Tarletan is a lightweight, open-weave cotton fabric primarily recognized for its crispness and stiffness. This distinct characteristic comes from a heavy starching process applied during its manufacturing. Often compared to a stiffened cheesecloth, tarletan provides structure without adding significant weight, making it a versatile material in various creative and practical fields.
Understanding Tarletan’s Properties
Tarletan is made from 100% cotton, featuring an open, plain weave that gives it a sheer appearance. The material is lightweight and breathable. Its defining property is the stiff and malleable quality achieved through heavy starching during production.
This starching process differentiates tarletan from other cotton fabrics, enabling it to hold shapes and provide support. The degree of starching varies, resulting in different grades. Its non-stretch nature further contributes to its ability to maintain a desired form.
Common Applications of Tarletan
Tarletan’s unique combination of stiffness, sheerness, and shape retention makes it valuable across several applications. In ballet and costuming, it is frequently used to provide volume and structure to tutus and theatrical costumes. Its ability to hold shape allows for the creation of multi-layered skirts, giving a light yet full appearance.
In bookbinding, tarletan serves as a reinforcing material, particularly for the spines of books. Gluing it to the spine after sewing pages together adds significant strength and flexibility, helping books withstand repeated opening and closing. This application leverages the fabric’s durability and open weave, which allows adhesives to penetrate effectively.
Millinery and hat making utilize tarletan for shaping and stiffening headwear, providing an underlying structure for hats and decorative elements. For theatrical scenery, it is employed for backdrops and scrims due to its transparency and capacity to be painted, allowing for depth effects and light manipulation. In dressmaking and historical garments, it functions as an internal structuring layer or stiffening interlining for elements like petticoats, pleated trims, and ruffles.
Working With and Caring for Tarletan
Working with tarletan requires consideration due to its stiff and open-weave nature. When cutting or sewing, its crispness makes it prone to fraying, requiring careful handling. The open weave also impacts the type of needles or stitching techniques that are most effective.
The heavy starching that gives tarletan its structure also dictates its care. Tarletan is not washable, as washing removes the starch and causes the fabric to lose its stiffness. For cleaning, spot cleaning or gentle dusting is recommended to preserve its integrity.
Storing tarletan properly is important to prevent creasing or damage to its structure. Keeping it rolled or laid flat, rather than folded, helps maintain its crispness and avoids permanent wrinkles. This ensures the fabric retains its unique properties for future use.