What is jersey fabric?

Jersey is a type of fabric that is characterized by the fact that it is not woven but instead knitted from a very thin type of yarn. The advantage of this type of manufacturing is that it makes the fabric super flexible and stretchy.

It is not entirely known how the fabric got its rather special name. It is believed that the name Jersey comes from a British Channel island of the same name, but what relation it has to this type of fabric is unknown.

Jersey fabric comes in many different colours and designs, but it can generally be categorised into two main types; namely cotton jersey and viscose jersey.

Cotton Jersey

Both cotton jerseys and viscose jerseys are stretchy materials, but they have very different properties. Cotton jersey is characterised by having more of its own structure than viscose jersey.

This means that if you e.g. sew a wide hem dress in a cotton jersey, the dress will have more flare than one of the viscose jerseys would. This is one of the properties of the cotton jersey that makes it the most popular form of jersey fabric.

Viscose Jersey

Compared to cotton jersey, viscose jersey is heavier, glossier and falls more. Many people mistakenly assume that viscose is a synthetic material, but the fabric is actually made of regenerated tree fibres, which makes it a natural material.

A Viscose jersey also feels cooler than a cotton jersey, and its weight and the way it falls on the body make it ideal for creating beautiful silhouette dresses.

What can you make with jersey fabric?

You can use jersey fabric for many different things - but it is particularly great if you like to sew your own clothes. Since jersey is a stretch fabric, it is a relatively elastic type of fabric, which can be really practical in garments such as blouses, dresses, T-shirts, etc.

Since jersey fabric is knitted from a particularly thin type of yarn, the fabric is also great for the garments that are often most comfortable to wear when they consist of a thin layer of fabric. Therefore, jersey fabric is also great for making e.g. underwear, leggings, or tops.

What to keep in mind when sewing with jersey fabric

If you want to use jersey fabric for one of your upcoming sewing projects, there are some things that you may want to be aware of before you get started.

One of these things is that since the jersey fabric is knitted and not woven, the fabric consists of several small stitches. The stitches may therefore begin to unravel if, for example, you happen to cut the thin thread with your needle. You should therefore use ball-pont needles when sewing in jersey fabric to avoid creating holes in the fabric.

Also, it is important to take the elasticity of the fabric into account when sewing in the fabric. It is often necessary to sew with special seams so that they stretch along with the fabric.

Cotton Jersey Print