Sewing with polyester vs cotton.... is there a difference? A side by side sewing test!

When two fabrics appear exactly the same, but one is labelled cotton and the other polyester, is there any difference in sewing with these two different fibres? Let's find out and do a side-by-side sewing test to compare and see if it makes a difference!
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[@daxxydog5777]

Polyester just feels icky to me. “Plastic tablecloth” is a great description, lol. This is one reason I’ve not been terribly successful at online fabric shopping because I can’t feel the fabric and it ends up not acting like I wanted it to. On a different note, I finally made your wrist pincushion this morning! So much nicer than the trash I bought at the store. 50 cents for the bracelet at the thrift store, and scraps of stuffing and fabric. Voilà!

[@suebotchie4167]

AMEN! i am not into sewing with or wearing "hefty bags" ( here in the states, that's a top brand of plastic trash bags). Also, natural fabrics breathe.

[@paraboo8994]

I used to be completely anti polyester for a long time, but I've come to appreciate it for making my go to blazer pattern. It's cheap, incredibly easy to take care of and for a structured garment like a blazer it works just fine. It's fun because I can whack out a crazy print blazer to wear at work for very little money and if I get it stained it's no big deal.

[@marilynbook4211]

I was finishing a quilt my friend's mother started and I could tell right away which of her fabrics were cotton and which were polyester just from the feel. I totally agree with you that cotton wins hands down.

[@watchersmith806]

I wear most types of fiber fabrics: wool, cotton, linen, rayon, poly, cotton/poly blends, etc. But the time of year and weather and temperature can definitely govern what I can wear comfortably. I like poly, poly blends because they truly wash and wear, no ironing! But in the summer with high temperature and humidity, Natural Fibers all the way! Anything with polyester feels like I'm wearing plastic wrap. But that would apply to wearing wool in summer for me as well.

[@kogabear1]

This is probably one of the best videos you’ve done. People starting to sew miss the difference in fabrics. I would guess that there are many who gave it up because of the fabric. I avoid poly. Seems like the old how to sew books do start out with types of fabric.

[@chelseawilliams6648]

New sewer here and I am completely addicted to this channel. Thank you for making the learning process so delightful and welcoming!

[@SusanS588]

Would love to see this experiment with 100% poly, 50/50 poly/cotton and 100% cotton. Next to impossible to find 100% cotton locally other than in quilting fabrics.

[@SeleneSalvatore]

Try mix of cotton and viscose or 100 % viscose sometimes it easier to find then 100 % cotton.

[@IssaSia]

Im out of topic but may I just mention that, black & white with red accent is my favorite color combination! Be it black & white checker accentuated with red and polka dotted black & white accentuated with red is just great! Love your concept of fashion and it suits you beautifully! Been watching your videos and you have maintained your subject Vintage in Fashion which is timeless in style that I love it!

[@dianemontavon5670]

when I first started sewing 1978 or so, I made everything in Polyester. My daughter would only wear elastic waist pants. I used poly and it worked well. I did make some things for my sister and myself, cotton dresses, seersucker outfit and her wedding dress. To tell you how much I didn't know about sewing, I made her dress out of lining. We couldn't afford the material to make the dress. It turned out great and was a heavy lining. I quit sewing pretty much as I worked and had 3 children. In 1989 I started quilting and everything was 100% cotton. I don't mind sewing with a blend of poly, but hate sewing with slippery fabrics.

[@MiddlingSewist]

I definitely wouldn't purchase polyester to duplicate cotton, as it's not a great dupe and cottons tend to not to be cost-prohibitive regardless. But I do think poly has a lot of applications duplicating other fabrics (silks, satin, and the like) and can achieve many a drape cotton cannot. Also, the utility in the washability/lack of wrinkling/wear and tear department cannot be understated for many applications; it often is a primary benefit when I'm choosing it as a substitute for another fabric. I'm more likely to wear a poly/poly blend dress out and about and risk puddles, rain, hugs from less than pristine children, and spilling coffee, where I could never bring myself to do so with a silk dress. But poly also allows me to afford to make outfits I would otherwise be priced out of in certain natural fibers. And it is a huge perk to not have to press certain items prior to every single wear in order to not look frumpy, or pay dry cleaning bills. So while I absolutely agree natural fibers on the whole are way easier to work with and more luxurious in general, it's often a cost, time, and resource luxury to be able to use them.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

yeah I've got some polycotton I got cheap that I wanted to use for mockups and I ended up patching my work pants with it cause it doesn't wear out the same way cotton does.

