After viscose, pointelle, double gauze, let's continue exploring special fabrics and materials. This time, I invite you to discover modal, a fiber increasingly used in the fashion industry, so why not for our sewing projects?
Let's go!
What is modal?
Modal, like viscose, is a natural fiber obtained through a chemical process. In the case of modal, the fiber is derived from the cellulose of beech wood. Cellulose is the organic substance that forms the framework/skeleton of the plant.
The fiber obtained from this beech wood, modal fiber, is twice as fine as cotton. This will, of course, affect its behavior.
Characteristics of modal
Thanks to the fineness of its fiber, modal performs better than cotton in absorbing moisture and staying dry to the touch. Like viscose, modal has the particularity of offering excellent hygroscopic qualities that are especially sought after for lightweight clothing to wear when temperatures are mild or warm. It is also a fiber found in so-called "sportswear".Modal is increasingly used in the textile industry because its fiber has many qualities:
- lightweight
- soft with a luxurious feel
- absorbent
- durable
- does not require ironing
- resists shrinking
- remains supple and soft after washing because it does not retain limescale
- comfortable
What types of clothing to use it for?
Modal fiber can be woven or knitted to create beautiful flowing fabrics similar to viscose or super soft jerseys. Modal fiber can be used alone or combined with other fibers such as cotton or elastane.
You will find in the shop two loopback jerseys made of 95% modal and 5% elastane that are perfect for making very soft and comfortable summer dresses and sweatshirts.
How to sew it?
You’ve understood that modal fiber does not have just one way to be sewn. It depends on how it has been used: either to make a woven product similar to viscose, or to make a knitted product similar to a jersey.
So I refer you to the articles dedicated to these two materials ;-) to learn how to sew it and which needle to use...
I hope you’ve learned a bit more about this beautiful material. And let me know in the comments if you’re tempted to sew with it.
