Rant: I tried using a cheap vinyl tablecloth for a raincoat mockup and it was a disaster

Honestly, I thought it would be a good cheap alternative to proper waterproof fabric for a pattern test. It tore the second I tried to sew a curved seam and left sticky residue all over my machine needle. Has anyone found a good, actually sewable material for testing wet-weather gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

karenm492mo ago

I used an old shower curtain liner for my last raincoat test. The plastic was a bit thicker and didn't gum up my needle. It still isn't great for curves, but it held up long enough to check the fit.

nathan8512mo ago

Shower curtain liners are a clever choice for a quick mockup. The real test is how the material moves when you wear it, not just if it sews okay. Plastic doesn't drape like coated fabric will, so the fit might feel off once you use the real stuff. Maybe try hanging the test piece for a day to see if the weight changes the shape. That could show you problems before cutting into your good material.

the_phoenix2mo ago

Totally agree about the drape being different. Made that mistake once with a vinyl tablecloth mockup. Sewed fine, but the final coat felt stiff and boxy. Hanging the test piece is smart. Shows how the seams pull over time. Plastic just doesn't flow the same way. Better to catch that early.