[@suebotchie4167]

Women work too doggone long and hard...and then have to turn around and skimp on themselves with fake fabric in order to have clothing. Oh, what the bleep is wrong with this picture :(

[@bunnybgood411]

But poly doesn't look and feel as good as cotton.

[@gee_emm]

@@bunnybgood411 Designer Richard Quinn uses it a lot. I guess polyester has evolved? He always lines with satin though. No word on how breathable/comfortable the results are. I feel itchy and hot just thinking about it…

[@lilolmecj]

I really prefer a blend for most applications. One thing to know, polyester does not stretch nor press as well as a blend or say silk. But it is a very useful fiber.

[@susan5223]

I think many of the finer polyester fabrics are wonderful for blouses and dresses. There are just so many fabrics that I think a lot has to do with the manufacturing process that determines whether the fabric is good or not. I do think that a beginner does need to start with cotton to avoid frustration.

[@sweetoneloves6811]

Cotton is always a winner with me, Polyester fabric I have to continue to work with, sometimes its difficult to use when the pattern calls for it. Thank you for your service

[@Hiker_who_Sews]

Knitting makes a difference, too. My mom paid no attention, so.... the polyester granny squares did not shrink, all the rest did. 😂😂Still loved and used that afghan to death!

[@leslindelgado6124]

Thank you for this. This was very informative. From now on I’m blaming fabric choice over my bad sewing. ❤😂

[@cliftonmcnalley8469]

I truly miss the excellent cotton/polyester blends that were available in the 70's and 80's. Women's dresses,, blouses and trousers had no need to go to the cleaners and were a breeze ro iron.. A 65/35 cotton/poly blend yielded the comfort of cotton with the durability of polyester. It would breathe, was as easy to sew as cotton and it would resist wrinkling and remain much more colorfast. In the 90's when Microfibre was first introduced, the breathability factor was greatly improved and the durability was amazing - no pilling.These days, all fibers are processed to disintegrate as quickly as possible. Most fabrics available to the sewing consumer, tend to be little if any better in quality than what can be found in RTW clothing at Walmart.

[@Patti-1962]

I make a lot of my grandsons' shorts. Of course, I love sewing cotton shorts, but they often want athletic wear fabrics, which are polyester. Not my favorite fabric to sew on, but I just use a zig zag stitch and cut out the fabric pieces with pinking shears!

[@janicevisger497]

I've purchased both cotton, and polyester-cotton. I love cotton much better. When ironing, I've noticed that polyester definitely needs a LOWER TEMPERATURE when Ironing. The heat can melt and actually scorch the polyester fabric, leaving it discolored..... not very good. Cotton is my favorite fabric! I also love Linen, viscose, and rayons!!rayon!!! Lightweight and very comfortable for handmade or purchased clothing. ♡♡♡ Thanks for sharing!!♡♡

[@brandygriffiss]

I definitely agree!

[@rc31802]

The visual differences in the sewing are very clear to me. Thank you for doing direct comparisons! I usually avoid polyester as it makes me too hot, besides the texture/fell differences

[@suem6004]

Nice. As a handspinner with one of those 'giant granny wheels' to make yarn, I wholeheartedly agree with cotton vs poly. Poly feels like a plastic trash bag in that suffocates me to wear. Though my preferred fabrics are wool and linen. They wick moisture and dry faster than cotton.

[@connierivera1758]

Great segment! I can see how polyester is used for most costumes. Also comfort, cotton is more comfy and cooler. And cotton, especially high quality, is essential to quilting. Thanks for your information. Learning so much!💗

[@vylia]

Great video, Evelyn. I also prefer cotton, but sometimes I end up with polyester blends that seem they'll work well. Definitively, natural fibers are wonderful. Thanks!

[@brendastevens7339]

this polyester is definitely not the polyester from the 70s and 80s because thats what i sewed it a lot of clothes and my clothes were really nice back then

[@lucilledaub5991]

I go for the feel of cotton. I learned a lot.

[@brendastevens8325]

Polyester back in my day was awesome

[@RochelleIrelandMusic]

Thanks for doing this comparison! I didn't know that polyester made more noise. I knew that it was more difficult to iron but didn't know polyester was difficult to ease and the seams puckered more. So interesting! It seems to me that polyester also hangs onto odours more stubbornly than natural fibers. I always take this into account when considering my pattern choice. If I'm working with polyester I steer clear of very tightly fitted sleeves. It makes my arms feel very uncomfortable and smelly. Does anyone else find this?

