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Acetate
A manufactured fiber formed by compound of cellulose, refined from cotton linters and/or wood pulp, and acedic acid that has been extruded through a spinneret and then hardened.
Acrylic
A manufactured fiber, its major properties include a soft, wool-like hand, machine washable and dryable and excellent color retention.
Alpaca
A natural hair fiber from Llamas. It's similar to cashmere in its softness and luxury. Suitable for jackets, coats or throws.
Batik
A fabric design that takes its name from a method of dyeing. Before dyeing the fabric, dye resistant is applied in a pattern or at random to surface of a fabric, usually on natural fabric like cotton, silk or linen, sometimes on rayon. Patterns formed when the resistant is removed. This process can be repeated for multi-color designs.
Batiste
A lightweight, plain weave fabric, semi-sheer and usually made of cotton or cotton blends. Appropriate for heirloom sewing, baby clothes and lingerie.
Boucle
A knit or woven fabric with small curls or loops that create a nubby surface. The fabric has a looped, knotted surface and is often used in sweater looks, vests and coats.
Bedford Cord
A hardwearing fabric, either natural or synthetic, is woven with lengthwise rib. Ideal for men's trousers.
Boiled Wool
Felted knitted wool, it offers the flexibility of a knit with great warmth. Create your own by washing double the needed amount of 100% wool jersey in hot water and drying in a hot dryer. Expect 50% shrinkage. Appropriate for jackets, vests and stuffed animals.
Broadcloth
A plain weave tightly woven fabric that is usually made from 100% cotton or a cotton blend. Most common uses are quilting and shirt-making.
Brocade
A heavy and luxurious jacquard-type fabric with an all-over raised pattern or floral design. Some woven with metalic threads. It's reversible and provide good contrast. Appropriate for upholstery, draperies, handbags and eveningwear.
Brushed
A hairy surface of the fabric created by brushing the fibres.
Burlap
A loosely constructed, heavy weight, plain weave fabric. It has a rough hand. Appropriate for draperies and decorative items.
Burn-out Velvet
Also call Devore or Cut Velvet. Created from two different fibers, such as silk back viscose, viscose pile with nylon or polyester back. The velvet is removed with chemicals in a pattern leaving the backing fabric intact. Appropriate for more unconstructed and loosely fit garments, e.g. dress, tank top, skirt & evening jackets.
Camel's Hair
A natural fiber obtained from the under-hair of the camel. It is relatively close to cashmere. Appropriate for coats and jackets. Very soft hand.
Cashmere
A natural fiber obtained from the soft fleecy undergrowth of the Kashmir goat. Most commonly used in sweaters, shawls, suits, coats, and dresses. A luxury fiber with a very soft hand.
Cationic
A method of dyeing to create a two-toned or shimmering effect.
Chambray
A plain weave cotton or cotton blend made up of colored lengthwise (warp) yarns and white crosswise (weft) yarns. These variations include checks, stripes, small figured or dobby designs.
Charmuese
A luxurios, supple silky fabric with a shiny satin face and a dull back. Generally either silk, rayon or polyester. Suitable for blouse, fuller pants and lingerie.
Checks
Formed by horizontal stripes in the weft and crossing stripes in the warp, creating right angles. They can come in even and irregular designs, repeated design in various sizes, from small bird's eye to houndstooth, dogstooth, to larger tartans and plaids and can be overchecked for extra and added effect.
Chenille
Named after the French word for caterpillar. The tufted, velvety pile resembles and comes in wool, cotton or man made fibres.
Chevron
A design made up of V-shape stripes with herringbone effect.
Chiffon
Contains highly twisted fibers, drapable, extremely sheer and airy fabric. Generally synthetic, it can be referred to many different qualities when prefaced with proper name, e.g. silk chiffon with feather-like weight. Suitable for full pants, loose tops or dresses.
Chintz
A plain weave fabric, which has been glazed to produce a polished look. Fabric must be dry-cleaned as the glazing will wash off with machine laundering. Suitable for drapes and lining.
