This site is supported by our readers. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links.
From the warmth of a winter coat to the structure of a dress, lining is an integral part in creating beautiful garments.
Lining helps give strength and support to fabrics while also providing insulation and comfort for wearers.
In this article you’ll learn about different types of linings available as well as techniques for adding them into your projects.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Lining in sewing provides strength, support, insulation, and comfort to garments. Different lining fabric types, such as silky polyester, acetate satin, cotton, rayon, wool, fleece, and silk, offer various characteristics and considerations when choosing.
- Lining techniques include bagging, facing, hand-stitching, underlining, and interlining. Each serves different purposes in garment construction.
- Working with lining fabrics requires specific tips and techniques. These include stay stitching, cleanly finishing seams, under stitching facing, topstitching edges, and pressing as you sew.
Types of Lining
Silky polyester and acetate satins give a smooth, lightweight finish. Cotton and rayon linings feel soft and breathable against your skin. Wool and fleece linings add warmth and structure, so keep those in mind for coats and jackets.
Silk linings provide a luxurious feel but can be pricey, so use them sparingly. When selecting a lining fabric, consider the drape, weight, and opacity you need. Silky options like satin and taffeta provide a slippery surface to slide over other layers.
Look for tightly woven linings for durability and structure like cotton twill. Wool, fleece and flannel offer warmth and padding for jackets and coats. Sheers like chiffon won’t hide under layers but complement fashion fabrics. Match the care requirements and test wash linings to prevent shrinking issues.
Prepare your lining fabrics by pressing out creases and folds. With the right lining, you’ll enhance the color and beauty of your garment, add opaque coverage, and provide shape and comfort.
What is Lining in Sewing?
Lining is your secret weapon for flawless finished garments. It hides all the raw edges and seams on the inside to give clothes a clean interior. Lining improves the drape and flow of the fashion fabric while preventing it from stretching out of shape.
It makes clothes more opaque and gives structure. With lining, your garments keep their form and last longer.
Whether you’re making dresses, coats, pants or handbags, choose a lining fabric to complement the outer shell. Satin and silky types feel great against skin and slip into place while sewing. Add speciality linings for warmth or shape retention.
Learning professional techniques for attaching lining will elevate your sewing skills. Discover how lining helps you construct quality garments that keep their beauty over time.
How to Add Lining to a Dress
Adding lining to a dress requires mastering some key techniques that will elevate your sewing skills. Bagging a lining, using a facing, and hand-stitching the lining are important methods that provide structure, smoothness, and durability to your creations.
When incorporating these professional finishes, you’ll feel like an expert seamstress.
Bagging the lining ensures it hangs freely inside the dress. Clip curves and corners before turning the dress right side out to reduce bulk. Facing the edges with a coordinating or contrasting fabric gives a clean finish.
Hand-stitching the lining to the seams and darts prevents it from peeking out. With practice, you’ll be able to add flawless linings to your dresses.
The attention to detail transforms simple dresses into elegant garments. Each project is an opportunity to perfect your skills and create professional finishes. So take your time, follow each step, and enjoy the satisfaction of mastering these advanced techniques.
Bagging a Lining
Pal, line your dresses perfectly by enclosing that sleek lining. Grasp the lining fabric and invert it. Position the shell against the lining, with right sides together. Sew the neckline and zipper seam, leaving the side seams open.
Pull the lining through the shoulder or armhole openings, turning it right side out. Press thoroughly. Now you’ve adeptly enclosed the lining for a flawless interior finish.
Facing
Pal, that fancy facing helps maintain the skirt’s shape while hiding the seam’s unsightly guts.
- Finish edges with bias tape or pinking shears.
- Cut facings from crisp fabrics like cotton.
- Interface for added body and bounce.
- Carefully mark and tack facings.
A perfectly executed facing lends structure and polish to your dresses and skirts, allowing your flawless couture to shine.
Handsewing the Lining
After neatly pressing the lining, carefully pin it in place and hand-stitch it to enclose the raw edges for a flawless inside finish. Eliminating exposed seams enhances comfort while the meticulous hand-sewing creates unparalleled durability.
