What To Make With 1m Double Gauze
It’s no secret around here that I love double gauze, I love working with it and I love wearing it. It seems to have a magical property that makes it super lightweight to wear in the summer but can also make you feel pretty snuggly in the winter due to it’s softness.
In the last two years I have included double gauze in 4 boxes so I thought now would be a great time to do a little round-up of makes from the Mini SewHayleyJane Boxes which always includes 1m of the main fabric.
But first what actually is double gauze?
Double gauze is made of two layers of a fairly open weave cotton gauze that is then held together with small stitches at regular intervals giving it a cushiony, airy property.
Washing and cutting
Double gauze, like most cottons is particularly prone to shrinking in the first wash so it is super important to pre wash your fabric before cutting out your project. Wash it however you plan to launder your finished garment, for most of us that would be a 30-40 degree wash. A lot of double gauze fabrics can come with a foiled motif print so I would recommend a cooler 30 degree wash.
You can also choose whether or not you want to press your fabric. If you like the crinkly texture then start as you mean to go on without ironing. Personally I like to use a warm iron just to smooth out the crinkles slightly to make cutting easier. Once the garment is finished it’ll crinkle back up again as soon as it goes in the wash. Again with the foiled motifs make sure to iron on the reverse.
When it comes to cutting you can treat the fabric just like you would any other cotton, but be aware that the delicate nature of the fabric means it can be prone to snagging and and pins can also leave holes in the fabric so try to make sure you use fine pins and keep them within the seam allowance. Or of course you can opt for a rotary cutter and cutting mat with lots of weights.
Sewing
It is definitely a good idea to make sure you fit your machine with a shiny new sharp 70/10 or 80/12 needle and start your sewing a little way in from the raw edge of the fabric as sewing machines do like to try and “eat the fabric” which is most common if you start sewing right at the edge.
Double gauze can fray at lot so it is really important to make sure you finish your seams properly. The best way is to use an overlocker or french seams but if neither of those are for you then a zigzag stitch on a regular sewing machine will do the job well, I would recommend a shorter stitch length to make it nice and tight.
So what can you make from just 1m of double gauze? Read on for some great inspiration. Some of these may require a little “pattern tetris” to make it work and some patterns are great for combining with other fabrics to get a really one of a kind piece.
Lets start with our lovely Laura who used the white floral double gauze from June’s Escape to the Country box and combined it with a plain blue twill crepe to make the Megan Nielsen Reef Set. The other option here would be to make either the shorts or the cami top out of the double gauze and choose a contrasting fabric to make the other half.
We have an Esther double feature up next! Esther received the blue butterfly double gauze from October and made a beautiful McCalls 7542 omitting the neckline facings and opting for bias binding instead.
Then Esthers most recent make for January was the Helen’s Closet Gilbert Top. Esther made hers without sleeves and used a fat quarter from the boxes to make the inside back yoke piece which gives a super cute touch, especially if you use a fabric that makes you smile as you put it on in the morning!
Casting our minds way back to October 2020’s “Autumn Hues” box Gemma used her skills at playing pattern Tetris to make a Fibre Mood Norma Blouse the only adjustment needed was to shorten the bodice and sleeves by a centimetre or two but when tucked into high waisted jeans or a skirt you’d never know!
Over to some of my lovely subscribers now who have been sharing their #sewhayleyjanemakes over on Instagram. Ruan @theyorkshiresewgirl subscribes to the Classic box and used her white double gauze (this one was seriously popular you guys!) to make the Peppermint Magazine Loungewear set which is another one where you could use different fabric for each piece. Ruan shortened the legs and added a ruffle to the shorts which is such a sweet detail.
Corrine @corrineapplebymakes had already used some of her double in her Classic box but then made a True Bias Ogden Cami out of the leftovers. She used the peplum/rouleau button front hack from the True Bias blog to make this super sweet summer top.
Hannah @fairyarmadillo made use of her Seamwork subscription and made a gorgeous Madhu Top. The original pattern is cropped with an elasticated hem. One way to make the most of 1m of fabric with a top like this is to add a centre seam into either the front or back pieces (making sure to add seam allowance) so that you don’t have to cut it on the fold.
Csilla @csilla_craft_corner also likes a game of pattern Tetris and was able to get an I Am Joy blouse out of her Mini Box double gauze and even has a few scraps left over to become pocket bags. Double gauze really is the perfect fabric for any pattern that has a puff sleeve as the fabric hold the shape so well.
Double gauze is also particularly lovely for turning into children’s items, as shown here by Nora @the_sewistess who made this adorable Madrid romper by Ikatee Couture. Make the most of your beautiful fat quarters by using them to make teeny tiny facings.
Selina @sewsmall25 went for a double double gauze approach, combining two beautiful fabrics to make these incredibly handy baby burp cloths using a free pattern from Patterns For Pirates. This will make an excellent gift for an expectant parent – you can never have enough!
Last but definitely not least, Holly @hols.davies made a stunning New Look 6622 complete with ruffle hem and crossover back which holds up beautifully in the double gauze, this will be so incredibly comfortable in the warmer months!
So there you have some awesome inspiration for using 1m of double gauze. It’s so easy to work with, exactly the same as a cotton, definitely less slippery than a viscose and yields beautiful results. If you have any other suggestions for our SHJ community for using 1m or less double gauze head over to the Facebook or Instagram post and let us know!