Hey friends! This is Bree here to give you some insight on some of the amazing bases NFS offers for custom printing!
Bullet/Liverpool
Northern Fabric's bullet is SO soft! You will be pleasantly surprised in many ways with this fabric! This truly is a fabric base everyone needs to try!
History of the fabric
A structured knit fabric that is is textured on one side and smooth on the other. It is a “double knit”, which have more weight and less stretch than regular single knits. Bullet is a fantastic fabric for beginners as it tends to be easier to control and maneuver than other knits that are more drapey and stretchy.
Personal Experience
Bullet fabric has quickly become one of my favourite bases to work with. I generally tend to prefer natural fiber fabrics and stay away from polyester, however this base I am willing to break that rule for! Last summer when Northern Fabric was still young, and I was excitedly planning matching Christmas jammies, I realized I probably should let my husband have at least a little bit of input. I invited my husband into my sewing room (a rare occurrence on its own) and let him touch and feel all of Northern’s different knit fabric bases – there were over 10!
He chose bullet with confidence. It’s insanely soft, incredibly stretchy, has enough structure that it holds its shape without being too drapey, but is still lightweight and flexible enough to make a beautiful cardigan or dress with!
Durability/Life of fabric
How well does it wear? We wear our bullet makes weekly so they’ve been washed at least 25 times and they have not faded one bit! The bright reds and solid blacks are still true and crisp!
Care
Wash and dry as normal! This fabric is wrinkle-resistant so you shouldn’t need to iron it!
Ideal projects
Pj pants, shorts, cardigans, pullovers, bummies, headbands, almost anything!
Things to avoid
As this fabric is polyester bases and doesn’t breath well , I do not recommend making one-piece baby outfits, or really anything for a baby under the age of 18 months, as they are unable to regulate their body temperature.
PUL
This technical fabric is practical and has so many uses! NF's PUL is soft and has a nice feel on the outside, with a waterproof backing!
History
PUL stands for Polyurethane Laminate. One side is an absorbent knit and the other is flexible Polyurethane.PUL fabric was originally developed to withstand the intense heat of sanitizing washers and dryers used in hospitals, so it will certainly hold up in your home washer and dryer. In fact, washing and drying with high heat can help to seal up needle holes and seams. This product is also food safe
Personal Experience - I found that I don’t need to make many adjustments when sewing with PUL – it sews up very similarly to any other woven. It is a bit slippery when cutting, but the use of a few fabric weights will help. You will also want to use clips instead of pins, as the pin holes will leave a hole in your fabric.
Durability
PUL fabric was originally developed to withstand the intense heat of sanitizing washers and dryers used in hospitals, so it will certainly hold up in your standard machines! In fact, washing and drying with high heat can help seal up those pesky needle holes along the seams.
Care
Use a very low heat iron and spray bottle when ironing PUL to get wrinkles out, however it is fairly wrinkle-resistant to begin with. Do not use the iron on the laminate side, or your iron will stick to it. Do not use a high heat, or you will melt the laminate to your ironing surface.
Ideal Projects
Raincoats, splash pants, bibs, cloth diapering, painting smocks, reusable snack bags, cushion covers and more!
To Avoid
It has very limited stretch so you will want to avoid patterns that have been drafted for knits and use a woven pattern. It has a sort of plastic-y feel on the inside so you may want to take that into consideration when using it for garments – I wear a tshirt under my raincoat I made with it and it doesn’t bother me, but it may be something to take into consideration if sewing for someone with sensory concerns.
Cotton French Terry
Northern Fabric's cotton french terry is superior to many! This stuff is luxe. If you know, you know.
History
Cotton French Terry is identified by its characteristic loops on the back side. It’s an absorbent, light-weight, moisture-wicking material that's super comfortable to wear any day of the year. It's heavier than cotton lycra, yet lighter than most fleece fabrics. It has been around since the 80’s!
Personal Experience
Cotton French Terry (also referred to a FT or CFT) is one of my absolute favourite bases to work with! It is my favourite fabric to use for shorts for both my kids and myself! I also prefer FT over fleece for sweaters because I overheat easily, but am always cold – I have found FT to be the perfect weight fabric for me!
Durability
French Terry is one of the best fabrics for long-lasting durability and is commonly used for sports wear due to its moisture-wicking, and absorbent properties – helping you keep cool!
Care
Regular wash and dry cycles are fine! Avoiding washing knits with denim or towels as these are abrasive fabrics and can cause premature wear.
Ideal Projects
Hoodies, pullovers, joggers, shorts
To Avoid
Personally I find this fabric too heavy for a t-shirt or tank, but I’ve seen others use it many times before so I think this is just a personal preference thing for me!
That's it for now! But be sure to check back soon for descriptions on the other bases offered as well! No matter what base you choose (and there are SO MANY to choose from), you can't go wrong with the amazing quality offered at NFS!
Thanks for hanging out with me and getting to know some of our fabric bases!
- xo Bree
https://northernfabricshop.com/?ref=gINCCCF6qm4dv (affiliate link)