Tulle

Tulle is a sheer open netting knotted or twisted into a fine hexagonal mesh, made from nylon or polyester. It is one of the lightest fabrics in regular use, roughly 20 to 40 g/m², and its character comes from the open structure rather than the fiber weight. It ranges widely in hand: soft bridal illusion tulle drapes and gathers into a fine haze, while stiff craft and costume tulle holds a shape and stands away from the body. Pick the stiffness to the job before anything else, since the two behave nothing alike.

The net does not fray, so edges are left raw as a rule; a rolled hem is optional and mostly a finish for soft tulle where a raw edge would look unresolved. It catches on rough skin, snags on velcro, and clings with static, so handle it with clean, smooth hands and cut in single or few layers with sharp shears. Sew with a fine needle, 70/10, a longer stitch around 3 mm, and light thread tension, feeding gently so the net does not pull into the plate; tissue under the seam steadies it. Gathering many layers builds volume fast, so measure fullness by sample rather than by instinct. Press only with a cool iron through a pressing cloth, since direct heat melts the synthetic net on contact.

Tulle suits veils, gathered skirts, petticoats and underskirts for structure, and sheer overlays on bodices and hems. Match layer count and stiffness to the volume you want and test the gather ratio before cutting yardage.