.

[@anne-marie339]

Your jazz captions got increasingly hilarious 😅 Also thank you for this experiment!! I’ve been wanting to sew with knits again but prefer natural (or semi-synthetic naturally-sourced) fibres and this is perfect!! I also don’t have the time to do these types of indepth experiments so yours are a treat to watch ☺️

[@Barryalejandro_288]

Hello 👋🏻

[@julestopper7553]

Sorry if this is a repeat, but you can hand wash your wool in tepid water, press between a towel to get all the excess water, reshape and dry flat. should be good as new! (just use a tiny bit of soap or better yet, wool wash) I loved this video!!

[@ShinySarah44]

This is such a good example of where fabric decisions can be so varied depending on the project; and weighting of certain scores might mean the general score doesn't matter. eg if this is an item you are going to wear a whole lot; but only make a couple times, then using the slightly harder to sew with fabric, which is more comfortable to wear, makes more sense. But if it's so awful to sew with you won't make it, then it doesn't matter anyway. This was a great watch, and actually helped me push through being stuck finishing the hems on a knit raglan shirt I was making and got stuck on 3 weeks ago. :)

[@ИринаМ-ю1е]

I've recently fallen in love with cotton knit in bright, fruity patterns. I'd never seen things made out of it in shops, so... I've already sewn fout t-shirts. This and I promised my friends each a t-shirt with various patterns (cats, dogs and even owls!). Thank you, Charlie, for inspiring your viewers to not be afraid of unknown materials! You're the real MVP Oh, this and I now LOVE viscose staple! It's not knit or stretchy, but I swear, it's the best fabric in the world for summer.

[@mirjam3553]

I like the handfeel of viscose, the coolness etc of it - and I absolutely can't stand the texture when wet. It gets kind of cardboard-y? or something, in any case every time I pick something like that out of the washing machine, I deliberate on whether to get some tongs pliers any sort of grabby instrument just so I didn't have to. Same for modal. While watching this video, I came up with better search terms for my own local fabric store and they have a few linen knits. I'm going there to think about them tomorrow - I love linen, but I kind of get why it's not a widely used knit fiber.

[@ace_r_ola]

I bought several yards of cotton knit last year, by complete accident (the seller had the pattern in both woven and knit and I had an epic ADHD moment 😅). It took me a while to make it work with my machine, but I ended up with three very comfy hoodies, so there’s my silver lining 😊 I also needed knit for a cosplay I made this year, so the previous experience made it less intimidating!

[@binglemarie42]

I wash my wool jersey in cold water on my machine's regular cycle, though I put my garments in a delicates bag and then hang them dry. I've been doing this for almost 5 years, and everything is still holding up incredibly well! I'm not trying to convert you, just giving information. 😊

[@Sjp374]

I also have to chime in for linen, ha! I’ve lived in the hot, humid south and now I live in the beautiful wintry northwest… both locations need breathability because up north here, we don’t have AC, but from mid June to mid-Sept, highs during the day can be high (like, can hit 100). Also, in the cold, snowy winter time, you will find yourself in a room with a roaring fire. So I’m all about natural fibers, and I’ve fallen in love with linen and wool. They make such a difference and bonus, wool is fire resistant. The other thing I need is UV protection… linen offers less of that than wool, but it is usually worn loose, which increases some UV protection. And I also wear sunscreen so there’s that. Great comparisons!

[@IISheireenII]

Why would anyone think knit is only polyester? I think cotton knitt is the most common. Think t-shirts. Of course it can be any fiber. I am not complaining, I enjoy this video, I am just confused where the initial thought came from.

[@Bee_friend]

Just her experience, I was also mystified but I live in a place where wearing natural fibers is most common (yes, we're all hippies on Vancouver Island 😅☮️)

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

Modern fast fashion uses polyester for knit more than cotton. Polyester is cheaper and they can make it stretch more so that it pseudo fits more people Someone told us that Cotton it is more common in Europe, and polyester is more common in the United States. I believe that, because boy are we cheap. We want a five dollar dress no matter how little that makes sense. A five dollar dress means nobody got paid to make it Just the corporation.