Corduroy
A pile fabric, usually made of cotton or a cotton blend with elastane added for stretch. Utilizing a cut-pile weave construction and brushed into ribs or wales, where the size will govern the weight. The ''wale'' indicates the number of cords in one inch, Needlecord is fine rib; Pinwale or Baby wale has 16 ribs to an inch; Midwale is heavier with fewer ribs while Jumbo or wide wale is heavyweight with as little as 3 ribs per inch. Novelty corduroy refers to differing ribs while Ribless has an all over pile similar to velveteen. Suitable for jackets, pants and skirts. A denim or jeans needle is useful when sewing multiple layers.
Crepe de Chine
Silk crepe de chine has a slightly crinkly surface create with highly twisted fibers. It comes in three weights: 2 ply, appropriate for blouses and lingerie; 3 ply, appropriate for dress, fuller pants and dresses; 4 ply, most luxurious and best for trousers and jackets.
Damask
A glossy jacquard-type fabric, the patterns are flat and reversible. Unlike jacquards, the fabric is all one color. Suitable for draperies, curtains bed and table linens.
Denim
A twill weave cotton fabric made with different colored yarns in the warp and the weft. Due to the twill construction, one color predominates on the fabric surface. Suitable for pants, jackets and skirts. Pre-wash and dry 100% cotton denim at least twice to eliminate shrinkage and color bleeding
Dobby
A simplified jacquard design with small geometric patterns woven in a fabric.
Double cloth
Fabric made up of two layers of cloth, each with its own warp and weft. They can be the same on both sides or completely different or of a reversed pattern.
Double faced
A fabric contains two faces or right sides. Sometimes with a layer of filling such as wadding in between, like quilting.
Dupioni Silk
A crisp fabric with irregular slubs. It is perfect for tailored slimmer silhouettes like flat-front trousers, jackets and fitted blouses and dresses. Silk Dupioni can be machine washed in the gentle cycle and drip-dried.
Doeskin
Generally applied to fabric with a low nap that is brushed in one direction to create a soft suede-like hand on the fabric front. Great for tops, pants and fuller skirts.
Eyelet
fabric with patterned cut-outs, around which stitching or embroidery may be applied in order to prevent the fabric from raveling.
Felt
A non-woven fabric made from wool, hair, or fur, and sometimes in combination with certain manufactured fibers, where the fibers are locked together in a process utilizing heat, moisture, and pressure to form a compact material. Ideal for most craft projects.
Flannel
Usually a 100% cotton fabric that has been brushed on one or both sides for softness. Typically used for shirts and sleepwear.
Fleece
Synthetic knit fabric that stretches across the grain. Suitable for vests, jackets and tops.
Gabardine
A worsted twill weave that is wrinkle resistant. Wool gabardine is the most common and is considered year-round fabric for suits.
Gauze
A sheer, open-weave fabric usually cotton or silk. It is suitable for blouses, dresses and curtains.
Georgette
A drapey woven fabric created from highly twisted yarns creating a pebbly texture. It is semi-sheer and suitable for blouses, full pants and flowing dresses.
Interlock Knit
Also known as T-shirt knit. It usually has stretch across the grain. Great for tops, skirts and lightweight pants.
Jersey Fabric
Usually thinner or lighter-weight than Interlock knit with less stretch. It’s appropriate for tops and fuller dresses.
Knits
Synthetic stretch fibre known as Elastane. Generally categorise by the degree of stretch. Single knits (jersey, sheer mesh knit, onion skin, tricot, stretch terry, ribbing) with crosswise stretch that stretches more, less stable and tend to curl to the right side of the fabric; Double knits (interlock, velour, fleece, rachel knits, buttermilk, stretch lace) a stable knits that stretches crosswise with limited stretch, but are firm and easy to sew; Two-way stretch knits that stretch both cosswise and lengthwise, contain some elastane in the fibre blend. Well known brand names include DuPont's Lycra, also known as Spandex usually use for swimwear and sportwear with great recovery. Fibre content of knits vary from nylon, polyester blend of cotton, wool, rayon, triacetate. To get the best results from knits, sew with polyester or polyester/cotton thread with a ballpoint or universal needle of size 70 for fine knits and 80 or 90 for medium and heavy weight to prevent snags and holes. To prevent skipped stitches for very elastic 2-way stretch knits, use a stretch needle of size 75 for fine grain knit and 90 for a heavy weight knit.