[@quicksilvertears921]

I stopped wearing anything with polyester, nylon and etc... made from plastic fibers because they make me stink. It only takes a few hours and my clothing smells. I don't have that problem with any natural fibers. I don't have that problem even with processed natural fibers like rayon.

[@mymai5859]

Yes definitely pongs- especially on gymn gear, sport shirts. We all spray straight white Vinegar on armpit sleeves, leave for 15mins, before every single wash. For camping/hiking gear that aren't washed for days - leave Vinegar spray on over night before washing & do a couple of additional sprays.

[@ecocodex4431]

I work with fabric so often that just me looking at the fabric from my laptop screen I could immediately tell the fabric on the left was Polyester. That is simply due to the sheen of the fabric. Cotton tends to absorb light more, while polyester tends to reflect it, making it have more of a shiny surface.

[@judyjennings-gunther4022]

I too could tell the difference. But sometimes it is trickier. I love buying cashmere scarves thrifting. Many times a scarf will not have a tag on it. They are getting pretty good at making acrylic feel like cashmere. I have been fooled a couple of times. I’ll buy the scarf then cut a tiny piece off the tassel end and do the burn test.What? Why is there a solid plastic blob? Hahah Then recently I got some vintage fabric thrifting. I was stumped. I wasn’t positive what the fabric content was. So naturally I had to buy it at 5 yds for $10. Did the burn test and it was silk!

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

@@judyjennings-gunther4022 Ooh, nice score on the silk! I had a huge success at my fabric store with "100% unknown fibres" that told my hands it was wool... so I bought 6m and took it home, burned it... smelled like burning hair with no residue... so I went back and bought the rest of the bolt. Six bucks a metre for purple and brown wool plaid that I've now made a skirt and house coat out of!!

[@anneburke2405]

Ah, now I understand, thank you for your demonstrations & clear explanations & best of all you cheeky, happy personality which I look forward to every Sunday. 💕

[@momzilla9491]

I so needed this comparison. Thank you Evelyn. You always look so nice, but I miss the curls girl!

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

The difference is in the wear. Polyester pills, pulls, and starts looking old fast. Cotton gets better when it is worn, washed, ironed, and used. Polyester will pickup stains and odors that you may never get out. You have a much better chance of getting stains and odors out of cotton. Polyester is hot on my body in the warm months; and. the woven polyester is cold on my body in the cold months. I have always been more comfortable in cotton. Polyester will melt in a flash fire; however, cotton will not melt in a flash first (which makes it a safer choice when flying or working somewhere where a flash fire may occur).

[@emmanash6699]

I just had to iron three pieces of poplin today - 2 pieces of 100% cotton, 1 piece of polypop (80% polyester/20% cotton.) The first piece had been folded straight from the dryer, and was somewhat crushed, but not too bad. The second piece of cotton poplin had just been left in a ball. It looked awful, but lots of water spritzing and a hot iron has it looking nice. The polypop... I could have been lazy and not ironed it, but I had the iron out so it got a go over. I just doubled it to save time and didn't even bother spritzing. Probably looks better than the cotton to be honest. That said, the polypop will be used for a costume that will be worn a few times, a few hours at a time. The cotton will be made into petticoats that will be daily wear :)

[@carolkegher723]

Thank you Evelyn for this video. I am making a dress from fabric that I don’t know the fiber content but I think it has polyester in it. I agree with what you’re saying and I love the natural fibers too. Ugh so many fabrics have polyester in them. It seems that it is harder to find natural fibers.

[@suebotchie4167]

Have noticed that as well.

[@noahellinsonbaker6833]

This is a great video. Cotton deffinityly rains supreme and is so mutch more manipulative cpmpared to stiffer polyester and i also think cotton gives a less cheap finnish.

[@ameliainpdx1775]

We learned early to go with "natural" fibers due to my mom being "allergic" to man made fabric - she'd get skin cancer from them that would need to be medically removed. We (my s2 sisters & I) all learned to iron young for that reason & I (@ least) still buy most of my stuff with natural fabrics.

[@kukujcroms]

Even the color looks brighter on the cotton fabric, on both the red and checker; the black is darker on the cotton. Love the video.

[@afiiik1]

I mostly hate polyester but there are a few polyester fabrics that I like: the milk silk dupe (knit), blended with viscose and spandex in punto di Roma, fleece, softshell (invaluable for kids in autumn/spring)

[@weiliu8634]

Thank you, so helpful as alway, learn so much from you

[@BYBabbra]

The difference is so great, I have been making a bunch shirts but using polyester and poly/cotton. The first one I made (my mock up) was from cotton and the collar went on well but now it just does not want to sit right. I have resorted to hand sewing the collar on.

