HINT: Browse our new arrivals
At a loss? Check out our blog
Product code 101-03-1002
Similar in some ways to silk organza, crepeline is a sheer, stiff fabric with a slight sheen made of natural silk in a loose, plain weave. Used in restoration of historic garments but also as a lining, interfacing, and fashion fabric, our crepeline is the creamy color of natural silk.
Read more| Shade: | ivory |
| Material: | 100% silk |
| Width (cm): | 137 cm |
| Width (inches): | 54 ″ |
| Weight (mm): | 2 mm |
| Weight (gsm): | 8 gsm |
| Weight (oz): | 0.2 oz |
| Drape: | stiff |
| Care: | |
| Availability: | never out of stock |
| Minimum order: | 0.2 m |
in stock 47.2 m
Silk crepeline is ultralight and sheer. It’s a stiff fabric with virtually no drape that really holds its shape, a quality it retains even after washing. Used widely in textile restoration to secure damaged areas and support fine, delicate fabrics and garments, it can also find any range of applications in your sewing studio.
This authentic textile conservator’s crepeline from a French weaver is slightly lighter and softer than our Bohemian crepeline but actually has a higher thread count. It is a truly “invisible” fabric, a characteristic prized by conservators restoring historical textiles. In ordinary dressmaking it is the very lightest, finest, most translucent fabric on the market.
French crepeline is not cheap, which is why we also carry an alternative Bohemian crepeline with a more down-to-earth price tag. However, the two fabrics are not interchangeable – Bohemian crepeline is a bit rougher and has a much looser weave than this delicate French beauty.
French crepeline is used mainly in textile restoration for virtually invisible fiber fixation.
In dressmaking it will play a role in places that call for a truly fine, transparent fabric that can magically hold its shape – sculptured ruffles, puffed sleeves, and the like. It makes billowy, layered skirts, like the one in Cinderella’s periwinkle dress in the 2015 Disney film. With crepeline you can conjure up diaphanous sleeves, extravagant new creations, and delicate accessories without even a magic wand.
Crepeline can be used to prop up more delicate fabrics like crepe de Chine and silk charmeuse by backing pattern pieces to help them keep their shape. When embroidering on delicate fabrics, use crepeline as an inconspicuous interface that you just stitch to the back and then trim to match the motif. Crepeline is also a practical underlayer for light, breezy garments where you want to maintain a featherweight airiness.
Compared with silk organza, crepeline has a looser weave and is sheerer, softer, and smoother.
This crepeline is produced in five-meter lengths. Thus, larger orders may be made up of multiple pieces. If this is the case for your order, we will contact you.
This fabric may be washed, but if you use it as an outer layer, we recommend dry cleaning at a reliable dry cleaner or very careful hand washing so that this delicate fabric is not damaged and keeps its good looks for a long time. If you risk hand washing, use lukewarm water and a delicate detergent for silks or woolens; do not wring or squeeze dry; block dry on a flat surface. Dry iron on a low setting (synthetics or silk).
Yes. Silk is our specialty. All fabrics marked as "silk" in our shop are always made of natural silk. You can rely on the fact that is always natural mulberry silk unless we say otherwise. If it is a different type of natural silk (e.g., wild silk), we will say so. We describe the many types of natural silk in full detail in our post on types of silk.
Washing is generally not recommended for silk – it belongs at the dry cleaners. However, as our big silk wash test has shown, some types of silk fabrics can stand up to a gentle wash program or hand washing without harm if you follow the procedure described. That said, wash silk at your own risk. We definitely recommend testing in advance on a small sample of the fabric – because silk is a natural material it's not 100% predictable. Never use an ordinary laundry detergent – use a special detergent for wool and silk or, if there's no other option, a gentle, silicone-free shampoo.
The fabrics in our core inventory, seasonal collections and limited editions are from repeated production cycles that we have quality-tested – given proper care their colors should not bleed. Fabrics that are on offer while supplies last are one-off products that have not been individually tested, so we recommend testing on a sample. Silk may lose some color when washed in water that's too hot or with unsuitable detergent. Always follow the recommended water temperature and use detergents designed for washing silk or wool. Washing silk, though it is often no problem, is always at your own risk. Read more in our post on How to wash silk.
If you are not going to dye the finished garment, we recommend a high-quality polyester thread for sewing silk. If you want to dye the finished garment, be sure to choose a silk thread (polyester does not take dye). The choice of sewing needle and thread depends on the type and weight of the fabric – for sewing particularly fine fabrics (chiffons, georgettees, light satins, light crepes) a thinner polyester or silk thread and a corresponding thin needle are suitable. Do not use cotton thread to sew silk.
