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Understanding Interfacings: Tarlatan and Woven Sew-In
Exploring Tarlatan and Woven Sew-In Interfacings by Parkin: Crafting with Precision and Versatility
In the world of sewing and garment construction, choosing the right interfacing can make all the difference. Whether you're creating delicate dress collars, structured bodices, or elaborate costumes, the right foundation ensures your projects not only look professional but hold their shape and stand the test of time. Today, we’re diving into two high-quality interfacings developed by Parkin: Tarlatan and Woven Sew-In Interfacing. Both products offer unique qualities tailored for different sewing applications, making them go-to options for sewists, costume designers, and crafters alike.
Tarlatan: Lightweight Elegance for Delicate Application
Tarlatan, offered by Parkin in black and white, is a lightweight, 100% cotton, woven sew-in interfacing with an assisted finish. Known for its gentle structure and flexibility, Tarlatan is perfect for lighter applications where you need just enough support without adding bulk or stiffness.
Key Features of Tarlatan:
Lightweight and Breathable: Tarlatan’s cotton structure is airy and light, making it ideal for delicate garments that require subtle reinforcement.
Assisted Finish: The assisted finish adds just the right amount of stiffness without overwhelming the fabric, giving it a soft yet structured feel.
Available in Black and White: This allows for seamless integration into light or dark fabrics, ensuring the interfacing remains invisible in the final garment.
Ideal Applications for Tarlatan:
Dress Collars: Tarlatan provides gentle structure to collars without weighing them down or making them overly stiff.
Delicate Garments: For lightweight dress collars and delicate garments, Tarlatan offers a subtle lift and support that keeps fabrics looking crisp without losing their natural drape.
Costume Details: In historical or theatrical costumes, Tarlatan adds finesse to delicate areas such as necklines and cuffs, where too much structure could detract from the garment’s fluidity.
Tarlatan's balance of lightness and structure makes it perfect for projects that require a soft touch, ensuring that your garments retain their natural flow while still maintaining their shape.
Woven Sew-In Interfacing: The Versatile Powerhouse for Structured Projects
For heavier-duty applications where more substantial support is needed, Parkin’s Woven Sew-In Interfacing steps in as the ideal solution. This interfacing is heavier in weight, giving it the strength and durability to stand up to more structured projects, while still maintaining the flexibility needed for smooth, professional results.
Key Features of Woven Sew-In Interfacing:
Heavier Weight: Unlike Tarlatan, this interfacing provides significant body and support, making it the go-to choice for garments and accessories that need more structure.
Sew-In Versatility: The fact that it’s sewn in (rather than fusible) makes it easy to work with a wide variety of fabrics, offering flexibility and avoiding any potential issues with heat application.
Smooth Finish: Despite its heavier weight, the woven structure allows it to mold seamlessly to the fabric, ensuring a polished finish that retains a natural drape.
Ideal Applications for Woven Sew-In Interfacing:
Costumes and Cosplay: Whether you’re constructing intricate cosplay costumes or historical garments, this interfacing offers the structure and support necessary to maintain shape and durability.
Tailoring: In jackets, suits, and coats, woven sew-in interfacing provides essential reinforcement in areas like collars and cuffs, ensuring these areas maintain their shape with repeated wear.
Dressmaking: From wedding dresses to evening gowns, the interfacing can be used in bodices, undergarments, and boning to give a garment that structured, elegant silhouette.
Cuffs and Collars: This interfacing is perfect for adding crispness to areas like cuffs and collars where you want to maintain a sharp, tailored look.
The versatility of woven sew-in interfacing makes it indispensable for a wide range of sewing projects, from high-end fashion and tailoring to creative endeavours like costumes and millinery.
Tarlatan vs. Woven Sew-In Interfacing: When to Use Each
Both Tarlatan and woven sew-in interfacing bring distinct qualities to the table, but knowing when to use each is key to achieving the best results for your project.
Use Tarlatan when working with lightweight, delicate fabrics or projects that require minimal structure, such as dress collars, lightweight blouses, or fine costume details. It provides enough support to keep the fabric looking crisp while maintaining a soft drape.
Choose Woven Sew-In Interfacing for heavier fabrics or projects that need more robust support, such as structured bodices, costumes, or tailored garments. Its heavier weight offers the stiffness required for shaping collars, cuffs, and bodices, without compromising the fabric’s integrity or drape.
Why Choose Parkin’s Interfacings?
Parkin is known for high-quality sewing materials, and our Tarlatan and woven sew-in interfacing products are no exception. By offering different weights and finishes, we cater to a wide range of sewing needs, from delicate dressmaking to more structural tailoring and costume construction. Our commitment to providing high-quality, durable interfacings ensures that your projects not only look great but also last longer and maintain their shape over time.
Conclusion
Whether you’re designing an ethereal dress with delicate details or constructing a garment that requires durable support, having the right interfacing is crucial to achieving the desired outcome. Parkin’s Tarlatan offers a lightweight, breathable solution for subtle reinforcement, while Woven Sew-In Interfacing provides the structure and support needed for more demanding projects. Both interfacings offer versatility and quality, making them indispensable for any serious sewist or costume designer.
By understanding the strengths of each, you’ll be better equipped to choose the right interfacing for your next project, ensuring both the look and durability of your finished piece.