Linen
A natural plant fiber, linen fibers are stronger and more lustrous than cotton. Linen can be machine washed and tumbled on low. Remove before it’s completely dry and hang for a pleasingly casual look. Depending on the weight, it’s appropriate for anything from heirloom sewing and blouses to slacks and jackets.
Melton
A heavyweight, dense, compacted, and tightly woven wool or wool blend fabric used mainly for coats.
Microfibers
An extremely fine synthetic fiber that can be woven into textiles with the texture and drape of natural-fiber cloth but with enhanced washability, breathability, and water repellancy.
Moleskin
microfiber, it’s a terrific fabric to travel with. It resists wrinkling and has a beautiful sueded look on the face. The reverse has a satiny look and feel. Generally, will contain 2-4% spandex. Great for pants, jackets and heavy shirts.
Organdy
A stiffened, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric, usually cotton or polyester.
Organza
A crisp, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric, with a medium to high yarn count, made of silk, rayon, nylon, or polyester.
Panné Velvet
A lustrous, lightweight velvet fabric, in which the pile has been flattened in one direction. Has good stretch across the grain. Appropriate for tops and dresses.
Piqué
A medium-weight cotton or cotton blend fabric with a pebbly weave that looks almost like a check. Suitable for vests, jackets and fitted blouses. Also used in children’s clothes.
Rib Knit
This knit has tremendous stretch across the grain a 1 x 1 rib has one rib up and one down. A 2 x 1 rib has two ribs up and one down, similar to a Poor Boy Knit.
Rayon
A natural fiber created from wood pulp, it usually has good drape and a soft hand. It’s appropriate for tops, shirts, skirts and dresses.
Rip-stop Nylon
A lightweight, wind resistant, and water resistant fabric. Appropriate for outdoor wear and equipment as well as outdoor flags.
Satin
With a lustrous, shiny surface, drapability depends on fiber content. Silk and rayon satins have the best stitch results.
Seersucker
A fabric with a woven pucker, this fabric is traditionally cotton, but can be polyester. Suitable for shirts, casual slacks and children’s clothing.
Silk Shantung
Similar to Dupioni silk, Shantung has a more refined appearance with smaller slubs. It’s appropriate for tailored pants fuller skirts and gowns.
Slinky Knit
It drapes well, never wrinkles and washes beautifully. It's the perfect travel fabric with four-way stretch for ultimate comfort. Suitable for almost any wardrobe item.
Stretch Wovens
Structured fabric like cotton, wool or viscose with a small percentage of elastane added on to behave like knits, to maintain the look of a traditional woven fabric with the stretch and comfort of a knit. Elastane could be added to the warp and/or filling threads where the fabric will have a one or two way stretch. Suitable for fitted suits, cropped top and pants as well as sheath dress
Taffeta
With a crisp hand, taffeta is typically used for formal wear like gowns and fuller skirts. Underlining prevents some of the wrinkling it has a tendency to have.
Tencel
Created from wood pulp, Tencel is very soft with great drape. It’s usually a medium weight fabric that suitable for pants, skirts and jackets.
Terry Cloth
Unclipped, looped pile, 100% cotton terry cloth is highly absorbent. French Terry has a looped reverse and a knit-like face.
Tulle
A lightweight, extremely fine, machine-made netting, it is softer to the touch than netting. Appropriate for veils and costumes.
Velour
Usually with a knitted back, velour resembles velvet, but has some stretch. Appropriate for tops and sportswear like pants and jackets.
Velvet
With a longer pile, velvet is the most luxurious fabric. Stretch velvet has some lycra, It can be machine washed and will not create a shine in the seat or elbows. Appropriate for tops, skirts and fuller pants.
Velveteen
A cotton or cotton blend fabric with a short, dense pile. It lacks the sheen and drape of velvet. It is perfect for drapes and home décor items as well as pants, jackets and skirts.
Voile
A crisp, lightweight, plain weave cotton-like fabric, similar in appearance to organdy and organza. It is appropriate for curtains as well as blouses and dresses.
Wool
Wool is naturally stain and wrinkle resistant. It can absorb up to 40% of it’s weight in moisture without feeling damp. Wool comes in many forms including crepe, challis, gabardine, merino, melton, jersey and worsted wool suitings.
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