carefree cool fabrics? teach me

It was so hot last summer and I am expecting the same or worse this year.

I want to purchase some fabric that will be carefree and cool at the same time.

It has been a long time since I purchased any clothes or fabric.

Are there fabrics that if line dried do not need ironing?  My house is too small for an ironing board.

What fabrics shrink when washed?

Help me learn about picking some fabrics...

Linen and linen blend are all- time favorite fabrics for hot and humid days. Look up Robert Kaufman for a wide selection of colors. If you don't like too much crispness as in pure linen, essex linen (cotton/linen blend) would be your choice as it won't  wrinkle as much. Cotton/ linen blend also have more body while rayon/linen blend has more drape. All fabrics need to be prewashed before cutting the same way you will launder the finished garment.

Besides the fabric choices, what style do you have in mind? Shirt, dress, shorts or pants?

Pearl wrote about her summer gears here:https://permies.com/t/85976/Clothing-suggestions-hot-humid-sunny#740189

I plan to make some simple skirts and caftans.  Similar to Jay`s rectangular pattern thread,

I figured 2 yards of 36-inch fabric for a skirt with an elastic waist.

Everyone on eBay just wants to sell one yard so that would be 60 inch fabric.

Then I read that fabrics shrink so everything needs to be washed first before sewing ... now I am not sure my one yard plan will work.

After being frustrated at looking at fabric options, dear hubby suggested using our old bedspread since I got a new one.

After reading about different material I might try silk though I have no experience with that.

Dear hubby is having surgery today and then when we get home I can start this journey for real.

Caftan made with light weight fabrics such as cotton gauze, cotton voile, and silk chiffon is cool and comfy. Since it is loose fitting I am not sure one yard of 60" fabric will be sufficient. It will depend on your measurements so it's a good idea to do a mock up.
Best wishes to your family and when you have time, maybe we can have a sewalong.

I have not measured for the caftan yet.  The 1 yard was for the skirt.

As I mentioned, the bedspread suggestion I feel might work and I can get a skirt, a caftan, and a shirt.  The bedspread is navy blue light material.

I have been wanting some pillows so the fiberfill will fit that bill too.

When I dry linen, it pretty much stays in the shape it dries.  So if I take the care to shake out the wrinkles and hang the same way it will hang on my body (shirt on hanger, skirt hung by the wasteband, etc), it looks as good as ironed.

If I don't take the extra care to shake out the wrinkles, I take pride in the wrinkles as this is how you know it's linen.  It's a sign of status now because we can afford natural cloth.  

I like old things from the old world.

New stuff seem to have a smell sometimes and old fabrics are a quality is far beyond anything new I have found.




I am making a skirt out of an old linen table cloth.    I am so excited to wear it!   The hand and drape are lovely.  It is a pleasure just to touch it.  
almost ready to submit for the simple wrap skirt bb!

I have lots of old silk handkerchiefs I am piecing together to make a skirt and blouse for this summer.



cute boutique thrift shops often have old linen and silk

sheets, pillow cases, table cloths and scarves.  I just look at them as fabric.