[@cassandrakarpinski9416]

Wanted to comment on the video you linked to about how to tell the difference between natural and synthetic, but comments were disabled. In it you mentioned not being allowed to take a lighter to fabric in spotlight, and i just wanted to say that this was the whole premise of my personal interest project in high school. I went and bought a range of fabrics with different compositions and set it up at different intervals from the flame of a bunsen burner using a retort stand, measured the distance at which each sample caught and the burn characteristics and recorded it all. Ended up with the top mark for it and the teachers commented on how blown away by how much thought and effort went into my set up and into my analysis. When they asked mum how much help she had provided, the answer was "driving to spotlight and paying for fabric" 🤣🤣 . This was 15-16 years ago now.

[@rosac8168]

So glad I found you

[@carriefairweather8760]

brilliant piece of teaching. so easy to understand.

[@Ms.Mel.Creates]

I mean.. it’s plastic. It just can’t really compare. But I get why people buy it when they have to budget. Just can’t beat the feel of wearing natural fibres though. I’d rather save up for the real thing if I can. Thanks for giving some real examples of differences in working with it! I’m brand new to sewing so I appreciate it!

[@AimeeGrayNZ]

Someone asked me to make a dress for a little girl recently, with the brief that it didn’t need ironing. So eventually went for a poly-cotton and urrggh, it’s the first time I’ve ever sewn with man made fibres, didn’t enjoy it at all…

[@lqqkitslory]

Love the feel of cotton but polyester/cotton mix wins everytime for school uniform dresses. Stains wash out easily, it’s quick to dry and NO IRONING! 🤩

[@SparkyOne549]

I never wear plastic clothing. I have a bit of a fear that in the event our house or stove catches fire when we’re home, it will melt onto my skin, where as 100% cotton will only burn. Also, plastic is the worst to wear in the heat. Most people don’t know, if you look at HOT countries, most people wear linen or cotton, no polyester in the Middle East.

[@michalstrawn8707]

It's just so difficult to find natural fabrics for clothing. Fabric stores have hundreds of quilting cottons, but the apparel fabric is almost all poly with a bit of heavy cotton denim. Heaven forbid I want a lightweight cotton lawn for a summer shirt.

[@fortysomethingbadgirls2173]

I have some very vintage polyester! I hate the material but I decided to line my winter blankets isle with it because it will keep you warm!

[@OzSteve9801]

If my skin gets too sweaty I get a rash so I stick to natural fibres against the skin, particularly cotton and linen. I can feel the difference when I'm shopping for clothes. The second thing I look for is how well the seams and hems are made. I've had too many times when I've had to re-sew something new because the sewing was shoddy.

[@Jacelyn5440]

Evelyn, I have sewn for a number of years, and I do notice the difference in the different fibers. I have always wondered if there is a way to keep cotton clothing from fading so quickly? On the Polyester side, it does not breathe and in a warm climate, it will make you so hot and miserable. When it is cold weather, it does nothing to keep you warm.

[@LynHannan]

I always used poly when making costumes as they hold a puff sleeve (among other things) much better (a 100% cotton puff will soften and collapse with time and wear unless it has reinforcing). Also, costumes weren't worn as much or for as long as regular clothing so the issue of breathe-ability wasn't really a concern. I prefer the softer feel of natural fabrics for actual clothing, but live too far from anywhere that sells it with good quality in mind. So generally have to settle for a blend; or make do with a poor quality natural fiber fabric that will "pill" after a few wearing/washings due to the cheaper extra-short fibers.

[@carolyngethings]

What a great idea to do a video comparing cotton and polyester. It can be difficult sometimes to tell the difference when you are fabric shopping- not all stores make the fabric information easy to see. Some good tips here so we can make the right choice.

[@fiberfarmstead]

Interesting 🤔 thank you. I have a few marionettes my late Mother made and used. They need new outfits. She used recycled clothes. Cotton, demin, canvas, leather plus extras...

[@gill8779]

I only sew with linen or silk but sometimes will use viscose. I recently found some silk jersey fabric, luxurious but costly!

[@personwhohasnoname]

I think I just discovered why my practice skirt was so easy compared to the real thing. The cheap cotton just worked whereas the patterned fabric I wanted to use has been a nightmare. To me they felt the same.

