How do I tell the content of a piece of fabric?
#1
How do I tell the content of a piece of fabric?
I have some fabric that I want to be sure is 100% cotton.
I suspect it has polyester in it.
I once read something about burning a piece and examining what happens to the fibers.
Does anyone know how to tell?
Or know another method?
When in doubt I just won't use it, but I would like to know.
Thanks!
Linda
I suspect it has polyester in it.
I once read something about burning a piece and examining what happens to the fibers.
Does anyone know how to tell?
Or know another method?
When in doubt I just won't use it, but I would like to know.
Thanks!
Linda
#3
Thanks for asking this question, I have a bag of scraps given to me a couple of years ago that includes some white fabric. I really need it to finish a quilt for my GD but I suspect it isn't 100% cotton. I forgot about the "burn test". I am going to try the fabric test later today.
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
Essentially for the burn test, take a small scrap of fabric, light a match to it in a fire-safe container (bowl; ash tray; etc.) If it is 100% it will leave ash. If there are synthetics in the fabric, the piece will melt vs burn. Let ash/piece cool completely or soak completely with water before disposing.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,783
If you don't want to do the burn test, take a close look at the frayed threads around the edges. Polyester threads are visibly thinner than cotton threads. Compare those frayed threads to those on a known 100% cotton scrap. Now iron the fabric on the hottest setting, which is fine for cotton, but too hot for synthetics. If there is polyester in there, you will smell a pungent odor. Cotton only smells fresh or has no odor at all. If you are unsure about the pungent odor I am referring to, just iron a piece of KNOWN poly/cotton to identify that smell. I never need to iron fabric to id it. Another less reliable test is to scrunch the fabric in your hand and let it go to see how much it wrinkles--poly/cottons wrinkle very little or not at all.
#9
Here's a "burn test" link I bookmarked last year. It even includes a downloadable pdf reference chart.
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/...hreads-eletter
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/...hreads-eletter
#10
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,666
One only needs a piece about 1/4 inch x 1 inch to test. I light a candle and use a tweezers to hold the fabric.
Synthrtics also burn with black smoke and leave a crunchy ash. The residue stays hot much longer than cotton ash, so resist the urge to touch it right away.
Synthrtics also burn with black smoke and leave a crunchy ash. The residue stays hot much longer than cotton ash, so resist the urge to touch it right away.
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