Tools of the Trade: Fabric cutter & scales

Here at Guided Makers, we work with you to source the fabric you need & want for your product concept.

We encourage you to consider your target market, competitor market, functional needs and wearing comfort.  The right amount of research will help nail your concept sooner, reducing time and money spent getting there.

The information you use to be successful in fabric sourcing includes things such as content (ex. 100% cotton), construction (knits, wovens), yarn sizes and weight.   Understanding your target or actual fabric weight helps determine a number of additional product development considerations. 

While our decades of experience in working with fabric allows us to determine fabric contents and constructions and even weight, we also use technical fabric weighing scales to be as accurate as possible to determine weight exactly.

Electronic scale and fabric cutter

The scales are used with a circular cutter.  This allows us to cut accurate circular samples on a variety of fabric types and weights – light tissue weight fabrics through to heavier weight denims.  The cutter is used with a cutting pad made of porous rubber, which allows the sample cutter to cut into the base with complete safety.

The cutter will cut a measured circle of fabric that is 113mm (4.442″) in diameter.

A cutter will cut a measured circle of fabric that is 113mm (4.442″) in diameter. A relatively small piece that can be cut from various sources.

The fabric scale is programmed to measure the GSM of this pre-cut circular fabric sample.  The precision of the scale allows us to weigh as low as 0.01gms

We are able to quickly determine the fabric weight in grams per square meter or ounces per square yard. 

242gm/m2 or 7.14oz/yd2

While understanding fabric weight helps with product development.  It also allows for much speedier sourcing of fabrics.

During your research, you may acquire the ‘perfect’ fabric from a competitor or another brand.  By using the tools, we can get exact details of the fabric and send out a more accurate request to suppliers.  Example – we’d like a Single jersey 100% cotton fabric is too broad and vague for a supplier.   However requesting a Single Jersey, 100% cotton, 180gms/m2 is much more precise and helps the supplier propose only options close to what you need.

This will in turn speed up your development process and possibly reduce sampling needs by starting with your most accurate desired fabrics to begin with.

For more information for starting your project with Guided Makers, please complete our inquiry form. We look forward to hearing from you soon!