What Is Rayon Fabric Batiste Fabric?
Batiste -- a very soft opaque fabric, plainly woven and lightweight -- most often has fibers of cotton, wool, linen, polyester or a synthetic blend.
When batiste is manufactured, it gets no acid wash, so the material is not transparent like voiles or organdy, explains the NY Fashion Center.
It has a bit of substance, and may be washed and delicately dried by machine.
Treatments for producing batiste include a satin weave to create a very shiny finish, mercerizing that adds more gleam to the threads, combing threads to produce higher quality batiste, and plain weaves using wool or cotton.
Imperial batiste is made by blending cotton and polyester. The light fabric can be used for bedding, such as tucked and pleated pillow shams, and non-sheer curtains that let in light while blocking the view.
Delicate but Durable
Batiste is featherweight and it breathes, making it comfortable for baby and children's clothing; it smocks beautifully but is sturdy enough to hold up to a little wear and tear.
The fabric has a soft sheen, yet it will hold embroidery and is a good choice for decorative samplers.
Search for heirloom clothing made from batiste to frame or display in a shadowbox, or to machine-stitch Crepe Fabric and turn into period doll clothing for an authentic china doll collection.