[@chimaera_jane]

I would think of cotton as the default fibre for knit fabric also. I associate polyester with sportswear mostly (and my kids' school uniform, unfortunately polyester gets very stinky in hot weather on teen bodies 😫). I do think polyester is having a bit of a moment though, due to the growing popularity of sublimation.

[@henriettelinkshanderin1449]

Thank you for that experiment! For me the default of knit fabric would be cotton because that's what jersey was made of back in the early 80s when I was a kid. Underwear, t-shirts, jersey dresses were all 100% cotton, at least here in Germany. Polyester and spandex were only used in things like sportswear and bathing suits. But as a knitter I knew that "knit" only means the technique how the fabric was produced, it's not a fiber. The directional texture of spandex is interesting. Did you incorporate this into your design? You could cut the fabric to always slip down your skin, not crawl up. FIY: The music at 26:00 is a Rumba, not a Samba. Did you wash the fabrics before sewing? There are all kinds of chemicals on new fabrics that manipulate the texture so you should wash them before judging the texture. Plus the washability (shrinking, wrinkling etc.) would be an additional factor for rating all the fabrics. And I would weight the categories because for example you only sew the fabric once but you wear the shorts dozens of times.

[@MrThom8804]

You aren't the only one who has that "i need to check on my pet to make sure they aren't dead". Usually one of my cats wakes me up so when I wake up on my own and the sun is out i have a panic moment of "oh no where is he? did he get out? is he dead? oh he just asleep in the office chair and completely fine and just decided to randomly let me sleep in"

[@g.j.anderson3972]

you are my #1 favorite sewing youtuber and your commentary on "sustainable fabrics" is a shining example of why!!! Thank you for the practical and motivating content as usual... time to get sewing :-)

[@Annalovesautumn]

You make really great points about the sustainability thing. Personally I'm still learning about the whole "shedding micro plastics with every wash" thing AND I run hot so I'm moving towards natural fibres only. But I think anything thrifted or reused is more sustainable than anything new, so anything kept out of the landfill is also a win in my eyes!

[@I.m-Me]

41:50 - Wool textures vary wildly. Not only can it come from different animals, but it also can be different depending on which type of that animal, and even whether it's their first shearing (haircut) or not. I made a cloak out of canvas and lined it with wool, but I'm also texture-minded, and the local fabric store had _CAMEL_ wool o.0. Another time I was at a swapmeet and came away with a buttery-soft, knit wool-silk blend. "Wool" is not a word to judge by

[@MiffoKarin]

Good to know that my go-to fabric came out on top! Cotton isn't the BEST fabric for everything, but it's consistently GOOD no matter what you want to sew with it, and that versatility is why I love it. I'd love to see a similar video for different weave types, like twill, jacquard, satin etc if you want to go down another rabbithole. 😅

[@yochva]

I loved hearing you discuss fiber content and texture! Re. texture: Sounds like you're picking up on the loops in the knit and the directionality! That would be why the spandex is only scratchy in one direction: that's where the loops stand upright and youre brushing "against the grain". That would also be why you're sensitive to wovens: you're feeling the threads cross each other. A satin weave or twill weave - something that features weft threads crossing multiple warp threads per stitch - may feel better on your skin given your stated level of sensitivity.

[@ShakespeareDoomsday]

On linen knits: Mariah Pattie did a video in which she made linen knit underwear. She found it to not really work for the waistband because she didn’t use any elastic and it just wasn’t stretchy enough. Linen also gets really soft with wear and (especially harsh) washing, but you’ll definitely need to somehow finish the edges before washing it. On knits in general: if you’re looking for softness, “brushed” is a great search term for the more common fibers. Me, 1,000 miles north of you: Only 96°? ONLY 96°!? The highest temperature in my city this year was 88° and that was a heat wave.

[@elizabethlensky6616]

I am so excited for your "Advice On Sewing Knits" video! Thank you for taking the time to do it! I love wearing knits but sewing them intimidates me, and I have a feeling it will inspire me to just do it.

