What Fabric to Line a Silk Dress? (8 Best Options)
Getting the lining right is one of the more important aspects of making a nice dress. That is because it is the lining that the wearer will feel every time you or she take a step. Also, the lining helps the dress fabric to drape and contour to your form better.
What fabric to line a silk dress? Since satin is a form of silk it is best to use a silk lining that will move and drape like satin as well as lie flat and smooth against the body. This combination allows the wearer to have no flaws in her look.
To learn about which fabrics are best to use with silk exterior fabrics as a lining, just continue to read our article. It contains the information you want to know so you can line your silk dress perfectly.
Should You Line a Silk Dress?
Yes, you should and there are some very good reasons for doing so. One of those reasons is that the exterior fabric and the outer garment will have a change in look. This change is usually for the better not the worse.
There are also some tips you should follow when selecting the right lining for your silk dress, etc.
- 1. Color - the lining should be an exact match of the color of the exterior fabric. The reason for this is to avoid distorting the color of the exterior fabric. If you can’t match up, go with a dark color unless you want to have a special color design for special effects added to your garment.
- 2. Purpose - is the dress going to be worn in the winter or the summer? These seasons will guide your lining selection as you want insulation and warmth for winter and breathability for the summer.
- 3. Compatibility - This is vital to the construction and cleaning of your dress, etc. The lining should be the same or slightly less than the weight of the exterior fabric. You also want a good woven fabric for the lining that is cleaned in the same way as the exterior fabric.
One final note, the lining should be thin, slippery and lightweight so it is easy to put the dress on or take off.
Best Lining For a Silk Dress
Since silk is associated with luxury and high class you may want to stay at that level of feeling about yourself and stick with a silk lining. The silk lining is very soft and very breathable so every time you take a step or move, you will feel that great silky texture.
The only drawback to using silk as a lining and an exterior fabric will be its cost. If you choose to go this route you have plenty of options to choose from. There is China silk. Habutai lining fabric/Silk Satin, Dupioni silk, Silk Charmeuse & Silk Crepe De Chine, Silk crepe back satin, Silk organza and finally, Silk taffeta.
With this many silk options, you may not consider other fabrics to use as a lining. But if you do choose another fabric, make sure to follow the guidelines written in the previous section to get the right lining for your silk dress.
Satin is very good to use as well. This lining material is very fluid and moves quite well. There is also minimal friction between you and the dress making it more comfortable to wear even when you are dancing the night away at a formal ball.
Lining For a Silk Chiffon Dress
One of the best choices for the skirt part of the chiffon dress would be chiffon itself. You can double the skirt with the same chiffon material as it would be the same color, weight, and fluid motion.
Or you could use a nude or plain color chiffon material but again, you may have trouble meeting the budget to buy the material needed just for the skirt alone. For the bodice part of the dress. Charmeuse or silk satin would be a good lining.
It is said that nothing moves like chiffon so it would be a bit difficult using anything other than silk as a lining. Another choice may be silk organza as it is a lightweight thin and breathable material.
Of course, the purpose of the dress will help you select the right lining and it is a good guideline to follow when trying to find that perfect lining for you or a friend.
Lining For Silk Dupioni Dress
Dupioni silk is a little thicker than other silk fabrics. That means that you may have a lot of choice in what lining you can use. Most other fabrics should be a lot lighter than dupioni so they won't ruin the drape or the fluid movement of the exterior fabric.
The dupioni silk will have the body you want while the Silk Charmeuse & Silk Crepe De Chine are lightweight and keep the weight of the dress a lot lower. Those lining fabrics are also nice and soft so you should not feel any friction when you move.
You would not want to use Silk crepe back satin unless you want some insulation and warmth. This lining is a bit more weighty and would add a lot of weight to the overall construction of your dress.
Another perfect lining to use with this style of dress would be Silk taffeta as it holds its shape inside a dress. This option works well as it keeps the bulk down without sacrificing shape or volume. It is also a good lining to use with medium weight fabrics.
Whatever you choose you should go with silk or as close to silk as possible for the lining.
How to Line a Silk Dress
One of the keys to picking the lining is to match the exterior color with the interior lining color. There is also a little hitch in that plan as you may need to match your skin tone to hide any show through at the seams.
When you decide on the lining, you should serge the exterior and lining fabrics together and treat them as one. Use your regular sewing machine to sew the seams and then press them open.
Use a catch stitch as this will not be rough on your body when you move and you may not need a full lining when you do it this way. Then if you need to have the dress you are wearing stretch a little, use a nice knit fabric or simply go with slippery lining material.
You will want to cut it on the bias and catch stitch the facings on your neck or arm holes if you are using facings. A full lining would remove the necessity of facings. White is not the color to use for the lining as it would show through.
If at all possible go with a flesh tome underlining color to make sure you have the right look all the time.
Lining a Silk Dress Tips
One of the first tips you can use to line a silk dress is to decide if you want to have the lining blend in with the outer fabric or do a two-tone creative look that has you looking even more chic.
You can choose to match or have a little contrast to show your look better than ever. Here are some more tips:
- 1. Lining - there are no real rules to follow here. The lining you use will depend on how much is in your dressmaking budget. You do not have to use silk on silk and opt for a different fabric that is slippery when your budget tells you that silk is out of its price range.
- 2. Fabric - cotton is good for summer time as it is breathable, durable and it works best for active children. A lightweight or regular cotton fabric would add body, especially when used for a summer dress.
- 3. Pattern cutting - cut one piece at a time instead of folding fabric to make two pieces.
- 4. if you are cutting on the fold, place tracing paper between the fabric. The silk is slippery but the tracing paper holds it in place for you.
- 5. When it comes to placing your pattern pieces on your fabric, use both silk pins and pattern weights. Using both at the same time makes working with difficult fabrics easier.
- 6. If you do not have silk pins, then only put your other pins in the seam allowance. This will cut down on the holes in your fabric.
Some Final Words
When it comes to working with silk, the key is not to rush. Take your time through all the steps you have to take including finding the right lining. In the end, your results will be something to be proud of.
The other key to finding a lining for your silk gown is if you can afford it, use silk. It is the best lining for a silk dress. There are plenty of options to choose from.
