Digital Printing on Crepe Stretch

Surface textures

The face of printed crepe stretch is somewhat dry and textured. What makes this material stand out is that the crepe texture has actually been created on the diagonal, which adds a unique and interesting aesthetic. It is quite crisp and can fray if not finished properly. A knitted fabric with a lot of character, this stylish textile is a dressmaker must-have.

Print detail

Stretch crepe fabric made has a beautiful white base tone. This is the ideal backdrop for color and detail, and both are reproduced with remarkable detail, depth and clarity, despite the textured surface. The 3% elastane content allows it to be very flexible, so prints are interrupted when overly stretched, but the brilliant recovery snaps them back to their original state in no time.

Usage

This fun and versatile fabric was made for garment making. It is very popular thanks to its myriad of qualities, ranging from flexible and soft to its excellent print reproduction. It lends itself to a wide range of end uses, many of which are clothing related. From dresses and blouses to skirts and scarves, this clever crepe works brilliantly for them all.

Sizing For Hemming And Shrinkage

We have a full Cut & Sew service here at Contrado, and are able to hem your fabric prints for a small additional charge. We create a small one- or two-fold hem that typically uses 0.2" to 0.75" (5-20mm) of material, depending on the thickness of the fabric. So, for example, if you want a finished piece of fabric that measures 39.37" x 39.37", you will need to order a size of 39.96" x 39.96" to allow for the hem (on top of that please also allow for shrinkage of min 2%). The thicker the fabric, the bigger the hem will be. You can choose to have your prints hemmed with either Black or White thread. On our silk and other light woven fabrics, one hemmed edge will be straight (vertically down the roll) and the other will be slightly rippled. The hemming material allowances are as follows and you need to make your print bigger to accommodate the hem:

• Light Fabrics (0.59oz-2.95oz): For silks and other light fabrics, we use 0.24" - 0.32" / 6mm-8mm in the hem (2 fold), so overall width/height will be minus 0.48"-0.56""/ 12-16mm
• Medium Fabrics (2.98oz-5.90oz): For medium-weight fabrics that fray, we use 0.5 - 0.75" / 15-20mm in the hem (2 fold) so overall width/height will be minus 1.4" - 1.6" / 35-40mm
• Stiff/Heavy/No-fray fabrics: we use 0.5 - 0.75" / 15-20mm in the hem (1 fold) so overall width/height will be minus 1.5" / 35-40mm

All of these measurements are approximate and can vary. Including with shrinkage, it can mean a fairly significant difference to ordered dimensions, so please plan your print accordingly. Depending on how open the weave is, our fabric can shrink anywhere from 2% to 8% with the average being 2.5%.

How Would you Like the Edge?

• As it comes. We cut around your image, leaving a simply scissor cut, perhaps uneven white fabric border. 
• Hem with thread. We can hem your fabric with a choice of black or white thread. Please allow 1-2 days additional production time. See below for information on how hemming affects the size of your print. We offer an overlock hem, as well as a folded hem (one or two fold depending on the fabric) however not all fabrics are suited to both hem types. If you can see both options, it means both are suitable, and you will be able to choose whichever you prefer. 
• Cut on the line. We will cut neatly on the edge of your design. This means that if you have a border around your design we will cut around that border, if your design takes the whole space of the fabric, then we will neatly cut around the edge of that image. Please be aware, when we cut along the line, we have to cut against the grain of the fabric. This is the standard procedure for fabric cutting. This means that with some fabrics, for example, Georgette and Mulmul, which have a slight wave in them, some fraying will occur. This is unavoidable, as the cut follows the grain of the textile. 

All of our fabrics are cut manually by hand, with the utmost care and attention. If your fabric has a slightly uneven look on the edges or a touch of fraying, this does not indicate a flaw in the textile. It is not always possible to achieve a perfectly straight cut with certain fabrics, so please do bare this in mind when it comes to your design. If you have any queries or would like to know about our cutting methods in more detail, please get in touch and we will be more than happy to discuss them with you.

Please note: As we make everything by hand, all sizes may vary slightly.

For further information about our fabrics see our FAQs.

How stretchy is this fabric?

Our stretch crepe material is stretchy by name and stretchy by nature. It contains 3% elastane, which makes it extremely flexible and springy. This knitted fabric is particularly stretchy on the weft, but it also has a wonderful recovery. This means that designs are not compromised, despite the stretch and textured face.

Will my design print well on this crepe?

This stretch crepe material has a lovely white base tone, which is ideal for showcasing colors and details. The surface texture does not interfere with your design, and all details are depicted sharply, with colors warm, vibrant and punchy. Bold designs look just as beautiful as finely detailed ones.

Is the back of the fabric the same as the front?

The front and back of the crepe stretch are quite different. There is a slight see-through of around 10%, especially when held up to the light. The front of the fabric has a distinct crepe like texture on the diagonal. It is slightly more dry and crisp than the back, which is slightly softer and lacking the crepe finish.