[@linr8260]

I used to have a few silk jersey tops and let me tell you. Absolute magic. I wore them as tops in summer for insane breathability and the way the fabric itself stayed cool to the touch, and as undershirts in winter that basically removed the need for any kind of coat over my jumper. It's just magic. (Also I have seen knit nettle! Just... handknit, lol)

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

I suspect I was the one who made that comment. I used to have a linen sweater. It was a lightweight cover up to put over something like a summer dress. It was almost translucent because it was such a loose weave. I am obsessed with Fibers and fabric types. I am pretty sure it was me. Even if it wasn’t, yay for you to put this up.

[@SleepyBkDragon]

45:09 My brain suddenly had stupid, sexy Flanders in my head: "Feels like I am wearing nothing at all! Nothing at all! Nothing at all!"

[@megananderson1431]

Linen does soften up each washing.

[@gryphonmazeandfranklintalk3079]

A recent trick I learned for tricky fabrics is to use starch when ironing (you can make spray starch with cornstarch and water). it makes it so much easier to sew with.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

Great tip. Thanks

[@QuentinPlant]

I used spray starch a lot decades ago when you had to have your blouses and men's shirts "stiff" - nowadays I only use it for sewing, but am so happy that you can still buy it in the stores ;)

[@gratituderanch9406]

Dude Im totally wearing a shirt made in that blue cotton rib. Its a squre neck and totally cozy. I buy most of my fabrics online as there’s NO fashion fabrics near me. And your linen dress!!!!! Soooo amazing! Do you have a video or pattern on that? Also- linen gets stronger when it’s wet. It’s one of the few fibers that does that. And different wool jersey- like the fancy expensive ones you buy premade cloths are VERY soft and also very washable. There’s different types of wool too.

[@haleyhoudini]

Right as I finish Shannon's new vid, yours pops up! How perfect ❤

[@Melavara]

I’m with you! Shannon/Charlie Fridays are such a vibe

[@AngelCCD]

On my way to Shannon now 👍👍😊😊

[@BeataKita]

I love you. I love that you did it. I love knowing that I'm not the only crazy out there, cause i litterally thought about doing the same for over more than a week now, for the knit and crochet yarns, and thanks to you I don't have to. At least i think I don't have to, i think i have it figure out... for most of the 'fiber contents' i planned on testing: Bamboo for the summer Cotton for the autumn and spring Modal for winter (thou it's still plant fiber, the shop i plan to commit doesn't have it as base for dying, so... i will think about it a little more. Not commited to the decision, but your description made me want to test it out) If i will ever ever ever do shorts under dress - silk The only one left for me to figure out is 50% bamboo and 50% cotton on where to use it, but that's only one yarn to test, so cool

[@domculienka]

I prefer natural fabrics, but found that linen knit isn’t as long lasting as cotton or blended fabrics. Most of my tops snagged and ended up with tiny holes. Wool isn’t the most durable either but it is the best when it comes to not retaining smell! All my hiking tops are wool and don’t stink ever stink, even after a full week in the wild with no shower 😅 Polyester holds onto smell a lot so I avoid it completely, unless it’s an outer layer that doesn’t touch skin. Thanks for another great video!

[@michellemills1681]

Ah thank you - Spring has sprung here (southern hemisphere) and I'm needing to increase my chub-rub shorts collection... (I'd thought you would make a blouse (easier in my opinion) but glad you chose something that I actually need to make now) Thank you

[@marymugge1523]

Girl I'm always down for Lord of the Dance jam sessions. I need to put that back in my music rotation. Thanks for making the same thing for forever so we don't have to. I hate repeating projects so I know I never would do that.

[@alanabudihardjo1090]

I love your videos, and you have inspired me to just do the thing, even when I worry I might hit a snag. Thank you!! Also, looking through the comments (well, the first 10 or so) I think, for the first time, I might have something useful to add: if you ever have a dress/skirt you want to wear that would be negatively affected by adding the bulk of shorts underneath them, try anti-perspirant on the parts of your thighs that touch. It works for shoes chafing on your feet, too.

