What is Poplin?

Want to buy poplin fabric? Browse our poplin fabric collection, where you can choose solid-colour poplin or printed poplin for your next sewing project.

Poplin is taking up an ever larger share of our shelves. Why do I love it, and how is it different from regular cotton fabric? Read on below.

P.S. ... If you're too lazy to read the whole thing, here's the short version: Our shop stocks 100% cotton poplin, which is softer and creases less than regular woven cotton fabric.

WHAT IS POPLIN FABRIC?

A cotton or silk fabric in a plain weave, in which the warp threads are significantly finer than the weft threads. (Dictionary of the Latvian Literary Language. Vols. 1–8. Riga, Zinātne, 1972–1996)

Poplin can be made from many different fibres, but the most common types are made from cotton or a cotton-polyester blend. Our shelves carry only 100% cotton poplin.

The name originates in France. The fabric's name dates back to the 19th and 20th centuries, when women were looking for practical, more budget-friendly fabrics. Women needed dress fabrics that not only looked good but were also comfortable to wear all day.

Today, 100% cotton poplin is one of the most common fabrics in the world.

Poplin is a lightweight yet durable fabric, which makes it very popular with sewing enthusiasts.

Cotton poplin (Popeline) stands out for its smooth-looking weave. This means the threads are woven alternately over and under the weft, making poplin a tightly woven cotton fabric with good durability.

FEATURES OF COTTON POPLIN

• Breathable and lightweight
• The more you wash it, the softer it gets
• Made from 100% cotton
• Breathable and perfect for summer
• Has a subtle sheen

WHAT CAN YOU SEW WITH POPLIN?

Poplin has a subtle, luxurious sheen, making it suitable for both everyday wear and formal, elegant occasions. It creases less and can be ironed with ease.

• summer dresses and skirts
• shirts and blouses;
• lightweight summer trousers;
• bedding;
• ideal for breathable linings and petticoats
• nightwear
• and many, many other projects

Planning to sew one of these items? At the Šarlotes audumi store, you can browse all poplin fabrics and choose the one that suits you best from our solid-colour poplin and printed poplin collections.

SEWING AND CUTTING

Poplin is a great fabric for beginners. It's stable enough and lightweight, so most domestic sewing machines can handle it.

When cutting, take care not to let the lightweight fabric shift out of place.

Use clips rather than pins (pins can leave holes).

Cotton poplin is easy to sew. I recommend using a longer stitch and sewing with universal sewing needles 80/12.

For my sewing machine and overlocker, I use Amanda Arena 120 thread (see the shades here)

This little magnet is a handy tool for sewing straight seams—see here.

If you have an overlocker, use it to finish the edges.

A French seam is another good option. See how to sew one in the video

If you don't have an overlocker and don't want to sew French seams, use a zigzag stitch.

I hope my tips for sewing poplin were helpful and inspire you to create beautiful, natural pieces that bring you joy and delight others.

If you'd like natural fabrics in your wardrobe too, take a look at the shelves at Šarotes audumi.

Have a creative day, Sniedze!

Choose poplin for your next sewing project! Explore the full range of poplin fabrics in the Šarlotes audumi online store, or go straight to our solid-colour poplin and printed poplin collections.