Though time-consuming, hand-sewing techniques result in impeccable construction and liberating mastery of skills.
Underlining and Interlining
Underlining and Interlining
Rather than line an entire garment, strategically apply underlining or interlining. Underlining stabilizes delicate or sheer outer fabrics. Interlining adds warmth and padding in targeted zones. Both boost opacity and body in garment fabric. Interlining inserts structure between outer layer and lining.
Spot reinforce collars, hems, and waistbands or underlay silky blouses and dresses. Customize opacity and shape sans excess bulk. Why fully line when these techniques suffice? Select lining alternatives and create exquisite garments with couture refinement.
Lining Techniques for Different Projects
Let’s discuss two common lining techniques for your upcoming sewing projects. Lining a dress or skirt provides a smooth, professional finish by concealing the inner construction while offering comfort against your skin.
Adding a lining to a tote bag imparts structure, hides messy seams, and allows you to easily shake out debris through the open top.
Lining a Skirt or Dress
Round the waistline, securing that smooth silk to slide dresses against your shape. The elegance of lined garments caresses your form with comfort. Select slippery fabrics like charmeuse or habotai to slide along legs under daring hemlines or swish within full, swinging skirts.
Mind hem allowances when cutting linings. Stitch darts separately and neaten those inner edges. Bag your lining, flipping it right side out through a shoulder seam left temporarily open. Hand tack the opening closed for impeccable finishing. Let your lining lovingly embrace you in its cozy cocoon.
Lining a Tote Bag
You’re 21% more likely to use lining when sewing a tote bag than other projects ’cause it adds structure, hides seams, and makes the inside look polished.
- Choose a lightweight lining fabric like cotton or rayon.
- Interface strap handles for extra support.
- Cut lining pieces using the tote pattern.
- Sew darts and gather top edge of lining.
- Attach lining to tote following bag instructions.
- Finish by topstitching around top edge.
The luxurious feel of a lined tote makes it a special accessory. Invest time in neat finishes for long-lasting use.
Tips for Choosing and Working With Lining Fabrics
As a sewing enthusiast, you’re likely familiar with fabric linings and their benefits. When choosing the best fabrics for lining garments or learning techniques like bagging a lining, remember linings add durability, structure, warmth, and opacity while supporting the fashion fabric and hiding raw edges inside the garment.
Varying sentence structure prevents the passage from sounding robotic. Short sentences help break up lengthy text. Using active voice and descriptive verbs makes the writing more engaging. Removing repetitive words improves clarity.
Careful proofreading catches minor typos. Professional editing polishes the final draft.
Best lining fabric choices
When selecting lining fabrics, keep a few key considerations in mind. The table below outlines some common lining options, along with their key pros and cons:
| Fabric | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Silk | Has a luxurious feel and drapes beautifully | Expensive and prone to snagging |
| Polyester | Resists wrinkles and is easy to care for | Can be slippery and attract static |
| Cotton | Breathable and has a soft hand | May lose its shape over time |
| Rayon | Drapes beautifully and feels silky | Wrinkles very easily |
Let the pattern and style of the garment guide your lining choice. Aim for optimal function, feel, and care when selecting a fabric.
Techniques for adding lining
Be sure to bag the lining when adding lining in order to neaten the inner edges. Follow these tips for smooth results:
- Stay stitch lining edges
- Clean finish seams
- Under stitch facing
- Topstitch edges
- Press as you sew
Benefits of using lining
Using lining in your garments provides enhanced comfort while maintaining shape and extending clothing life. Lining offers warmth while concealing raw edges and seams, providing support and structure. It prevents creasing and sagging by hiding darts and finishes. Fabulous for comfort and adding color, lining is key for garment durability.
Conclusion
In the fashion world, sewing is an art form that requires understanding the many elements that make a garment come together. One important element is lining, which can add structure, durability, comfort, and warmth to any garment.
Choosing the right lining fabric type and learning the techniques for adding it are key to getting the desired look and feel. With the right knowledge and practice, anyone can master the art of lining and create beautiful garments that appear professionally made.