[@TheMangomilly]

Evelyn, you have such great imagination and see potential in a garment that I would just never see! Learning to re-vamp my wardrobe instead of throwing stuff out that’s perfectly fine is fun. And bargain clothes that are not my size are now greeted with an audible … “ooh!” 😂 Thank you! Evelyn, would you be able to please do a video on how to make a long, regular waistband skirt into a high waist skirt with pockets? (Is this even possible?)

[@moyralouise7123]

Thank you for this information, really useful 😊

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I generally prefer working with cotton, though I've found quilting cotton DOES need the iron, but the one time I will voluntarily grab polyester is polarfleece. I live where it's effing cold in winter and I can't stand wool up against my skin, sometimes I'll sweat into it but I never have to worry about just throwing it in the washing machine, the moths aren't after it, and the stuff lasts FOREVER... I've been copying this one shirt I got like fifteen years ago with fun fuzzy patterns and I still have the original and use it as a work shirt (it's had all manner of paint and tar and dirt and crud on it and has mostly come clean), it's just now starting to get a bit thin at the elbows. And it never gets rough against my skin like some of my cotton sweatshirt fleece shirts have. And I adore the feel and drape of linen but if it's too cool, I can't wear it, even as an undershirt, I wore it under polarfleece while snow shovelling once and got chilled when some air went up the back of my jacket and cooled off the linen undershirt.

[@stevezytveld6585]

Thank you for the feel and sound tips - incredibly useful. The polyester reminded me of the rustle of plastic bags. I'm at the stage where I can make a semi-decent guess. But I can't get by without a burn test. Is there an easy trick to tell the difference between polyester and silk? That's the one that really gives me trouble. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Hi Cathy. The only trick I know is the burn test for silk and polyester. How are you doing?

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@robintheparttimesewer6798 Hey Woman! I'm doing OK. I'm in waiting mode for a biopsy boobie test and I'm in the cue line for trying to get some mental health support in this city. Post-pandemic medical system; whaddayagonna do... Other than that, we're not too bad. Progress is slow on the sewing and the cleaning. But small increases are being achieved. I guess. How goes it on your end of the province? How's the wee one's Halloween planning progressing?

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

@@stevezytveld6585 Cathy I’m sorry to hear that you’re having to go through that. My first biopsy I was a basket case had a huge chocolate binge then felt sick for days! 0/10 can not recommend! So try not to worry or eat your body weight in chocolate! I know easier said than done! I hear you about the post-pandemic health care I almost fell over when I got my referral beginning of November! I figured it would be a year! Weather has turned it’s great not to feel like I’m melting all the time! We may be back to catbug I’m confused. I’m going to endeavour to lock it all down by Tuesday. If we’re back to catbug I have almost everything I need. Though I’m still not sure how to get the bug part to puff out. Good thing I love the boy cause he’s driving me spare!

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@robintheparttimesewer6798 I'm doing allot of deep breathing. And I'm trying not to overdose on chocolate. I was able to get the mammogram and biopsy early because of cancellations. Right now is just waiting for the system gears to clink their way through to some sort of result. Getting a referral that early is amazing. Good for you. That is fantastic. As for psychiatric care... they were short on doctors and programs before covid. Oye. Today Ottawa got the best news ever. The "Trucker Convoy" group who have been squatting at a deconsecrated church in the middle of The Market... have been removed from the premises for not paying their bills. And they've been ordered to pay legal fees to the owner. I'm counting it as a win. Hm, I thought there might be a return of Catbug ("the magnificent"?)... excellent. Would it work to construct boning channels into the outer seams of the wings? Do each wing as some version of an oval shape. Make boning channels wide enough for those really long zip ties (basically, use matching bias tape that's wide enough). One boning channel for each edge of the 'wing' and the third running down the middle. Kind of like... ( | ) if that makes any sense? Attach the wing tips to a ribbon he can heroically tie around his neck and drape the wings over his shoulders?

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

@@stevezytveld6585 Cathy that’s brilliant! I think that will work! The longer the results take the better it is! My results were good both times but a friend who’s results weren’t good was called back in less than a week. It was really hard to believe but it was true. Be careful with the chocolate my stomach is now ify when I eat too much. As for mental health it’s hard I don’t think we had enough providers before the pandemic. And now so many need some help we’re just burning them out. The whole health care system needs help! I’m also very glad to hear that that group has been evicted! I was appalled by their talking points. I was having problems understanding how people could believe that nonsense. But then I was talking to a friend and she told me that there were a bunch of people pulling their money out of the bank. They think banks are going to close and do a change over of all the cash to have the king on everything!! I just can’t fathom how that would make sense to anyone! Unless the government says it’s all still legal tender!! Heck pennies are still legal tender there just not making them! Makes me wonder a lot about people!

