Journal · 218 guides

Fabrics and care

Lawn, cambric, chiffon, khaddar and more: what each fabric is like to wear, stitch and look after.

4 min readHow to get creases and crush marks out of velvetHow to get creases out of velvet: steam it from the reverse, lift flattened pile with a soft brush, and know which crush marks and shiny patches will not come back.Read
4 min readHow to sew a loose button back on a kurtaHow to sew a button back on a kurta, step by step: flat, shank and fabric-covered buttons and a hook and eye, with the right thread and a little slack under each.Read
4 min readPerfume and attar marks on clothes: removal and preventionHow to remove perfume stains from clothes, why attar and oud oil leave yellow rings, how to treat washable fabric, and where to put scent so it stays off silk.Read
3 min readCan you machine wash a linen kurta?Can you machine wash linen? Usually yes: the cycle, temperature, load size and drying that keep a linen kurta soft, with fewer creases and less risk of shrinking.Read
3 min readHow often should you wash a shalwar kameez?How often to wash a shalwar kameez, piece by piece: the kameez, the trousers, the dupatta and lined or formal outfits, and when airing between wears is enough.Read
3 min readHow to starch a cotton suit at home (kalaf)How to starch a cotton suit at home, from a light spray to a stiff dip finish, which fabrics and colours to leave alone, and how kalaf changes ironing and storage.Read
3 min readHow to get curry and cooking smells out of clothesHow to get curry smell out of clothes: why cooking odours cling, how to clear them from washable and dry clean only pieces, and how to keep a dawat outfit fresh.Read
3 min readDoes sunlight remove turmeric stains from clothes?Does sunlight remove turmeric stains? On plain white cotton it often does. Why haldi fades in sun, how long to leave it, and which fabrics must stay in the shade.Read
3 min readColour ran in the wash: how to rescue the other clothesHow to remove colour run from clothes when one piece dyes the whole load: keep it wet, rewash at once, and know when a colour-run remover is and is not safe to use.Read
3 min readSweat smell that stays in clothes after washingHow to get sweat smell out of clothes when it survives the wash: why polyester and synthetic linings hold odour, how to pre-treat underarms, and what to change.Read
3 min readHow to remove an oil stain that has already been washedHow to remove old oil stains from clothes after a wash: degrease the dry mark, rinse warm if the label allows, rewash, air dry, and why dryer heat makes it harder.Read
3 min readHow to remove tea stains from clothes, fresh or driedHow to remove tea stains from clothes, fresh or dried: why milky chai needs cold water first, what to try on white kurtas, and a gentler order for printed fabric.Read
3 min readWhite deodorant marks on dark clothes: quick fixesHow to remove deodorant marks from black clothes without washing, which quick fixes to avoid on silk and velvet, and how to dress so the streaks never appear.Read
3 min readHow to keep black suits and trousers from fadingHow to keep black clothes from fading: the washing, drying and ironing habits that keep black cotton and lawn dark, and why cotton greys faster than polyester.Read
3 min readDoes cotton keep shrinking every time you wash it?Does cotton shrink every time you wash it? Mostly no: most shrinkage happens in the first washes. What keeps it going, and how to hold a lawn kameez at its length.Read
3 min readHow to freshen a suit between wears without washing itHow to freshen clothes without washing: airing, steaming and spot-freshening for suits you wear more than once, and which shortcuts to avoid on silk and embroidery.Read
3 min readYellow underarm stains on white kurtas: causes and fixesHow to remove yellow armpit stains from white clothes: why white kurtas yellow and stiffen, the gentle treatments that work, and why chlorine bleach backfires.Read
3 min readCrepe vs georgette: how to tell them apartCrepe vs georgette in plain words: georgette is sheer and floaty, crepe is opaque with more body. How to tell them apart, when to line and what each suits.Read
4 min readWhat is cotton net fabric?What is cotton net fabric? A soft, matt, semi-sheer cloth sold for formal kameez and dupattas. How it differs from nylon net and when it needs a lining.Read
4 min readDoes khaddar shrink? What to allow forDoes khaddar shrink? Usually yes, and more than lawn. Why a thick, loosely spun cloth shrinks, where it shows on a finished suit and what to allow for.Read
4 min readTypes of lawn fabric: the labels explainedTypes of lawn fabric explained: what printed, embroidered, Swiss, slub, jacquard, airjet and luxury lawn tell you about the cloth, and what they leave out.Read
3 min readWhat is crepe fabric? Suits, trousers and drapeWhat is crepe fabric? A cloth with a fine pebbly surface made from tightly twisted yarn. How it behaves in kameez, suits and trousers, and in which season.Read
3 min readTypes of silk in Pakistani suits: names explainedTypes of silk fabric on Pakistani suits: raw silk, katan, jamawar, banarsi, tissue, shamoose and art silk. Which names mean a fibre, a weave or no silk at all.Read
4 min readCotton vs polycotton: which for a kurta?Cotton vs polycotton for a kurta: how pure cotton and cotton polyester blends compare on creasing, breathability, shrinkage and colour, and how to read a label.Read
3 min readWhat is cotton satin? Satin and sateenWhat is cotton satin fabric? Cotton woven in a satin structure for a smooth face and soft lustre. How sateen differs from shiny satin, and which season it suits.Read
4 min readWhy does linen crease so much?Why does linen crease so much? The stiff flax fibre cannot spring back from a fold. Which weights, blends and cuts crease less, and how to decide if it suits you.Read
3 min readWhat is tissue fabric? Tissue vs organzaWhat is tissue fabric? A fine, crisp sheer with metallic yarn woven in. How tissue differs from organza in shine and stiffness, and where its limits lie.Read
3 min readIs raw silk real silk?Is raw silk real silk? In its proper sense yes, but much fabric sold as raw silk for suits is a blend or polyester. What the name means and how to check.Read
3 min readWhat is malmal? Soft cotton muslin explainedWhat is malmal fabric? A very soft, airy, loosely woven cotton muslin, also spelt mulmul. How it differs from lawn and voile, and where it falls short.Read
3 min readWhat is dhanak fabric?What is dhanak fabric? A soft, wool-look winter cloth, usually a blend. How warm and how prickly it is, and how a dhanak suit compares with khaddar and karandi.Read

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