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¶
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
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
Rayon¶
Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made by processing natural cellulose. Viscose, Modal, Tencel, and Bemberg are all types of 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
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
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¶
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)
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.
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
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:
Make sure your fabric is very flat; you will generally need to iron your stock before cutting.
Lay the fabric down without stretching it, otherwise it make curl or deform as the tension is released.
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.
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% |