Fabric Types Flashcards
- Made from the pulp of bamboo grass. More sustainable than most textile fibers.
- Light and strong with
excellent wicking
properties. - Anti-bacterial to some
extent.
Bamboo Fabric
- Small geometric
pattern with a center
dot resembling a bird’s
eye. - Woven on a dobby loom.
- Very soft, lightweight and absorbent.
Birdseye
2 or more fabric layers
held together with
adhesive or a fusible
layer.
Bonded
- Fabric that simulates the bark of trees. Printed with large vines, leaves and florals.
- Popular in the 30s - 40s
- Draperies, slipcovers, and home furnishings.
Bark Cloth
- Brushed with wire
brushes to pull the
material together and
fluff it up.
- End fabric has a looped, soft pile with large air pockets that serve as insulating properties.
- Wicks moisture away
from the surface. - Can be compared to
fur because of its softness
Berber Fleece
- French word for
“buckled”.
- Fabric has a ring appearance formed by drawn-out loop yarns on the face of the goods.
- Kinky appearance.
Boucle’
- A cord cotton-like
fabric with raised
edges in the
lengthwise direction. - Has high strength and
durability used for
upholstery and work
clothes.
Bedford Cord
- Sturdy warp-faced
fabric with pronounced crosswise ribs formed by
bulky and coarse pile
yarns. - Originated in Bengal,
India.
Bengaline
- Mercerized; made of
cotton or cotton
blends. - Named for Jean
Baptiste.
Batiste
Cotton fabric with a
printed design of
white and a
contrasting color
Bandana
- A rich Jacquard woven fabric of an all-over interwoven design of raised figures of flowers with the pattern emphasized by contrasting surfaces or colors done in low relief.
- Derived from the
French word meaning
to ornament.
Brocade
- A ply yarn scrim fabric
with a stiff finish. - Used for interlinings
in garments.
Buckram
- Twill weave cotton
denim fabric that is
soft but as tough as
nails. - More durable and
heavier than regular
denim.
Bull Denim
- A plain weave coarse
fabric made from jute
or hemp. - Used as carpet
backing.
Burlap / Gunny
- Tightly woven jacquard fabric with a warp effect in the figure giving a puffed appearance.
- Heavy fabric with high
relief.
Brocatelle
- One of the oldest
cotton staples from
Calcutta, India. - Plain, closely woven,
inexpensive cloth with
an all-over print.
- Usually have small floral patterns which is resist printed onto a while or contrasting background.
Calico
- Soft and white cotton
that is calendared to
produce a slight gloss. - Originated in Cambrai,
France.
Cambric
- Twill which is brushed
to produce a soft nap
at the back. - Heavy , warm, strong
and absorbent. - Named after Canton,
China.
Canton Flannel
- A rugged, heavy
material made from
plyed yarns. - Has an even weave
that is heavy and firm
for heavy duty
purposes.
Canvas
- Softest fabrics made.
- Very lightweight with
a printed delicate
floral pattern. - Named from AngloIndian term, shalee, meaning “soft”.
Challis
Made from cotton fibers with blue warp and white filling that gives a mottled colored surface.
Chambray
Broken twill creating a
design of wide V’s
across the width of
the fabric.
Chevron
Strong fabric inspire
of its gauzelike, soft,
flimsy appearance.
Chiffon
- Resin glazed, can withstand washing, cotton fabric printed with bright figures and large flower designs.
- Named from the
Hindu word meaning
spotted.
Chintz
- Woven from chenille
yarns and has a fuzzy
pile that looks hairy. - Named from the
French word meaning
caterpillar.
Chenille
Fabrics that have been coated with a lacquer or other substance to make them longer lasting or impervious to liquids.
Coated
- A cut pile cloth with narrow to wide wales that run in the warp direction of the goods.
- Warmest cotton fabric
because of the wales
that serve as insulated
cushion of air.
Corduroy
A lightweight fabric characterized by a crinkly surface produced by hard twist yarns.
Crepe
- Chain stitch embroidery made with fine, loosely-twisted - two-ply worsted yarn on a plain weave cotton fabric.
- Imperfections, dirt
spots and natural
black specks identifies as its genuine type
Crewel
Fabric with uneven surface created by the use of caustic soda that causes it to shrink unevenly.