[@designparvicky550]

I live in Canada and my friend is moving back to Europe and she can’t take her stash so she sold it to me for a bargain. Now some fabric I can tell what they are but others are just a mystery to me, I have no idea what I’m getting. I always buy natural fibres and don’t want to mix the unknown with my stash… how can I tell what it is without doing as much experiments as you just did

[@watchersmith806]

Do a burn test with a small sliver of fabric. Use tweezers to hold fabric over metal container for safety. Bring lit match towards fabric. Natural fibers will burn and leave ash. Polyester will melt and usually leave beads of melted product. If you need more info google how to do burn test for fabrics. I tried sharing link, and looks like site won't allow.

[@designparvicky550]

@@watchersmith806 thank you!

[@kimberlycooper4170]

If I remember correctly, my iron has a button to press to stop using steam. So, that prevents water spotting. (Obviously, I don't sew anything often.)

[@helenmontgomery5357]

Clothes made with polyester can make me sweat. Polyester holds the heat in unlike cotton. Cotton Breathes.

[@ninjabgwriter]

I'm finding myself gravitating towards cotton too. Someone I know who used to sew years ago but has stopped kindly gifted me their fabric stash, and there’s only a few with labels. I've slowly been working out which fabrics are which with burn tests as I decide to use them. A lot of it seems to be cotton or linen with a few synthetics thrown in, but we even have some silk and wool! Though honestly the care needs of silk and wool scare me a bit after the garment is all sewn up, since historically I know that if I own clothing that can't go in the washing machine, it's worn once and then it hides at the bottom of my closet for months until I just give up and throw it in the laundry machine anyway and hope it survives. I feel like I need to do way more research on how to properly machine wash silk and wool before I'm allowed to own garments made of them, lol. Until then, I'm probably going to use synthetic counterparts so I can wear them in good conscience. Plant fibers are my friends so far though, no drama from them.

[@GenevieveJackson-pu2dm]

Great video thank you 👍

[@luciatat4084]

The difference is in how they feel on the skin: one feels like the mother’s hug, the other feels like the devil’s :)) just kidding but yeah....polyester feels really bad, at least for me. I used to buy clothes based on design mainly, now I check the fabric first.

[@sandrab.7835]

No chance for polyester😁😁 the one and only time i sewed with polyester was when I started sewing about 10 years ago. I wanted to make a dolldress and chose a red polyester satin fabric because it was cheap and it was just for that doll. So I ended up ruining my iron and the fabric completely because i forgot to set the temperature low. I melted a big hole in it and the iron looked terrible. No way i could fix it. I never sewed with polyester again but not only for that reason. Polyester does not feel nice at all and makes you sweat. And in the end its just plastic! It looses micro plastic bits every single time you wash it. I prefer organic cotton, viscose or bamboo fabric. Bamboo is really nice and soft and more sustainable than cotton because it can be produced in a cycle. Its such a pity, everytime i go to a fabric market ( which is only 1x - 2x a year in my area) and i SEE a nice fabric i get disappointed when i touch it. Oh. Its polyester 🙄 Even if it has only 20% or less polyester i would not buy it. Unfortunately the most cotton jerseys you get in Germany have aproximately about 5% spandex in it. But there is only a little chance to get a 100% cotton jersey.

[@steffanielsey8714]

Love 100% of cotton

[@lovepuppy2242]

I started sewing at 9, so for price the poly was always preferred, from my parents wallet at least. As a teen my grandmother's friend passed, her family gave me so much fabric. That was the first time I got to work with natural fibers and everything suddenly changed. I realized that the reason I didn't wear certain garments despite loving the finished peice was because of the fabric. With time I realised i hated the feeling of anything with more than 30% polyester. Plus its so SO much easier to work with natural fabrics. There are some fabrics like silk and organza that im fine with the poly. That being said the only things I have made with either of those I only wear with a slip.

[@Ms.Mel.Creates]

I would love to see differences between working with silk and poly!!

[@elizabethlane880]

That polyester noise was really making me get even more irritable at polyester than I already am lol! I am definitely going to scour the opshops for natural fabrics from now on - your videos are absolutely incredible - THANKYOU!

