Taffeta Fabric
Should I dry clean taffeta fabric before making my garment?
I purchased an iridescent/two-toned looking taffeta fabric and the lady at the store made sure to tell me its acetone based fabric and should only be dry cleaned. I'm OK with this, but I've never worked with this kind of material before. I need to know if I should dry clean it now, unassembled, or dry clean it after I finish making a dress out of it. Will it shrink? Please help!
Sounds like you bought acetate, which will dissolve in acetone. You can steam it before cutting your pattern (just hold the iron above the fabric several inches), but it really isn't necessary.
This *will* absorb perspiration and body and makeup oils, so sew carefully and don't overhandle.
http://www.fabrics-manufacturers.com/acetate-fabric.html
Have you tested this fabric for seam slippage? Taffeta and similar ribbed fabrics are liable to come apart at stressed seams. This is a fabric fault. http://www.amefird.com/seam_quality.htm
And, fwiw, acetate is on my list of least favorite fibers to work with...