SCIENCE TEXTILE SWATCH KIT

Muslin

medium weight

beige or natural (undyed, unbleached ) color

Herringbone

medium heavy weight

resembles the backbone of a fish (i.e. herring) or a “zig-zag” pattern

twill

Jersey

light - heavy weight

simple knit fabric with no pronounced rib.

t-shirt fabric/ very stretchy

Boucle

closed loops - big or small - througout yarns

strands are twisted together; one strand is more taught than the other and spun, creating the loop

Chenille

plush, fuzzy, pile yarn, often mistaken for velvet weave

cut fiber ends create a fringe

chenille is French for “caterpillar”

tweed

flecks of short, colored fiber spun into the yarn itself

metallic

high luster, metallic in appareance

chiffon

lightweight sheer

light, delicate, and translucent. filmy and sheer

organza

sheer, stiff, fullbody/ voluminous

gingham

check design

balanced plain weave

medium weight

chambray

“faux denim” that may look like a solid but has a different yarn colors

softer and more relaxed texture than real denim

crepe de chine

lightweight

grainy crepe texture with medium luster

often for blouses, dresses

Taffeta

crisp, smooth hand, fine rib

makes a “swish” sound

stands up on its own

shantung

rough textured with random, slightly raised texture

Houndstooth

small 8-point check pattern resembling a dog’s hound tooth

(eight jagged edges, kind of like a spiky square)

twill / chino

a weave marked by diagonal lines called wales

satin

soft, smooth, lustrous fabric

one side is shiny full of luster while the other side is dull

crepe-back satin

the face of the fabric is soft and lustrous and the back resembles crepe fabric

damask

pattern is created via matte on shiny (satin) background or vice versa with floral or detailed designs

tapestry

a heavy, stiff fabric with multiple color yarns and is a decorative fabric often featuring floral designs

velvet

a soft plush fabric with a pile that has a rich texture

corduroy

a pile fabric in which the pile is arranged in lengthwise rows (resembling cords)

Terry cloth

a pile fabric, the pile is comprises of uncut looped yarns. towel like texture

bumpy, absorbent texture.

dotted swiss

a lightweight, see through fabric with small dot patterns

seersucker

vertical crinkled or puckered stripes

jersey

simple knit fabric, very stretchy, folds into itself

fleece

a bulky knit fabric that appears as jersey on the front and fuzzy on the back

rib-knit

a knit fabric with a produced rib (ridges of Wales) on the face and the back

super stretchy as well

pique (knit)

a knit with raised lengthwise parallel cords, ribbing, or squares, providing an embossed appearance.

This is a knitted fabric with raised lines, bumps, or square shapes on it, creating a textured, 3D look—like a pattern you can both see and feel.

tulle

a sheer hexagonal net fabric. often stiff and voluminous

lace

an openwork fabric with complex patterns or figures

crochet

an openwork fabric with complex patterns and bulkier and less fine than lace

faux leather

a solid, flexible material. Faux leather imitates animal hide

felt

fibrous, matted textile

felt has no grain and dont ravel. they can be stiff and infelixble

quilted fabric

thick, lofty, and bulky

three-dimensional with raised, puffy areas

Batik

fabrics that often have a “crackled” appearance. this happens when the wax cracks and dye seeps in

print

motif; the color will appear more saturated on the fabric surface and less on the back ( color bleeds on the back )

eyelet/ embrodiroy

embroidered around holes/ decoration 3-D and stitches can be seen on the front and back

flannel

soft, slightly fuzzy fabric; fuzz does not come from pile.

glazed

fabrics look polished; glossy

pile woven

are 3D. have an extra set of yarns that loop around. loops can be cut or can remain uncut