[@mielunaria]

hell yeah i love a good detailed comparisson with a spreadsheet as a treat

[@skyepollard5951]

for rolling edges: I like to iron and starch the fabric before cutting to help prevent the rolls and shiftyness while cutting. it looses the starch after just one rinse or wash and goes back to the drape it had originally! not a perfect option for some synthetics, but i find it super helpful. if you're worried about burning the starch or leaving marks, use a super light kind like Niagara that doesn't have any actual corn starch/powders in it (it's basically really thin water soluble glue)

[@lindseyelza1222]

First: Your dedication to this project/video very admirable. Second: I have this video on while doing work and I glance over at it at the 45:00 mark and got so tickled at those dog legs. lol!!!!!!! Thank you. I have recently started watching your videos and I really enjoy how honest and realistic you are while also producing really good content. Keep it up! Edit: "Chub rub" will be added to my vocabulary.

[@christineg8151]

I have a knitted silk tee that I LOVE. It's a glorious hot pink, and it weighs next to nothing, so it's super comfy regardless of the temperature outside. I am not a pink fan, but I love this shirt. It's raw silk, so slubby and not very shiny. I also have seen some knitted silk made with something more like a typical silk texture. Modal sheets are amazing. I loved the modal jersey sheets I have had in the past, but unfortunately, it did not like my cats' claws. They got holes almost immediately. ETA: The knitted silk you got is glorious! They look like they would be super-comfy summer sleep shorts. Absolutely adorable! Also, silk has an interesting insulating quality as well. I find it cool in summer, but warm in the winter. You can actually get knitted silk glove liners to wear for things like motorcycling. It weighs next to nothing, but gives a nice insulating layer underneath other things. If you have enough to make a tank top, it makes a nice underlayer in the winter.

[@ManionaBudget]

I'm sorry you got bored making all those shorts. I'm very grateful for all the helpful information, though! I love working with and wearing knits; they're just so forgiving.

[@cappared]

Another interesting test would have been to test how fast drying each fabric is, and what they smelled like after wear. I find polyester holds sweat dampness and smell so much more than other fabrics. With under-dress shorts made for hot weather that can make a big difference!

[@svenjas3600]

Funny, I just wore a linen knit top today 😀 Actually, I associate knit fabric with cotton, wool and viskose (from bamboo or other materials). Often with some elastane. Maybe a cotton-polyester blend. Definitely not with pure polyester. But I don't think it's as popular here in Germany because it doesn't breathe.

[@hpkitch7356]

I love watching these. I'm just now starting my sewing journey. I made a curtain while I watched your videos. Thanks for the hard work behind the scenes and content

[@dinger3823]

Okay, first time commenter. Really like the linen dress. I love linen’s softness over time and use it all the time. There is a fluff factor to it and good linen is so nice!

[@jimalid]

I made a dress from a fabric on special - linen and cotton knit. Never seen it before. Beautiful, soft, slightly ‘woody’. Perfect for summer and winter (in Sydney) Would love to find more of the same!😮

[@melb.4609]

Save your scraps so you can use them as fabric swatches when you go fabric shopping. Experienced clerks can look at and touch the swatch to help you identify the fabric. And if you need to shop online you can mail a small piece to the store to show them what you want to buy. You might also want to start a textile file or notebook with swatches in it of fabrics you love to work with. (Or fabrics you want to avoid.) Staple the swatch to a paper/page and when you identify what type of fabric the swatch is, what the fiber content and other info is (perhaps regarding cleaning tips), you can note them in your file or notebook and be able to reference it easily.

[@elven_grandma3138]

I love Linen-Cotton as a blend. It's surprisingly hard to find, which is weird, because the reason I think it works is because the fibres are so complimentary: Cotton has short, soft fibres, which make it really versatile, but less durable. Linen has long, strong fibres, which make it really durable, but somewhat less versatile in terms of weave & texture. Mixing the two gives you a softer, stronger overall fabric. (Cotton is also super absorbant, whilst linen is moisture wicking, meaning the blend can hold plenty of moisture, but it won't just sit there the way damp cotton does.)

[@redaleta]

Getting ready to buy cotton knit from Fox Fiber. I'm headed down a colored cotton rabbit hole. That Wool is gorgeous.

[@IsabelSpade]

Thank you for taking the time to do captions, they make your videos extra enjoyable! I loved your jazz descriptions 😂

[@rebeccacuthbertson1271]

I just finished watching your one dress in three different materials and then this came out, so perfect timing there! Loved this experiment. Thank you for sharing!

