Double gauze is all the rage at the moment, and with good reason! A beautifully soft material, gauze will feel a bit thicker and more substantial when you buy the double-layered version of the fabric. It’s the perfect summer material, making flowy and airy dresses, as well as great blankets for small children and many other garments too. But where does it come from? And what should you be mindful of when sewing with it? Find out below. 

Double gauze – the facts

What is double gauze?

Gauze (pronounced ‘gorz’ in British English) itself is a very thin material woven from cotton. To create double gauze, the cotton is loosely woven together to create two individual sheets, which are then blasted together. This creates a fabric with a lightweight feel, thanks to very small holes from the loose weaving, and also some strength within the fabric.

Double gauze is also referred to in some instances as muslin – though not all muslin items are made from double gauze – or cheesecloth. You can buy it as a single or even triple gauze fabric but an ideal gauze for making garments is the double version, because it’s not too thick and also not too light to completely see-through.

Is double gauze eco-friendly?

As gauze is made from cotton, it’s important to understand how eco-friendly cotton is. And when it comes to cotton, it can be a bit of a mixed bag in the sustainability department depending on where you purchase your fabric.

Cotton that is OEKO-TEX certified (like ours!) has not used any harmful chemicals or substances in the production process, which is a definite plus if you’re looking for double gauze material. It’s also a naturally grown fiber, unlike the likes of polyester or semi-synthetic rayon.

But cotton has its disadvantages as well; one being that it requires a lot of water to produce. A good portion of cotton farms operate in developing countries, and the conditions for the workers, as well as their access to clean water, can be an issue that goes unchecked by the final seller.

Despite some of these challenges, cotton is still one of the better quality and more eco-friendly fibers on the market. When harmful chemicals haven’t been used during the creation of your fabric, cotton, and also double gauze, can be a great option on sensitive, and even infant, skin. And kind for the planet as well!

Making your double gauze #memade garments

What are the benefits of sewing with double gauze? 

Double gauze is really lightweight and has a unique texture, thanks to the loosely woven cotton. The fabric can be slightly see-through, so it’s better used in summer months and can be turned into airy tops, shirts, dresses, light scarves, and even baby blankets and children’s clothes.

One of the great benefits of double gauze is that the more you wash it, the softer it will get. This fabric has great staying power!

Is it easy to sew with double gauze?

Double gauze can shift and give somewhat, so you have to be a bit careful as you’re working with it. One tip to help with this is to keep lots of pins handy so nothing ends up out of place. Also, you can add a spray of starch or similar so it’s a bit more stable to work with.

You should, like with all fabrics, give double gauze a good pre-wash before you work with it because it will shrink. It will come out of the wash with wrinkles, which can be easily fixed using an iron with a lot of steam.

Doing a seam finish is a good idea with double gauze, because the loose weave may fray at the ends. Otherwise, you can treat it as you would most other fabrics!

Washing instructions for double gauze

Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with the manufacturer the best way to wash your fabrics. But with our double gauze, washing and drying are relatively easy! Just make sure you use a cool setting for washing, and let it air dry.

As mentioned, ironing is also fine, and you can feel free to make the most of the steam function for an extra smooth look.

Where can I buy double gauze?

Our plain double gauze fabrics are GOTS certified and our collection of printed double gauze fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified. We’ve got a great range of colors and prints to suit many styles. Check them out here!

Happy Sewing!