What is underlining and why do you
use it? I'm making a formal for my
daughter and the pattern calls for
underlining. I've never used it before
and am not sure if I need to. Anita
The use of an underlining is dictated
by the kind of garment you're making
and the fabric you're using. Underlining
adds body and durability to a
garment by supporting and reinforcing
the fabric and the seams. It helps reduce
wrinkling and prevents stretching. It
can also act as a foundation so the
facings and hems can be sewn to the
garment without the stitches showing
through to the garment right side.
When used with a sheer fabric,
underlining adds opaqueness in certain
areas of a garment. For other fabrics it
can help maintain a silhouette or
shape that otherwise can't be achieved.
Appropriate fabrics range from sheer
organza and cotton batiste to linen
and flannel. It's always a good idea
to test a few options by placing two
fabrics together and holding them
over your hand to see what the
draping effect is.
The concept of an underlining is
that the underling fabric is cut out
using the same pattern pieces as the
outer fabric.The underlining is then
basted to the outer fabric around the
edges and along dart lines and other
foldlines.The resulting piece is treated
as one layer of fabric, which is what
distinguishes it from a lining.
