Plain Denim Fabrics

Twill, and why denim lasts

Denim is a twill: the threads run diagonally rather than in a plain grid, which packs more yarn into the cloth and is why it takes years of wear. The diagonal rib on the face is the weave showing.

Use it for jeans, jackets, skirts, pinafores, aprons, bags and upholstery. Sew with a denim needle and strong thread, and flatten thick seam intersections with a hammer tap before stitching so the machine can climb them. Wash before cutting — denim shrinks, and indigo will run on its first few washes.