Types of Fabric

Bamboo Fabric

made from the pulp of bamboo grass. It is light, strong, has excellent wicking properties, and is anti-bacterial.

Bandanna

a cotton fabric with a printed design of white and a contrasting color.

Barathea

rib weave done in a minute brick fashion giving a pebbly appearance. It is made of silk, worsted wool, synthetic fibers, or a combination of these. It is rich, soft-looking fine fabric that is originally made as a mourning cloth.

Bark Cloth

simulates bark trees with large vines, leaves, and floral prints used for draperies, slipcovers, and other home furnishings. Made from cotton and is textured.

Batiste

a fine, medium weight, soft, semi-sheer, smooth fabric made of cotton or cotton blends. Named after Jean Baptiste and resembles a nainsook but is finer and almost transparent.

Beaded Fabric

any fabric that has beads embroidered into the design.

Bedford Cord

cord cotton-like fabric with raised ridges in the lengthwise direction. It has high strength and durability used for upholstery and work clothes.

Bengaline

sturdy warp-faced fabric with pronounced crosswise ribs formed by bulky and coarse pile yarns or rubber threads. It is made of silk, wool, acetate, or rayon warp with wool or cotton filling and it originated in Bengal, India and is used for dresses, coats, trimmings, and draperies.

Berber Fleece

yarn is knitted into the fabric and is brushed with wire brushes to pull the material together and to fluff it up. Resulting fabric has a looped, soft pile, with large air pockets to improve the insulation of the fabric. It is warm and wicks moisture away from the wearer and is also lightweight.

Birdseye

small geometric pattern with a center dot resembling a bird's eye. Woven on a Dobby loom with a heavier filling yarns that are loosely twisted to make it absorber. It is very soft, lightweight, and absorbent.

Bonded

two or more fabric layers held together with adhesive or a fusible layer.

Boucle'

It has a ring appearance formed by drawn-out loop yarns on the face of the goods giving it a kinky appearance at intervals and is used in carpets and upholsteries.

Bourette

twill weave that originated in France. Yarns are interspersed with nubs, giving the material a dull, nubbed surface effect.

Broadcloth

a tightly woven plain weave with a crosswise rib. Originally a silk shirting fabric named because it was woven in widths exceeding 29". A dress fabric and must be handled with care and it is form fitting and drapes well.

Broadloom

carpet woven on widths of 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 ft.

Brocade

Jacquard woven fabric of an all over inter-woven design of raised figures with the pattern emphasized by contrasting surfaces of colors, which are all done in low release. It has loose figures and is used for upholsteries, draperies, and evening wears.

Brocatelle

tightly woven Jacquard fabric with a warp effect in the figure which is raised to give a puffed appearance.

Buckram

ply yarn scrim with a stiff finish. Used for interlinings in garments and was named after Bokhara.

Bull Denim

twill weave cotton denim fabric that is soft but though as nails. It is durable and heavier than regular denim and it dyes well with very good results and not still like canvas.

Burlap

plain weave coarse fabric usually made from jute or hemp. Used as a carpet backing, packaging for rice, and drapery fabric.

Calico

plain, closely woven, inexpensive cloth with an all-over print of small floral pattern which is discharge or resist printed on a white or contrasting background color. It originated in Calcutta, India and is one of the oldest cotton in the market.

Cambric

soft, white, closely woven cotton fabric calendered on the right side to produce a slight gloss. It launders very well, has good body, and sews and finishes well. Originally made in Cambrai, France.

Canton Flannel

its face is a twill with a soft and loosely twisted filling yarn which is later brushed to produce a soft nap at the back. It is heavy, warm, strong and absorbent named after Canton, China. Used in linings, interlinings, garments, and coverings,

Canvas

evenly weaved that is heavy and firm for industrial or heavy duty purposes. Used for clothing, tents, and sails. It is a rugged and heavy material made from plyed yarns. Reffered to as duck or kacha/katsa.

Challis

softest fabric. It is very lightweight, with a soft plain weave with a slightly brushed surface. Usually in dlicated printed floral pattern and was named from the Anglo-Indian term shalee meaning soft. Made from cotton, wool, or rayon.

Chambray

plain weave made from cotton with colored warp often blue and white filling that gives a mottled colored surface.

Chenille

fabric woven from chenille yarns, and had a fuzzy pile. French for caterpillar and is used for decorative fabrics, embroidery, tassels, and rugs.

