Most commonly made of polyester or nylon, shell fabrics have a waterproof outer layer laminated to an inner fleece layer. Softshell is growing in popularity - it's available in a variety of colors and prints, and it's very easy to use. It's fairly thick and durable, and provides a good layer of insulation. The quality of softshells can vary widely, with more technical fabrics offering stretch with spandex content, 3-layer construction and better breathability.
Classic Cordura fabric is a very durable thick nylon with a canvas-like weave. It's very stiff, so we don't recommend using it on an entire garment, but it's suitable for knee and seat patches to increase the life of thinner fabrics in high-wear areas. Outer fabrics may be waterproof, but seams and pinholes can still allow water to seep in. This can be solved by using seam sealing tape, a waterproof adhesive film.
The process is very simple and although it adds some extra time to the sewing project, the results are worth it Please note that we will be covering the seam sealing tape with baking paper parchment paper when ironing so it doesn't stick to the iron's on the bottom plate. The tape becomes more transparent as it seals.
Continue to softshell fabric press until completely sealed. If any of the patches have air bubbles or unsealed sections, check them again until the entire seam is sealed. The tape works the same way, but the technique for getting the tape to lay flat along the curved seam is a bit different. Put seam-sealing tape over the seam on the reverse side of the garment. Make sure the tape is flat and covers the seam and seam lines.
