Caring For Organza

Organza has a crisp drape that falls away from the body in wide cones.  It may be gathered or shirred into a puffed or bouffant fullness.  Use alone or under or over a second fabric to make fitted, semi-fitted, or loose-fitting styles of blouses, dresses, children's clothing, and evening wear.  Use to make facings, interfacings, and/or linings for lightweight or sheer fabrics.  Use as an underlining to add crispness and/or weight to limp, thin fabrics, or to stabilize loose weaves.  Drycleaning is strongly recommended. 


What to expect with Organza:
  • fabric is reversible; both sides of the fabric look the same
  • inner construction shows from the outside
  • creases easily
 
Wearability:
  • durable and strong
  • wears evenly
  • resists snags
  • holds its shape
  • tends to wrinkle
  • crushes easily
  • water drops leave spots or marks

Suggested care:
  • dryclean only
  • dry iron
  • may shrink slightly
  • may bleed or fade
 
Sewing rating (easy to hard): easy
Suggested clothing fit: fitted, semi-fitted, or loose-fitting
Suggested styles: pressed pleats and tucks; lofty gathers; elasticized shirring; lined; puffed or bouffant


Silk’s Limitations:
Silk is regarded as nature's most perfect fiber, but even perfection has its limitations:
  • Soap and agitation - Silk's smooth surface does not attract dirt and is easily cleaned, but silk can be damaged by most laundry detergents - so always dry clean your silk.  Silk loses strength when wet, so do not wring or agitate.
  • Bleach - Silk is easily damaged by strong bleaches that contain sodium hypochlorite. 
  • Heat and light - Silk is sensitive to heat and begins to decompose at 330 degrees fahrenheit.  Use a warm (not hot) iron.
  • Mildew and moths - Silk will not mildew except in extreme conditions.  Moths don't care for it, but carpet beetles do.
  • Perspiration - Perspiration causes silk to deteriorate and affects the color, causing staining.  Any silk worn next to the skin should be cleaned frequently.