Chevron

broken twill or herringbone weave giving a chevron effect.

Chiffon

thin, diaphanous, gauzelike, soft, strong, flimsy fabric. It wears very well and is very difficult to handle.

Chintz

glazed cotton fabric printed with bright figures and large flower designs. Hindu term for spotted. Used for draperies, slipcovers, skirts, summer dresses, and shirts

Cretonne

unglazed chintz.

Coated

fabrics coated with a lacquer, varnish, rubber, plastic, or other substance to make them longer lasting or impervious to water and other liquids.

Corduroy

cut pile cloth with narrow wide wales that run in the warp directions of the goods. It is warm because of the wales form an insulated cushion of air.

Crepe

lightweight fabric characterized by a crinkly surface produced by hard twist yarns, chemical treatment, weave, or embossing. It has very good weaving qualities and has a very slimming effect.

Crewel

chain stitch embroidery made with a fine, loosely twisted two-ply worsted yarn on a plain weave cotton fabric. It is imperfect, has a lot of color variations, irregular, has natural black specks and dye marks, and has dirt spots.

Crinkle

fabric with uneven surface.

Crinoline

lightweight, plain weave, stiffened fabric with low yarn count.

Crushed

fabric that has been treated to have a permanently crinkled, crushed, or rumpled appearance.

Crushed Velvet

any velvet with an irregular pattern of nap going in different directions. It gives the fabric a crushed or rumbled appearance.

Damask

firm, glossy, Jacquard patterned similar to brocade but flatter and reversible. It is durable, launders well, has high luster, and is monochromatic in color.

Marco Polo

first brought damask to the Western world from Damascus during the 13th century.

Denim

rugged, serviceable, staple cotton recognized by left-hand twill on the surface. Its name was derived from French and was originally used by workers.

Dimity

thin, sheer cloth in which cords or stripes may be woven into the fabric. It is easy to manipulate, launders well, and has a crisp texture.

Dotted Swiss

sheer fabric embellished with small dot motifs that may vary in color. It originated in Saint Galen, Switzerland in 1750.

Duck

closely woven, heavy material and the most durable fabric. It is usually made of cotton.

Faille

ribbed cloth with a crosswise rib effect. It is soft and belongs to the gross grain family.

Felt

compact, matted woolen material. Name was derived from an Anglo-Saxon term meaning to filter. It is made of wool or fur often mixed with natural or synthetic fibers.

Flame Stitch

printed or woven fabric featuring a jagged, undulating, flame-like, multi colored pattern.

Flannel

medium-weight, plain, twill weave fabric that is made from cotton, cotton blend, or wool. It is brushed to create a soft, fuzzy surface.

Flannelette

medium weight, plain weaved, soft cotton. It is brushed on one side and is lighter than flannel.

Flocked

raised decoration applied on the surface of the fabric and it adheres only to the areas where the adhesive has been applied.

Foil

high glossed foil paper or foil sheets.

Foulard

lightweight, and soft. It is made with plain or twill weave and is usually printed with small figures on dark or light backgrounds.

Frieze

made with uncut loops and originated from Fries in Holland.

Gabardine

firm, durable, compactly woven cloth which shows a diagonal line on the face of the goods. It was named after a cloak or mantle during the middle ages.

Gauze

thin, sheer fabric constructed with plain leno or dobby weaves. Used for curtains to diffuse light.

Gingham

dyed yarns at given intervals in both warp and filling to achieve a block or check effect. It is an Italian term for "Ging Gang" meaning striped.

Grenadine

fine loosely woven fabric in Leno weave.

Grossgrain

strong, closely woven corded fabric made of silk, or rayon and often with cotton fiber. It is heavy, has a prominent ribbed fabric made from plain or rib weaves.

Habotai

Japanese term for "soft as down". It is lightweight, and is a plain weaved fabric.

Jaspe'

has a series of faint stripes formed by light, medium, or dark yarns.

Heather

woven, multicolored effect created by blending fibers of different colors.

Haircloth

a very stiff, wiry cloth made with a single horsehair filling usually on a cotton warp. The width of the fabric is determined by the length of the horsehair in the filling no more than 26" (66.04 cm) wide.

Herringbone

broken twill weave composed of vertical sections that are alternately right hand in direction. Used for upholsteries.

Houndstooth

broken twill weave forming four-pointed star and it usually comes in duotone

Pupstooth

small hounds tooth

Ikat

uses a resist dyeing process on either the warp or weft before the threads are woven to create a pattern or design. It is a Malay word meaning bind.