[@KineticKiwi13]

god i love sewing science literally my favorite kind of video from you!!! Scratches the scientific AND creative itch 😉

[@theplussizecostumer]

The only magazine I subscribe to is Threads. A former sewing instructor calls it "continuing education" in her sewing journey. And she's been sewing for over 60 years. And in an odd twist in fate, the latest issue arrived in the ail today and it has an article on spandex knits. I had just finished watching this video when I opened the magazine to a 4 page article. If you wanted to look for it, it's the Fall 2024 issue, number 227. It goes through the history of the fiber, the benefits of it blended with other fibers, preparation and cutting, appropriate notions, sewing advice, fitting tips, and care and maintenance. So if you're interested, check it out. Oh, and it has a info box on the 3rd page of the article that tells about a new stretch thread out on the market and includes tips on how to use it. Awesome!

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

When I worked at Joann fabrics, we carried thread magazine. It’s a great magazine. I subscribe also.

[@emmachizzit9919]

Absolutely love that silk knit but can understand your reluctance on price. Imagine it as a luxurious evening dress! Thanks again for sharing, really look forward to your videos.

[@tracylamb903]

If you ever have a four spool serger be sure and sew up some silk knit. You will love it

[@ReadBrucey]

I love your Jane Austen purses that are behind you! And from later in the video…I love the Hamilton shirt. I am going to need a t-shirt like that. I teach Hamilton to my 10th graders… I love shirts that catch their attention.

[@becky8571]

I wash and dry wool, silk and every other fiber. 99% of the time there is no change in the fabric. And linen gets softer and softer every time it’s washed. Wool jersey makes lovely long sleeve t-shirts.

[@luckyblackcat16]

Very fun video, I've known about some of the different knits (although haven't used them) so your research into that was quite informative. Mood is crazy pricey, IMO. LOVE your choice of jam-out music!! I don't have the music (I think I need to get it) but I have the DVD of it and love watching it. Any chance doing a quick follow-up video on how well those fabrics held up to washing??

[@carolehart1714]

WOW!!! seen nothing like the Mood store in the UK.

[@thundercrrp9931]

Ironically, I currently have to write a document on different fibre types, and this is giving me a lot of motivation for that task which I was otherwise very unmotivated by, thanks!

[@custoMary.designs.creations]

I'm super excited you decided to do this, the timing on video release is chef's kiss, honestly. I've always hear it pronounced "pawn-tay"

[@ColorJoyLynnH]

Lol, I worked at Joanne for over four years and we called it PAWN-tee

[@custoMary.designs.creations]

@@ColorJoyLynnH I always take my local pronunciations with a grain of salt because I am North Central Texas located lol

[@leilaniholland]

Thank you so much for this video! It's extremely helpful. Also, however: Linens ALWAYS a scratchy, rough texture when new. It softens with every wash. To speed the process, soak in 2 liters of Coca Cola and 2 liters of water. Let it soak in that overnight, then wash. Softens it right up.

[@amandanelson8991]

I love that you are so excited about your projects & being yourself.

[@synteis]

Agree with others that I would love to know how these held up to washing.

[@angelinacrafts5385]

Thanks for taking the hit on both cost and repeating projects. I really enjoy a scientific breakdown.

[@ellis16]

THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS RESEARCH. also, purple is an excellent color on you! you make a nice grape.

[@kajellio]

I must lay eyes on my cats every time i enter my home and I often do a headcount before i leave, as well.

[@LeafyK]

29:11 fabulous subtitles, simply outstanding teatime conversation

[@saraferreira-holz6375]

I was wondering how they all survived the washing process. Cotton for the win. Wool is a natural wicking fiber, wool socks for hiking, but yeah sometimes the texture is yucky.

[@CallMeAL1]

The blend of plant-based fibers (bamboo, linen/flax, cotton, other cellulose-derived fibers) with things like spandex and or nylon is for stability. The same applies to wool and other animal fiber. The yarnies and fiber arts KZbinrs can teach you so much more about fiber stability and blends. I learned so much since I took up knitting this year even tho I crocheted for decades😅. Addendum: You should collaborate with it a knit-tuber and try to see with hand-knit fabric. I think it’s called steeking when done for a knit garment but I’m new to knitting so I could be wrong.