Organza vs Tulle: What is the Difference?

By
Jean Chaney
Jean Chaney
Research Writer
Jean is the brains behind her fashion label. She's a whiz with a needle and thread, and has been sewing since she was old enough to hold a pair of scissors. Jean has always read more
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Isabel Misner
Isabel Misner
Expert Consultant
A professional seamstress. Isabel has her own video blog where she shares her experience about all the aspects of sewing – from choosing suitable materials to step-by-step read more
Last updated: August 30, 2023
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Organza and Tulle are beautiful and delicate sheer fabrics. They have so many similarities that they are often mixed up. To get the most out of them and to have an easier time working with sheer fabrics like organza and tulle, you must have the ability to identify them correctly. Both fabrics can be used in myriad ways, but they are a famous go-to for wedding attires and evening gowns. Unless you are a fabric connoisseur, the Organza vs. Tulle debate can be a confusing one. The trick is to learn their differences and similarities.

Organza is made from silk and is highly sought for its ability to add volume to a dress. On the other hand, tulle, also made from silk or silk-mixes, has the feel of a very fine net that is looser than real netting. Tulle is more elastic than organza and is also preferred puffy clothes like ballet tutus. Though they share so many similarities, one excels over the other in various instances.

Organza: what is it?

Organza is a transparent super-lightweight fabric made from nylon, polyester, and silk. It has a stiff drape about it, and it is very smooth and shiny. It owes its stiffness to the way it is woven.

Historically, organza was purely made from silk until nylon and polyester were invented. It originates from the Turkestan town of Urgang in East Asia, which was famous for high-end silk markets in the ancient world. The name ‘Organza’ comes from ‘Organzine,’ which is a term used to refer to any fabric made with a spinning twisting method.

The fabric comes in various colors and is a popular choice for wedding gowns and evening dresses. It adds volume to a dress, and for this reason, it is used under lightweight clothes that need more body and support as lining.

Since it is not elastic, it wrinkles easily, but you can iron it. You cannot wash it in a washing machine because of its delicate nature. You can either dry, clean it or wash it by hand.

The only downside to organza is its super-delicate nature. It can easily get damaged, so you must be careful when wearing it or when making a garment with it. When making a dress with organza, you want to make sure that you have the right cutting and sewing paraphernalia.

The most popular organza among fabric aficionados is the ATCG 11 inch x 28 Yard Organza Roll. It has solid patterns and comes in 6 different colors. It is light and graceful and can be used in multiple ways and on various occasions.

Organza vs Tulle: What is the Difference?

Tulle: what is it?

Tulle is a beautiful and versatile sheer fabric that looks and feels like tiny netting. It is popularly known as silk mesh because it is made from woven silk or silk blends. It has superb draping abilities and is more elastic than organza.

The fabric was first created in Tulle- France, hence its name. It became highly associated with weddings after Queen Victoria used it to make her bridal gown.

Most people don’t know that tulle is a blended fabric that ranges from very soft to very stiff. The very soft tulle is made with a blend of cotton and silk, while the very stiff variety is a blend of silk and polyester.

Sewing tulle can be a daunting experience because of its elastic nature. Hand sewing is highly recommended, and you must ensure that you get the best sewing needles to have an easy time.

You can get tulle in any color on the face of the earth for your décor or fashion projects. The Supla 11-colors Rainbow Tulle Kit is one of the most praised tulle brands by reviewers. It comes with 11 pieces of colorful Tulle rolls, a pair of sewing scissors, and a sewing measuring tape.

Since some blends of Tulle can be a bit scratchy, you want to use them on outerwear like ballet tutus, hat trims, and wedding veils. You can use the softer blends to make petticoats, lingerie, and puffy skirts.

Owing to its elastic nature, you can wash the fabric in the washing machine, and there are many more ways of washing tulle Trusted Source 3 Ways to Wash Tulle - wikiHow Tulle is a delicate fabric often found on wedding gowns, veils, ballet tutus, and other stage costumes. It is a beautiful, yet very delicate material. It needs to be handled and washed with care. You can clean tulle by removing spots, washing by hand, and in the washing machine. www.wikihow.com . Ironing it is what’s out of the question.

Organza vs tulle vs chiffon

The organza vs. tulle vs. chiffon is another steamy debate because so many people can’t tell the fabrics apart. Chiffon is also a sheer fabric and is easy to confuse with tulle and organza. It is air and soft in nature and is made from either silk or nylon. It is more fluid than organza and tulle. It also drapes better, thus used to make blouses, dresses, skirts, wedding gowns, and many other flowing garments.

It has a very fine weave that makes it ultra-smooth and slippery. It stretches well and doesn’t wrinkle as much as organza.

Another noteworthy thing about chiffon is that it is highly transparent, and any garment made with it needs a lining. Plus, it has less body compared to organza and tulle.

Working with chiffon on a sewing machine can be a bit daunting because of its slippery nature. It also snags very easily, and if its edges are not finished properly, it can fray.

You can wash chiffon in the washing machine because it resists wrinkling pretty well. Chiffon In case it wrinkles, you can iron it.

All the 3 fabrics are made with silk or silk blends. Also, they are all delicate and gauzy and must therefore be handled with extra care. The main difference between them is their draping nature and texture. Chiffon is smooth, slippery, and very drapey, while organza is stiff and less drapey. Tulle is more drapey than organza but stiffer than chiffon, and it has a soft net-like texture that is looser than real netting.

Final thoughts

Organza, Tulle, and chiffon are all sheer fabrics often mixed up by many. With all the hints in this article, you shouldn’t be facing any organza vs. tulle table runner mind debates next time you are buying a runner for your kitchen table. The differences between organza and tulle have been clearly highlighted. This should help you choose the materials correctly so that you can make the best use of them to achieve stunning results in your fashion and décor projects.

All the 3 fabrics are a perfect choice for wedding attire and evening gowns. Chiffon is super-lightweight and very drapey owing to its very fine weave. Organza is the stiffest and creates more volume in a dress. It also wrinkles easily. Tulle is highly elastic but stiffer than chiffon, and it looks and feels like a very fine net.

 

References

1.
3 Ways to Wash Tulle - wikiHow
Tulle is a delicate fabric often found on wedding gowns, veils, ballet tutus, and other stage costumes. It is a beautiful, yet very delicate material. It needs to be handled and washed with care. You can clean tulle by removing spots, washing by hand, and in the washing machine.
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