Iridescent

fabric woven with yarns of one color in the warp and another color in the filling. It changes color as the light strokes it.

Lame'

metallic threads or yarns are interspersed throughout or used in the base construction. French for "worked with gold and silver wire".

Laminated

fabrics which have been joined together through the use of a high-strength reinforcing scrim or base fabrics between two plies of flexible thermoplastic film. For waterproofing and outdoor use.

Lawn

light, thin, cloth of plain weave with a crisp & crease-resistant finish. Named after Laon, France wherein lawn was manufactured extensively.

Lisserie

jacquard stripe fabric simulating silk and embroidery.

Madras

fine, firm cotton cloth with a plain weave background. Usually striped or plaid in color. Name was derived from Madras, India.

Marquisette

lightweight, open-mesh cloth of Leno or Dobby weave. Used for clothing, curtains, and mosquito nets.

Matelasse

soft, double cloth which has a quilted surface effect and is woven on jacquard looms. French for cushioned or padded.

Melton

heavily, felted, hard, plain, face-finished cloth. It is napped and very sheared. It originated in Leicestershire, England and was originally used as a hunting cloth.

Mesh

net-like open appearance and is available in a variety of constructions including woven, knits, laces, or crocheted fabrics.

Muslin

generic term for a variety of cotton fabrics. Mouseline in French and it is a smooth, delicately woven cotton fabric.

Nainsook

a fine, soft fabric with a plain weave, usually with a strip and often mercerized to produce luster. It is often used for infant clothes.

Monk's Cloth

made of a very coarse yarn and is a rough, substantial, bulky fabric with a tendency to sag, depending on the compactness of the weave. Used for draperies, slip covers, and monk's cloth.

Ninon

smooth, transparent, high-textured fabric made in plain or novelty weaves. Like voile but has more body. Tergal in French.

Organdie

very light, thin, stiff, transparent wiry cloth. Sheerest and crispiest cotton fabric.

Osnaburg

it is a tough medium to heavy weight coarsely woven plain weave fabric. Made of cotton, cotton blend, or poly blend. Used for bags, sacks, and pipe coverings, mattress ticking, slipcovers, work wear, and apparel.

Ottoman

tightly woven plain weave ribbed fabric with a hard and slightly lustered surface. For coats, suits, dresses, upholstery, and draperies.

Oxford

soft, somewhat porous, rather stout fabric with a silk-like luster finish. It launders very well but soils easily.

Panne'

French for plush. A satin-faced material made with a high luster by a roller-pressure treatment during finishing. It resembles velvet but has longer piles.

Percale

medium weight, plain weave, 180-250 threads per square inch, cotton-like fabric. Used for bed sheets, blouses, and dresses.

Pique

medium weight or heavy fabric with raised cords that run in the warp directions and is used for polo shirts.

Plisse'

fabric treated in a striped motif or in spot formation with caustic soda solution that shrinks parts of the fabric to provide crinkled or pleated effect.

Point D'Esprit

mainly cotton and silk and was made in France in 1834. It has white or colored dots individually spaced or in groups. Used for curtains, bassinets, and evening gowns.

Plush

warp pile cloth covered with a surface of cut-pile yarns. The pile is longer but not as densely woven as velvet. Peluche in French and Pilus in Latin which means hair. Used for hats.

Polished Cotton

combed and carded fabric in a satin construction which has been calendered to produce a high-luster surface finish.

Pongee

thin, natural, tan colored silk fabric made of wild Chinese silk with a knotty rough weave. Named after the Chinese word puni-ki meaning "woven at home at one's loom". Usually used for drapery linings.

Poplin

has a fine rib effect in the filling direction from selvage to selvage. Papeline in French.

Rep

similar to poplin but has a more distinctive crossrib cord used for upholstery and drapery.

Sail cloth

plain weave fabric where the majority of the fabric is composed of warp threads.

Satin

has a very smooth, lustrous face effect while the back is dull. Name was derived from Zayfun, China although it was named after then Latin "sera" meaning silk. Made from filament fibers.

Saxony

high grade coating fabric made from Merino sheep's wool from Saxony, Germany.

Scrim

open mesh, plain weave cloth in several constructions and weights and is usually used in Buckram.

Seersucker

lightweight cloth in which a base warp lies flat and a second warp becomes crinkled because of chemical treatments. Used for summer suits and sports wear.