Charcoal Slate - Stretch Viscose Dress Fabric

Every wardrobe needs a good charcoal. Charcoal Slate Stretch is a sleek, smart suiting in a deep, neutral grey that works with almost any colour, from crisp white to bright jewel tones. It’s the sort of fabric that makes a handmade piece look professionally finished.

The stretch

A touch of elastane gives the cloth some give, so tailored pieces fit comfortably and move with you. It’s what makes trousers comfortable to sit in and a fitted skirt comfortable to walk in, while the polyester and viscose blend gives the fabric a smooth, structured look.

What to make

• Trousers: tailored, straight-leg and wide-leg styles
• Skirts: pencil, A-line and pleated skirts
• Jackets: blazers, waistcoats and cropped jackets
• Dresses: pinafores, shift dresses and structured day dresses

The wide width leaves plenty of room to cut trousers and long jacket pieces. The classic colour carries you from the office to a weekend out, so it works for casual outfits as well as formal ones.

Styling

Charcoal pairs well with white, cream, pink, red, navy and camel, and it’s a good partner for printed fabrics in your collection.

Sewing tips:

• Wash gently before cutting, to check how it behaves
• Choose a universal or stretch needle and a medium stitch length
• Neaten seams to stop fraying, with French seams, an overlocker, a zigzag stitch or bias binding
• Press on a medium heat, on the reverse, with a pressing cloth
• Lining jackets and skirts gives a clean finish and helps them hang well

• Width: 150cm/60" (approx)
• Composition: 63% Polyester, 32% Viscose, 5% Elastane
• Fabric Type: Stretch suiting
• Colour: Grey (charcoal)

✔Machine washable at 30°C, on a gentle cycle
✔Wash with similar colours
✔Do not use bleach
✔Do not tumble dry
✔Dry flat or line dry
✔Iron on a medium heat, on the reverse
✔Dry cleaning is recommended for tailored jackets and blazers
✔Always test a small sample first to check your preferred washing method