Here at Calico Laine the Bi-Stretch Fabric is one of our best sellers. This particular line is versatile, durable and an excellent price with an outstanding colour range. No wonder its so popular!. The Bi-stretch fabric is 100% polyester and 150 cm (60" if you're still imperial) wide, it has a mat finish and is a medium weigh cloth. Although the fabric is called Bi-Stretch it isn't technically 'stretchy', when we talk about stretchy fabric the first things that come to mind are usually jerseys, lycras and other knitted materials but the Bi-stretch fabric is actually woven. Most woven fabrics have a warp grain (down the length) and the weft grain (this goes across) and 2 biases. Each bias is perpendicular to each other. Usually when you cut out a garment you'd cut it length ways down the fabric but certain garments require you to cut out your pattern pieces on the bias, this is because the bias cut garment will require a little bit of give. The bi-stretch fabric gives you that little bit of give without having to cut on the cross/bias. Some people are often deterred from using bias cut fabric as it usually requires more material, this is not the case with this range.
Anyone would be forgiven for thinking that bias cut garments are usually luxurious dresses and ball gowns but that's certainly not the case. With the Bi-stretch fabric you can add a little bit of luxury to your everyday items! As the fabric has a tiny bit of give its easy to achieve a flattering fit which hangs delicately. This range is ideal for trousers, dresses and light weigh jackets among many, its machine washable at 30 degrees and is easy to iron although it won't crease much!
Here at Calico Laine we sell two ranges of Bi-stretch fabric. The Premium Bi-stretch fabric is very durable, it weights 183g per square metre and is available is 15 fabulous colours. We also sell a regular Bi-stretch fabric which is a slightly lighter weight at 170g per square metre. The regular Bi-stretch fabric is hugely popular and comes in 45 stunning colours. This range is so popular for a variety of reasons. Its one of the most affordable lines that we do here at Calico Laine so its incredible popular with theatre groups making costumes, schools who have tight budgets as well as people who are new to sewing and don't want to spend a lot on a trial run. The fabric is a great quality for the money so why not give it a try?