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Jacquard Silk - Blue Silk Viscose Blend Floral Gold Dress Fabric Close-up

Viscose Lining Fabric

Viscose lining is the comfortable one. It's soft, it breathes, and it doesn't build up static the way a polyester lining does against tights or a jumper, which makes it the sensible choice for dresses, skirts and unstructured jackets. This collection covers plain viscose linings, paisley changeant in a long run of colours, stripes, printed designs and viscose satin, all cut by the metre.
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Most people notice a lining only when it's wrong: when a skirt clings to tights, when a dress feels clammy by the afternoon, when a jacket crackles as it comes off. Viscose solves all three, which is why it's the default for anything worn close to the body. It's plant-based, breathable and naturally low in static, and it moves with the outer fabric rather than fighting it.

Why choose viscose lining

Viscose is made from cellulose, so it behaves more like a natural fibre than a synthetic one. It lets air circulate, which keeps a lined garment cooler and less clammy than the polyester equivalent. It's naturally anti-static, so a lined skirt hangs rather than gripping your legs. And it has a soft, fluid drape that suits garments where the lining needs to move with the outer cloth instead of holding its own shape underneath.

Its limits are worth knowing too. Viscose is weaker when wet and needs gentle handling in the wash, and it can shrink a little on a first wash, so it's worth pre-washing if the finished garment will be laundered rather than dry cleaned.

What's in the collection

Plain viscose linings cover the everyday shades. Beyond those, the paisley changeant linings run to a long list of colourways and have a shot, two-tone quality that shifts in the light, which makes them a good way to put something interesting inside a plain jacket. There are pinstripes, printed and novelty designs, twill linings with a firmer handle for tailoring, viscose satin in a heavier weight for occasionwear, and a stretch breathable lining for garments that need to give. Compositions vary, and some pieces are viscose and acetate blends, so the exact makeup is on each product page.

For the traditional tailoring option see acetate lining, and the full choice across every fibre is in our lining fabrics collection.

Sewing with viscose lining

Viscose lining is light and easy to handle, though it shifts a little as you cut, so weights and a rotary cutter beat pins for accuracy. A fine, sharp needle and a slightly shorter stitch will stop it puckering along a seam, and finishing the edges neatly is worth doing since viscose frays. When you're setting a lining into a jacket, remember to build in a pleat at the centre back so the lining has room to move with the garment rather than pulling against it.

Pre-wash before you cut if the finished garment will be washed, as viscose can shrink slightly. It's weaker wet, so handle it gently and don't wring it. A cool to warm iron is plenty. As always, check the individual product page and care label, since the blends behave differently from the pure viscose pieces.

What is viscose lining used for?

It's the lining of choice for dresses, skirts, tailored trousers and unstructured or lightweight jackets, anywhere the lining sits close to the body and needs to be comfortable. It adds modesty to a semi-sheer fabric, helps a garment hang cleanly, and reduces friction between the outer cloth and the skin, which extends the life of the garment. For structured tailoring, many people prefer acetate.

Is viscose better than polyester for lining?

For comfort, yes, and noticeably so. Viscose breathes, so a lined dress or skirt stays cooler and less clammy, and it's naturally low in static, so it won't cling to tights the way polyester does. Polyester's advantages are durability, heat tolerance and price, which make it the better choice for a garment washed frequently or worn hard. For most dressmaking, viscose is the more pleasant option.

Does viscose lining shrink?

It can shrink a little on its first wash, so pre-wash the fabric before cutting if the finished garment is going to be laundered rather than dry cleaned. Wash it the way you intend to wash the garment. Viscose is weaker when it's wet, so handle it gently, avoid wringing, and keep the temperature moderate. Check the individual product page, as blends behave differently.

What is paisley changeant lining?

Changeant, sometimes called shot, is woven with different coloured yarns in the warp and the weft, so the fabric shifts between two tones as the light catches it. Paired with a paisley pattern it gives a lining with real depth and movement, and it's a popular way to make the inside of a plain jacket or coat more interesting. We stock it in a long run of colourways.

Do I need to leave extra room when lining a jacket?

Yes, and it's the step most often missed. A lining needs to move with the garment rather than pulling against it, so build a pleat into the lining at the centre back, and allow ease at the hem and armholes. Without it the lining pulls the outer fabric out of shape and can tear at the seams over time. Most jacket patterns build this in, so follow the pattern rather than cutting the lining identically to the outer.

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