Preparing Fabric for Testing

Susan Kehila

Updated November 11, 2024 09:11

Preparing fabric correctly for testing is an important first step in the fabric testing process.

For details, expand the following:

Choosing Fabric for your 3D Library

When creating a fabric library, choose a variety of fabrics that are commonly used in your organization.
If two fabrics are of very similar structure and weight (for example, 270 gm and 285 gm), you do not need to test both fabrics. Instead, the physics data from one can be used for the other.
Extremely thick, stiff, or slippery fabrics are difficult to test.
If you need to take an image of your fabric as well:
- Choose a mid-toned color. Medium gray is best.
- Avoid white, black, neon, and prints when possible.

Preparing Fabric for Testing

You need a fabric swatch of at least 35 cm x 35 cm (14" x 14") though a larger swatch of 50 cm x 50 cm (20" x 20") gives you more space to cut and allows for errors.
Do not use previously tested samples for fabric tests. Instead, cut new samples.

To prepare material for testing:

Iron the material to be tested using a low heat (the lowest iron setting). It is recommended to iron delicate fabrics with a protective cloth on top. Ensure that the fabric is completely wrinkle-free and not damaged by the heat, with minimum fraying.
When it is cool, lay the fabric flat on a smooth surface, right side up.
Mark the grain line.
Follow the cutting instructions to produce three samples with grain lines running along the length, width and bias.
If necessary, trim the samples so that they are all 25 cm long. The recommended size for the samples is 5 cm x 25 cm.
The three samples should be of the same size.
Label the samples accordingly: Length, Width, and Bias.

Cutting Instructions

This section describes how to cut your fabric in preparation for testing.

Length Sample
1. Align the cutting template on the fabric, with the cutting lines parallel to the grain line.
2. Hold the template down firmly so that the material does not shift during cutting.
3. Use a rotary blade to cut along the template lines. The template cutting line extends beyond 25 cm to give you added margin for error.
4. Remove the template, and cut across the top and the bottom of the sample.
Width Sample
1. Align the cutting template on the fabric, with the cutting lines at right angles to the grain line.
2. Hold the template down firmly so that the material does not shift during cutting.
3. Use a rotary blade to cut along the template lines.
4. Remove the template, and cut across the top and the bottom of the sample.
Bias Sample
1. Align the cutting template, with the short edge of the template parallel to the edge of the fabric and at right angles to the grain line.
2. Hold the template down firmly so that the material does not shift during cutting.
3. Use a rotary blade to cut along the template lines.
4. Remove the template, and cut across the top and the bottom of the sample.

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