Do chiffon and georgette shrink?

Why georgette tends to tighten more than chiffon

Both fabrics are woven from yarns twisted much harder than ordinary yarn, which is what gives them their slightly grainy, springy hand. Georgette’s yarns are usually twisted harder still, which makes it crinklier and heavier. When a silk or viscose georgette gets wet, those yarns relax and try to curl back on themselves, and the whole cloth contracts.

Fabric is also held under tension while it is finished at the mill. The first wash releases that tension, and natural and cellulose fibres let go of it more than polyester does. That is why the first wash is the one that matters most. If you are unsure how the two fabrics differ in the first place, see georgette vs chiffon.

How each fibre behaves

Here is what to expect from each version in water and heat:

• Polyester: set by heat during manufacture, so water does almost nothing to its size. The risk is heat instead: a hot dryer or iron can pucker seams, glaze the surface or distort an edge.
• Silk: can shrink, can mark with water spots, and can lose some sheen if washed roughly. Many silk georgettes are labelled for dry cleaning; a careful cool hand wash is possible on some, but test first.
• Viscose: absorbs water readily, swells, and is much weaker while wet. It can shrink and also stretch out of shape if wrung or hung heavy and wet. Our viscose and rayon guide covers its care in more detail.
• Blends: behave somewhere between their parts, and are worth testing like a natural fibre.

A swatch test you can do at home

If the label is missing or vague, a small test tells you more than any rule. Use a spare cutting or a hidden corner, and follow these steps:

• Cut or mark a square, and measure both sides with a tape.
• Wash it the way you plan to wash the finished outfit, by hand or on a gentle cycle.
• Dry it flat, away from direct heat, then press it lightly on a low setting.
• Measure again. Any loss in length or width is what the outfit would lose too.
• Look at the surface as well: puckering, a rougher hand or water marks all tell you something.

What it means when the fabric is stitched

Shrinkage matters most where two fabrics are joined. A silk or viscose georgette kameez over a polyester lining can shorten while the lining stays the same, so the lining peeks out at the hem or the shell pulls. Matching the behaviour of the shell and the lining avoids that, and so does pre-washing a fabric that is likely to move.

For drying, gentle and cool is the rule for all three fibres; drying without fading or shrinking has the details. If you are sending us your own chiffon or georgette, tell us the fibre if you know it, and our Stitching Only service starts with confirming the fabric is suitable. If you would like us to source the fabric, ask for a Fabric + Stitching quote.