[@astra2007]

I prefer a polyester blend for durability and ease of care. I have found the 100% cotton garments I've made for myself tend to fall apart fairly easily, especially the ones with a looser weave or a lighter weight. Plus they need ironing and life is busy enough without adding that awful chore into it.

[@suzannemattie3493]

I am not comfortable in synthetics. I have sensitive skin and cotton is very comfortable for me and easy to work with.

[@suebotchie4167]

Watching your video, i recalled, decades ago, my mom saying about synthetics, they're "hard to work with."

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Thanks for the comparison

[@elsafischer3247]

Great video thank you

[@sarahhutchinson4621]

I’m so grateful I found you. You are engaging and easy to understand, and I feel so calm watching! I have OCD, so it has been difficult for me to start using my sewing machine, even though I want to SO badly, because I feel like I need to perfectly know all of this information before I can use it. You inspire me to want to begin. Thank you for making me feel comfortable! 🫶

[@mytree123]

Polyester is great for the winter holds your body heat in. Cotton is great for the summer it breaths and the heat can leave your body.

[@kendal4452]

100% cotton is not my favorite. They don't wash well and tend to shrink and wrinkle. They also tend to stain and be is stiff. If I'm going to by cotton, it has to be blended with something else.

[@frannygrace2191]

Excellent, as always!

[@lilianmatheson3664]

I absolutely LOVE the shirt you are wearing. Did you sew it?

[@janeford551]

Great job hunny very interesting 🥰

[@tinawelch3005]

don't scan the comments DURING the video! i restarted 3 times because the comments and video were both full of great info!

[@shannonjayne605]

Busted 😂

[@oskarmolly]

I prefer sewing with and wearing cotton year round. I always feel so fresh where as with polyester for a few hours, I feel hot and sticky not breathable.

[@bunnybgood411]

I prefer natural fibers, for all the reasons you described. Synthetics are better than cottons for leggings though.

[@HelenaTeeter]

Being torah observant i don't have any polyester garments. Only linen, cotton and wool..separately.

[@lestranged]

Another good comparison would be sustainability and environmental impact. Cotton does take a lot of water and pesticides to grow (unless it is organic cotton but even that uses a lot of water). But Polyester creates pollution both in the production phase and the afterlife phase, because it never breaks down in a landfill. Also it sheds microplastics which get into our water and food supply. Neither one is ideal, so the best thing is to just reduce the amount of new clothing (and other textiles) that you are purchasing, or purchase used clothing.

[@lovemesomeslippers]

Since menopause I get too hot for plastic fibers. Polyester feels like a smothering death to me. I’ve tried the “new” ones and they don’t feel any better to me. Luckily I need fewer items these days and so i can go with the natural every time.

[@MsHedgehog]

I overheat easily and so I detest wearing polyester, it just locks in the heat like a plastic bag. And so I never really sew with it, sewing with viscose is similiar though, viscose bias binding is somewhat a pain to make compared to cotton, but it makes for very nice thin seam finishes.

[@stephenmccarthy1795]

Indirectly discusses a lot of techniques that are not normally covered so clearly, like finger pressing.

[@LB-vl3qn]

It's lovely, isn't it? I wonder, too. ~ Lisa

[@antoniomoramarco8548]

Hello, Thank you so much about this lesson ❤ But I have a question: Does 100% polyester fabric is stretch or not? Thank you, Antonio

[@Evelyn__Wood]

If a fabric will stretch, depends on how that fibre (cotton, poly, wool, silk, acetate etc) is constructed to make fabric. I.e is is knit (stretch fabric) or woven (non stretch). 😄 fabrics are afun topic and learning about them will improve your results for sure!

[@sandrarose7129]

What about wearing and washing though?

[@CarJul666]

I too prefer cotton fabrics. If I use polyester it's for curtains.

[@elenin.3228]

Excellent video! I remember when I was a child, cotton fabrics used to shrink a lot when prewashed to the point that my mother and my aunts bought extra yardage just to be on the safe side. Well, that doesn't happen nowadays. Cotton fabrics don't shrink as much. So, the question is: Do you think 100% cotton fabrics actually are 100% cotton or is there a little polyester in all of them just to prevent the shrinking?

[@jirup]

Most 100% cotton is 'preshrunk' these days. It doesn't remove all the shrinkage, but it doesn't shrink nearly as much as it did a few decades ago.

[@SparkyOne549]

Jirup is correct, the cotton fabric goes through intense hot water and steaming during the process.

