Textiles Guide

The following guide describes some of the textiles we stock for general course use. This is not a complete guide as we have samples of many other materials.

Note: GSM is grams per square meter. One ounce per square yard is about 33.9 grams per square meter.

Polyester

The polyester fabrics are ordered from lightest to heaviest.

Polyester Crystal Organza

• https://fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/crystal-organza-59-60-inch-fabric

• 100% polyester

• 59/60 inch width

• 30 GSM weight

• 0.14 mm thickness

• we stock white, but available in 31 colors

• purchased for 2026: white, magenta

• about $2.50 per yard in quantity

Polyester Organza

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075HHS6CQ/

• 100% polyester

• 44 inch width

• we stock white, but available in 44 colors

• about $1.25 per yard in quantity

Polyester China Silk Lining

• https://fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/polyester-china-silk-lining-fabric

• 100% polyester

• 60 inch width

• 50 GSM

• Thickness: 0.07 mm

• available in 62 colors

• purchased for 2025: White, Royal Blue, Kelly Green, Yellow, Lilac, Mint, Neon Yellow, Light Pink

• about $2.25 in quantity

Polyester Chiffon

• https://www.fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/chiffon-fabric

• 100% polyester

• 60 inch width

• 70 GSM weight

• 0.21 mm thickness

• we stock white, but available in 42 colors

• purchased for 2026: White, Red

• about $2.50 per yard in quantity

Polyester Chiffon - IFR

• IFR means “inherently fire retardant”

• https://mytextilefabric.com/products/ifr-chiffon-60-wide-yards

• 100% polyester

• 60 inch width

• 70 GSM weight

• not yet in stock, but about 50 colors available

• about $2.50 per yard in quantity

Polyester Taffeta Lining

• https://www.fabricwholesaledirect.com/products/polyester-taffeta-lining-fabric

• 100% polyester

• 54 inch width

• 80 GSM weight

• 0.15 mm thickness

• we stock white, but available in 23 colors

• about $3.20 per yard in quantity

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Cotton

Cotton Muslin

• https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/cotton/bleached-natural-Cotton-Muslin-45-Bleached.html

• 100% cotton

• 45 inch width

• 102 to 119 GSM (specified as 3 to 3.5 oz. per square yard )

• replacement for the discontinued 48 inch wide we still have in stock

• about $3.40 per yard in quantity

• we stock Natural, also available as Bleached

Cotton Bubble Gauze

• https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/cotton/cotton-bubble-gauze-50-inch.html

• 100% cotton

• 50 inch width

• 102 GSM, specified as 3oz/square yard

• about $6.10 per yard in quantity

• only available in white

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Rayon

Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made by processing natural cellulose. Viscose, Modal, Tencel, and Bemberg are all types of rayon.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayon

Modal Rayon Jersey

• https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/cotton/modal-rayon-jersey-60-inch.html

• 95% Modal Rayon, 5% Spandex

• 60 inch width

• 176 GSM (specified as 5.2 oz. per sq. yard)

• only available in white

• about $6.00 per yard in quantity

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Line and Webbing

Spectra Line

Spectra is a strong line commonly used as fishing or kite line. It has low stretch which can accurately transmit motion. It is somewhat slippery and takes care to tie good knots

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSO4XJJ

• 100% Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (Spectra)

• rated for 20 pound loads

• we stock gray, but available in many colors

• about $0.04 per yard in quantity (i.e. $22 per 500 yard)

Nylon Webbing

• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJF3XLCY

• 100% nylon

• 1.5 inch width

• about $0.75 per yard

• we stock white, available in many colors

• rated for 1100 pound load (not rated for overhead lifting)

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Silk

We have limited supplies of silk. It is substantially more expensive than polyester, so it is only available on an as-needed basis.

Silk fabric weight is specified in momme, the weight in pounds of a 45 inch by 100 yard sample. One momme is about 4.34 GSM.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_of_textile_measurement#Momme

Silk Gauze

• https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/silk/silk-gauze-3mm.html

• 100% silk

• 55 inch width

• 13 GSM (specified as 3 momme weight)

• about $5.50 per yard in quantity

• we stock white, the 45 inch width is also available in black

Silk Organza

• https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/silk/silk-organza-5mm-45-inch.html

• 100% silk

• nominal 45 inch width

• 22 GSM (specified as 5 momme weight)

• about $6.25 per yard in quantity

• available in white

Silk Habotai

• https://www.dharmatrading.com/fabric/silk/silk-habotai-5mm.html

• 100% silk

• 55 inch width

• 22 GSM (specified as 5 momme weight)

• about $6.25 per yard in quantity

• available in white

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Fabric Laser Cutting Guide

Below are tentative settings for cutting our fabrics on our 100W Epilog FusionPro laser cutters.

General notes on laser-cutting fabric:

1. Make sure your fabric is very flat; you will generally need to iron your stock before cutting.

2. Lay the fabric down without stretching it, otherwise it make curl or deform as the tension is released.

3. Pre-trim the stock to avoid excess bunches of fabric off to the side to minimize risk of it blowing around or getting caught in the mechanism.

4. Fabric cuts very quickly, so generally the cutting speeds are high and the power is low.

Material	Supplier	Weight	Speed	Power	Frequency
Polyester Chiffon - IFR	MTF	70 gsm	100%	5%	10%