Onionsilk

This fabric could be considered a ‘cousin’ to onionskin fabric. It has the weight and drape of onionskin, but a texture that is smooth….like silk! This fabric is lovely and soft, and wonderful to wear!

Pretreatment:

Machine wash, cold water, no bleach. Machine dry, or lay flat to dry.

Needles and Thread:

Jersey needles, size 11/75, are the best choice. Choose a poly/cotton or all polyester thread for construction.

Interfacing:

Very lightweight tricot fusible interfacing can be used successfully for this fabric. For a sewn-in interfacing or for lining, use solid colored onionsilk fabric.

Seams, Seam Finishes, and Hems:

A small zigzag stitch (2.0 width, 2.0 length) is best for seams. Hems can be topstitched, twin-needle topstitched, coverstitched, or simply left raw. Seams do not require finishing. This fabric is truly simple to sew!

Pattern suggestions:

Tops, tees, tanks, shirts, skirts, dresses, full pants, wraps, cardigans, swing jackets.

Creative possibilities:

Piping looks fabulous on the printed onionsilk fabrics. Choose one of the colors in the print, or choose a coordinating or contrasting fabric to create your piping. Keep the piping thin for the prettiest results. Onionsilk can also be treated with a trapunto-type effect. Place a layer of onionsilk lining under the desired print area, and machine or hand-stitch around the outline of the print. As this does add a tiny bit of weight to the area, it is best to use this technique near hems or sleeve cuffs. It’s great to use on shirt collars, too!

Additional Tips:

Store your onionsilk garments flat, rather than on a hangar.