[@lisikoshy8565]

I have a question: can I use polyester fabric and cotton fabric in the same garment? Or would there be some issues with that?

[@Proverbs31.1]

Question: I'm in America, I have a sewing kit box from the 1940's called, "Tidee Maid Deluxe." What should I do with it?

[@broganmckoko]

With all due respect, your analysis is biased because of your favoritism your cotton. The only real difference apparent on camera is how each fabric handles the iron. Otherwise both look and sound the same. Water spitting from your iron can happen at any temperature. Especially when you first heat it up with a full tank. I sew with both 100% cotton and 100% polyester Fabrics. My cotton fabric tends to be stiffer and hold its shape better. My polyester's drape better. I can abuse my cotton Fabrics with high heat while my polyesters will melt. My cotton fabric shrink more in the washer dryer. My polysters don't require pre washing because they do not shrink. My Cottons will soften up with time but they never have the same level of drape as my polyesters. As far as wear is concerned, it depends entirely on the weave of the fabric. Some is woven to be super soft. The softest fabric I have ever worked with was DTY double brushed polyester. That stuff is buttery smooth on both sides and stretches to conform to the body. However it is not good for a wide poofy skirt because it will fall flat. 100% cotton is great for a line poofy skirts. It holds its shape beautifully. I do not have a bias for one fabric over the other. Maybe that's why I came to different conclusions than you and your analysis. However I do understand what you were trying to get at with a 100% polyester weave made like a tablecloth. I have worked with some of that fabric and it is a pain. It has very poor drape and ripples when you sew it. You are better off with a different needle and different thread. Very fine needle and polyester thread.

[@jimkoss3318]

In your experience polyester drapes better, but EW says the cotton drapes better. Could your experiences be due to a quality difference in the fabrics you use?

[@morphinpink]

@@jimkoss3318 I think the issue is a language one. Cotton and polyester are types of fibres, there are different fabrics made out of these. So what drapes / sews better (or just differently) it's going to depend on what kind of fabric it is, regardless of the type of fibre.

[@jimkoss3318]

@@morphinpink Therefore, a polyester jacquard would be expected to behave differently than a cotton lawn? If that’s correct, then EW’s evaluation is kinda bogus without more information?

[@WindspielArt]

@@jimkoss3318 sure those two would behave differently - those are completely different fabrics/weaves. But Evelyn is comparing similar fabrics/weaves made of different fibres in this video. This video is made for beginners who will go to a fabric store, see those fabrics that look really similar, and probably will buy the cheaper one (most of the time this will be the polyester) and then struggle while sewing. Sure there are polyester (or other synthetic) fabrics that behave completely different. I never saw a (pure) cotton chiffon because the fibres are not fine enough and don't drape as well, but sure polyester chiffon exists and drapes really nice (silk chiffon is still superior I think... but quite expensive...) but those differences you will learn with time. Again: this video is for beginners who don't know anything about those differences, and for that its great.

[@lovemesomeslippers]

I could see all the differences that E pointed out.

[@marymoore3585]

I hate polyester. I hate the way it feels, how it wears, how weak it is, and how it sews. Cotton is the bomb! I love Cotton

[@momzilla9491]

Oh Evelyn! Have you tried out or bought a computerized sewing machine yet? If so, which one? Thanks!!!

[@k.s.k.7721]

Not discussed is how polyester is produced. It's made from petroleum, so is involved with massive pollution issues. It does not rot or decay, which is a major waste problem in many countries. Currently the US throws away 70 lbs of clothing per person yearly - and the vast majority of those items are polyester. Also, polyester micro-fibers are thin enough when worn that they can slip between the cells of the skin and actually enter the body, where they cannot be eliminated. It's estimated that 31% of ocean pollution is caused by the washing of polyester fabric, which sheds 4,000 microfibers per gram of fabric. That kills fish, interferes with sea life and will not biodegrade for thousands of years. Frankly, there is NO reason to choose polyester, and many reasons to look into sustainable, earth friendly and humane methods of producing natural fibers.

[@lindamcdonald3151]

hi love your videos, i have a question i used 100% cotton for a jacket .it was not good it wrinkes like crazy,and when i put interfacing on light interfaceing it wrinkle into the fabric and cannot get them out. i feel this is not a good fabric for a jacket , what do you think of it.

[@louisemcelhill5748]

I found that the 20/80 cotton/poly frayed like mad. That was the worst thing about it.

[@clothingalterations]

I like 100% cotton but good quality only, I am over 60, polyester fabric is itchy for me.