Tulle fabric was initially manufactured in Tulle, France, where it gained its name. It is an airy, light, and net-like fabric that is used to make bridal veils and wedding dresses.
Just like any other fabric, tulle has different qualities and variations. There is flowy and soft tulle, while some tulle fabrics are stiff and thick. These variations were made for various purposes, which is why it is necessary to know the purpose of your project and what you need. Some examples of tulle fabrics are Silk Tulle, Bridal Illusion, and English Tulle.
Since working with tulle fabric is tricky, we prepared some helpful tips for an easier sewing experience.
- To make your project look fuller and attractive, you should use your ruffle foot to bulk it up. See our tutorial on How to Gather Fabric and Add Ruffles Properly for more information.
- Tulle fabric tends to absorb static electricity; thus, it is useful to lightly spray it with some water to combat this issue. However, you must be careful not to soak the fabric.
- Tulle easily melts even in low heat; thus, it is vulnerable when being ironed. To remove the wrinkles of the fabric, you can use a pressing cloth while ironing it with low heat or use some steam to avoid melting. For more good information on Pressing Tools and pressing cloths, please see this post.
- To prevent the tulle from being caught in the feed dogs, you can use some seam binding under the fabric to give support while stitching. Just put a piece of it under the tulle fabric to avoid the fabric from being stuck or caught.
- Aside from being vulnerable to heat, tulle is also a slippy fabric to work with and is prone to snagging. Putting some transparent tape on the surface of the presser foot's bottom part can help solve this problem. In this regard, sewing with tulle can be a lot like Sewing with Vinyl. Please see the linked post for more helpful tips and illustrations.
- Self-healing mat and rotary cutter can help prevent the fabric from moving while cutting it. You can lay it on the table and use a quilting ruler to hold it down while cutting.
- Tulle fabric does not unravel or wear out quickly. This is a good thing because it provides an airy feel even if the edges were left unfinished.
- Remember to secure the tulle to your base fabric with the help of safety pins. Just remove the sewing pins as you sew for even sewing and avoid bunching.
- Don't use the short straight line or looped stitch when sewing tulle using hand sewing or by sewing machine. Use wide zigzag stitch instead.
When stitching with a sewing machine, using the longest stitch length setting is ideal. - Using a bigger needle and a thread that is thick during hand sewing is highly recommended.
For some more in-depth information on how to Hem Sheer or Lightweight Fabrics, please check out the post below.
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