What is Sheer Fabric?
When it comes to fabric, there are literally hundreds of textile terms describing their weave, composition, and uses. Sheer fabric is just one of the many types of fabric available. Unlike most fabrics that are opaque even if varying in thickness, sheer fabric is semi-transparent and flimsy. Gossamer and rayon are also semi-transparent fabrics and may be referred to as sheer fabric. While there are a variety of uses for sheer fabric, the most common is making curtains.
Also known as window sheers or panels, curtains or drapes made of sheer fabric typically hang the full length of a window, if not all the way to the floor. The transparency of sheer fabric allows for a window to be dressed, but for sunlight to still come through. Window sheers are often offset with a top layer of window coverings, whether it be full-length drapes, a valance or a decorative window topper. Sheer fabric on a window can add a touch of elegance or can create a casual, bright and breezy feel. Window sheers are popular in living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchen windows and are typically bunched together to create billows rather than stretched out fat.
Other uses for sheer fabric include wedding gowns and formal costumes. The nature of sheer fabric makes it more delicate to cut and sew than many other types of fabric. One of the precautions that must be taken when sewing sheer fabric is to avoid bunching at the seams and to create a clean hemline. Depending on the pattern and garment construction, sheer fabric typically requires some sturdier fabric as an underlay to support it.
Sheer fabric comes in a wide variety of colors, but white and shades of white, such as cream, winter white, eggshell, and ivory are most popular. In some cases, sheer fabric may be embellished with embroidered patterns or designs. While embroidered sheer fabric is elegant, it is extremely delicate and difficult to work with. As a rule, sheer fabric is less expensive than other richer fabrics, such as satin or suede, but intricate sheers, especially embroidered sheer fabric typically costs more than the plain variety.
Sheer fabric can be purchased at most any fabric store. If purchasing sheer fabric to sew your own window sheers, allow ample length to include a top hem wide enough for your curtain rod and a bottom hem of approximately two to four inches (5.08 to 10.1 cm). When covering a window with sheers, purchase enough fabric to cover the width of your window three times over to allow for bunching or pleating.
Written by J. Beam