Probably the best way to tell is the burn test. Silk burns reluctantly, leaving a black crumb that you can easily crush between your fingers and smells like burnt hair. Be sure to test threads pulled from both the weft and the warp. In addition to the burn test, there are a plenty of other tricks – check out our post on how to tell real silk.
This product is also available at a discount in the remnants section. Quantity in stock: 1m
This pretty hairband is easy to sew. Make it from silk and it’s good for your locks too. All you need is a scrap of fabric and our tutorial.
Full article
Can you wash silk? And how? We decided to find out. See our great silk washing test.
Full article
Choose the right thread for sewing machines and hand sewing every time with our complete guide.
Full article
Ever wondered about sewing machine needles? Don’t know what size to use on your project? Our sewing needle cheat sheet comes to the rescue!
Full article
The Empire dress, it’s a look we’re still wearing 200 years after it first came into fashion – clean, simple, classy, with its high waistline and long, slender silhouette. Here’s the story of how the French gave Rococo the boot, turned fashion on its head, and introduced a revolutionary new way of dressing.
Full article
As you browse our silk selection, you may be mystified by the abbreviation “mm” in our fabric weight column. Millimeters? No. The mm stands for momme (pronounced moe-mee), a traditional measure of silk weight that comes to us from Japan. What can it tell us? Read on for enlightenment.
Full article
Silk pillowcases are having a moment, and it’s no wonder. Not only are they a dream to sleep on, they keep your skin hydrated and even prevent bedhead. We’ll look at what the fuss is all about and help you choose the right fabric to make your own. Find out what silk can do for your beauty sleep.
Full article
Did you know there’s more than one kind of natural silk? It’s true, and not only do different silk moths made different kinds of silk, there are also different types depending on the quality of the yarn itself and how it was made. Each kind of silk has its own characteristics that you should know if you plan to wear it. To make an educated choice it’s good to know the basics. So, here we go!
Full article
That silk dress was a real find, but – d’oh! – the tag says dry clean only. At a loss? Here are a few tips on finding a good cleaner. It’s easier than you may think and it’s certainly worth the effort. If you’ve been living in jeans and a t-shirt and this is your first foray into the world of professional cleaning, take a deep breath and read on. Levels of service and know-how can vary widely but a good dry cleaner can be worth their weight in gold. Choose wisely (we tell you how) and your clothes will thank you.
Full article
You don’t need an advanced degree in textiles or years of expertise working with fabrics in order to recognize whether what you’re buying is natural silk. All you need is a little knowledge and a dose of caution.
Full article
Silk is an absolute classic, sought after for its beauty and exquisite softness, shunned for its price tag and supposed frailty. But is natural silk really so expensive or so impractical? How many kinds of silk are out there? And what makes silk so utterly irresistible? Let us clear up some questions (and bust some myths) for one of nature’s most intriguing materials.
Full article
How well do you know your silk fabrics? Dupioni, serge, habotai… don’t be dismayed if it sounds like the roster of some pirate ship to you. We’ll help clear away some of the mystery and explain the types of silk fabric and what sets them apart. We’ll cover terminology, characteristics, tricks and tips for sewing, and which projects call for which fabrics. No two silks are the same.
Full article
Ever wonder what those funny symbols on care labels mean? The washtub, the triangle, that little box with a circle inside? Get your decoder rings ready! This overview gives you the key to decipher what the manufacturer is trying to say. Now you’ll always know just how to wash, dry, and press your clothes. Never be vexed by the hieroglyphs on a care tag again!
Full article
It’s common knowledge that silk is made from the snow-white cocoon of the mulberry silk moth. But how do we go from that tightly spun wad to a perfect, endless thread? The secret of silk production was closely guarded by the Chinese court for millennia and those who would talk faced death. Yet it turns out that all you need if you’d like to see how it works, is a cup of warm water...
Full article
The hall explodes in frenzied activity as brokers rush to buy and sell. Deals are struck. Fortunes are made. But we’re not on Wall Street. And it’s not stocks and bonds trading hands… It’s silkworm cocoons. Welcome to the great cocoon market in Karnataka, where our Indian silks begin their journey to you.
Full articleCopyright © 2011 - 2024 Sartor Bohemia - All rights reserved
In business since wpj
How to put an item on hold for in-store pickup:
How to order sample swatches of fabric
or
