Poly Charmeuse
Whether there is a formal event in your future or you simply want to make something divinely elegant, charmeuse is one of the most beautiful fabrics to use. The polyester and poly/acetate charmeuse fabrics can also boast of washability and ease of care! Charmeuse is soft, drapes beautifully, and has the luster of a pearl.
Machine wash, cold water, no bleach, no fabric softener. Can be machine dried on a delicates setting, or lie flat to air dry.
Universal machine needle, size 11/75, is best for most applications. Polyester or poly/cotton threads work best for this fabric.
Use the lightest weight interfacing you can find. A lightweight tricot fusible is a good choice for fusibles; use self-fabric or polyester organza for sewn-in applications of interfacing.
Use a medium length (2.5mm) straight stitch for most seams. Hems can be topstitched or stitched by hand. Hems and seams will require a seam finish; charmeuse can ravel. Use a 2 or 3-thread serged finish, or stitch your seams with a French seam.
Blouses, dresses, skirts, tops, bridal or evening wear, garments with draped or soft ruffled details, sleepwear, shawls, capes
The drape of charmeuse lends itself beautifully to bias cuts. Bias garments require additional width in the seam allowances; purchase an additional 10 to 20 percent length for such a garment. Save your remnants to use as gorgeous bias bindings on other garments! Charmeuse also works beautifully in gathered details, such as ruffles or smocking.
Always use a press cloth between charmeuse and your iron.