‘Opéra’ finely-woven raspberry pink wool suiting fabric

We’re great advocates of the potential for lighter-weight wool fabrics at all times of the year. If you’ve ever worn a pair of flowing lightweight wool trousers then you’ll know just how cool and comfortable they can be. This draping raspberry pink wool suiting fabric is our latest arrival from Italy, courtesy of a high-end UK-based designer. We understand that vibrant colour, and pink too, feature in the style headlines for 2021 and we couldn’t be more excited to have this extraordinary distraction in the ClothSpot studio to lift our spirits.

What kind of fabric is this?

Our raspberry pink wool suiting fabric is a 100% wool fabric, woven in a plain weave pattern. We’d describe it as a lighter-weight suiting, but leaning towards the heavier end of that bracket. It has good opacity for its weight but will benefit from a lining to help with drape and contrasting undergarments. It looks beautiful with crisp whites and solid blacks, vibrant jewel-colours too. Although raspberry pink is by its nature a vibrant colour, this is a fabric with surprising depth and subtlety to its colour; it will catch an eye but isn’t brash.

What does this fabric feel like?

This is a fabric with a fairly crisp, very slightly textured handle. The texture isn’t a ‘scratchy wool’ texture by any means – the texture is because fine yarns have been twisted together to create heavier strands for weaving, and the texture arises from the weave structure. It will be very cool and comfortable next to the skin as a dress or trousers for instance.

How does this fabric move?

Our raspberry pink wool suiting fabric has a delightfully-lively and rippling movement as you can see from this video.

NOTE: Our videos are intended to show the movement of a fabric. For accurate colour and pattern detail, please refer to our still images.

Will I need to line this fabric?

The construction of this lovely wool means that our raspberry pink wool suiting fabric has very good opacity for its weight, sufficient for wider-legged or semi-fitted trousers to remain unlined with just a little caution paid to smooth and skin-toned undergarments. However if you’re contemplating more structured trousers, a skirt or a jacket, then we’d suggest a lining (or a half-lining in the case of trousers) will help with structure, fit and movement as well as dealing with the colour and outline of undergarments.

What can I make with this fabric?

We think it would be just fabulous as cross-season trousers – either wide, flowing ones or more tailored and cropped designs. It would also make a classic pencil skirt or even a tailored dress. Relaxed blazers are very much on trend at the moment and of course we know Kwik Sew pattern 3715 very well as the basis for our Soft-tailored Blazer kit. However if you’re planning a pair of statement trousers then the ‘Narcisse’ Pants from Deer & Doe are very much on our ‘tried and tested’ list and would be fabulous in this fabric.

Fabric width

152cm

Fabric composition

100% wool

Fabric preparation

Steam gently before cutting, holding a steam iron 1 inch away from the wrong side of the fabric, working down the length. Use a steam iron and a pressing cloth to press areas of the garment during construction where necessary.

Fabric care

We recommend spot- and dry-cleaning wool-rich garments, particularly if they’re lined. Find out more on our About our fabric pages