Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: With Double-brushed Knit, Comfort Meets Style

Apologies: I don’t have a finished project to share this time. I was so excited to use the fabric I had ordered, and I intend to do so as soon as possible. I plan to sew another version of this romper for a low-key baptism. I want a light and comfortable outfit yet keep it a little delicate, and I believe I can achieve that with this floral double-brushed knit

Unfortunately, other things got in the way, so I could not complete my project. We even postponed the baptism, so I may still sew and wear my outfit for that occasion in the near future. I will still share some ideas about this fabric because it is a wonderful material.

I love double-brushed knit for so many reasons. First and foremost, it is one of the softest fabrics there is. When you hear the expression “buttery soft,” you can picture exactly this type of fabric! Please note: I know now that “buttery soft” is a common expression, but English is not my first language, so I am still surprised from time to time by new idioms, and I need to find ways to use them correctly.

Indeed, a few years ago, when I didn’t know yet what that fabric was called, I used to Google some keywords (super soft stretchy knit) and the composition of my favorite pajamas (95% polyester, 5% spandex) and that’s what pointed me towards double-brushed knits. 

Double-brushed fabric – not to confuse with double-knit fabric! - It takes its name from the fact it is brushed on the top and bottom sides, giving the fabric an extremely soft hand. It is very comfortable to wear and ideal for pajamas, dresses, cardigans, and ANY cozy piece of clothing. It is stretchy, so it is only suitable for knit projects. 

In my experience, this type of fabric also has great durability. I have several pieces made of this, and they all withstand dozens of washings without fading or losing shape. The floral cardigan I made in 2021 is still as vibrant, and I use it almost weekly! Something I have done any time I am sewing with this material is using stay-tape, especially in the shoulders, pockets, or on any curved or biased side. Stay-tape stay allows flexibility while avoiding stretching and distorting the fabric. 

On the downside, though, it is a polyester fabric that is not very breathable. That is the one and only “con” Some bamboo fabrics may be comparable in terms of softness. So, if you’d rather avoid synthetic fabrics, bamboo may be a good contender. What do you think? And what’s your favorite fabric? 

INES  @bynunis


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: Double Brushed Knits.

Comments

  1. Thank you for discussing the qualities of DB knits. Sometimes we plough ahead with projects without understanding what they are like, which is especially difficult to figure out over the internet! In addition to bamboo, rayon/lycra jersey is also very soft, retains the intensity of colors, and it too has a long life.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love double brushed knits too! I'm looking forward to seeing what you create.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: FROM FABRIC TO FASHION: - The Saguaro Set with Fabric Mart Fabric

The weather in Southwest Florida is finally starting to warm up.  With the warm air and bright sunshine, I have been thinking about refreshing my “at home” wardrobe with some fun easy pieces this year.     I have wanted to make The Saguaro Set for some time now.   When I saw the beautiful selection of rayon challis on the Fabric Mart website, I knew now was the perfect time to get it started.   THE FABRIC I researched a lot to see which fabric would work the best for this pattern.   I chose the Deep Amaranth Pink 100% Rayon Twill Challis for my project.    It is a beautiful color that to me looks more coral. The fabric is light to medium weight and has beautiful drape.  The care instructions said gentle wash or hand wash.   I prewashed the fabric in cold water on the delicate cycle.  However, after drying it on the delicate cycle, the fabric had an almost vintage distressed look.   I was a bit co...

Made By A Fabricista: Revisiting a Pattern After Five Years

Have you ever used a sewing pattern and then immediately vowed never to sew it again? Well, I have. It all began in the spring of 2020 at the start of the pandemic lockdown. I tackled sewing projects that were more challenging to help me grow as a seamstress. There was one pattern in particular that almost did me in, the Seamwork Penny shirt dress. The Penny dress pattern has a classic button-up dress shirt style bodice with a gathered skirt and pockets. It is a beautiful take on a shirt dress, and my sister and I loved it. The only downside is that it was recommended for intermediate-level sewists and I was only an adventurous beginner back then.  I think I had only ever made one button-up shirt before attempting this Penny Dress and it didn’t even have a collar! Despite all of this, I thought “Why not try it, what’s the worst that can happen?”  Thankfully the worst didn’t happen, and the dress turned out surprisingly wearable, but I had some intense frustration at the end. I...

Made By A Fabricista: A Simple Frock for Spring

Hello friends! I’m really into sewing and wearing tent dresses at the moment. A tent dress is basically a wide A-line style gown. For this month’s project, I’ve opted to try out The Assembly Line’s Square Neck Dress. This style is a little avant-garde in its enormity and shape, and boasts the squared neckline it’s named after, plus some cute hem side slits.  All that volume is fun to move around in, plus there’s loads of air circulation which is cooling. This dress’s main feature–its wide and high squared neckline–really piqued my interest recently, and I added it to my Make Nine plans for 2025. I find it so satisfying to check off those boxes as I sew!  This beautiful shirtweight linen is a color I simply adore; a muted medium blue. Stormy skies, worn-in denim, and ocean waves all come to mind, and that is exactly what I want to be all wrapped up in. While I think a wild or large print would be amazingly on display in this big canvas of a dress, I also thought that a subtle ...