Crinkle
Any fabric that has been treated to have a permanently crinkled, crushed or rumpled appearance.
Crushed
- Lightweight, plain,
weave, stiffened
fabric with a low yarn
count. - From the French crinol
meaning horsehair
and lin for linen, stiff.
Crinoline
Any fabric that has been treated to have a permanently crinkled, crushed or rumpled appearance.
Crushed
Any velvet with an
irregular pattern of
nap going in different
directions.
Crushed Velvet
- A firm, glossy Jacquard patterned fabric similar to brocade but flatter and reversible.
- 1st brought to the
Western by Marco
Polo from Damascus.
Damask
- A rugged, serviceable,
staple cotton cloth
recognized by lefthand twill on the
surface.
- Originally used for work clothes. Jeans refer to the end material of processed denim.
Denim
- Thin, sheer cloth in
which cords or stripes
may be woven into
the fabric. - Has a crisp texture
and is used for
bedspreads.
Dimity
- Sheer fabric
embellished with small
dot motifs that may
vary in color. - From Saint Galen,
Switzerland.
Dotted Swiss
- Closely woven, heavy
material and the most
durable fabric made. - Made of cotton.
- Heavier weights are
called canvass.
Duck
- A ribbed soft cloth
with a crosswise rib
effect. - Belongs to the
grosgrain family.
Faille
- Compact, matted
woolen material. - Named from the
Anglo-Saxon word
meaning to filter.
Felt
Printed or woven
fabric featuring a
jagged, undulating,
flame-like multicolored pattern.
Flame Stitch
Medium-weight fabric that has a very soft hand, brushed on both sides to lift the fiber ends out of the base fabric and create a soft fuzzy surface.
Flannel
A type of raised decoration applied to the surface of the fabric which an adhesive is printed on the fabric in a specific pattern.
Flocked
Lightweight cloth
noted for its soft finish
and feel. Printed with
small figures.
Foulard
Made with uncut
loops with varying
heights.
Frieze
- Firm, durable, compactly woven cloth which has a diagonal line on the face.
- Named for a cloak
popular during the
Middle Ages.
Gabardine
Thin sheer fabric used
for curtains next to
glass windows to
diffuse light.
Gauze
- Dyed yarns introduced at given intervals in both warp and filling to achieve a block or check effect.
- Named from Italian
ging-gang meaning
striped.
Gingham
- Fine loosely woven
fabric in leno weave. - known for its stiffness
Grenadine
- Strong, closely-woven
corded fabric usually
of silk or rayon or
cotton. - Has a heavy
prominent ribbed
fabric.
Grosgrain
- From the Japanese
meaning soft as down.
Lightweight plain
weave silk fabric. - Even lighter than the
shantung.
Habotai
Woven, multi-colored
effect created by
blending fibers of
different colors.
Heather
- Very stiff wiry cloth
made with a single
horsehair filling.
- 26' (66.04 cm) maximum width determined by the length of the horsehair
Haircloth
- Broken twill weave composed of vertical sections that are alternately right angle in direction.
- Also called Arrowhead
weave
Herringbone
Broken twill weave
forming four pointed
star.
Houndstooth
Style of weaving that uses a resist dyeing process on either the warp or weft before threads are woven to create a pattern.
Ikat
Dyed warp and weft
yarns.
Double Ikat
Fabric that seems to
change color as the
light strikes it.
Iridescent
- Fabric in which metallic threads are interspersed throughout the base construction.
- From the French
meaning worked with
gold and silver wire.
Lame’
A term used to describe fabrics which have been joined together through the use of a high-strength reinforcing scrim.
Laminated
Light, thin cloth of
plain weave with a
crisp and crease
resistant finish,
Lawn
A jacquard strip fabric
simulating silk and
embroidery.
Lisserie
- Fine firm cotton cloth
with a plain weave
background. - True madras bleed
when washed.
Madras
Lightweight open mesh cloth of leno or double weave used for mosquito nets.
Marquisette
Very coarse yarn that
is rough, substantial,
bulky and has a
tendency to sag.
Monk’s Cloth
- Soft, double cloth
which has a quilted
surface effect woven
on Jacquard looms. - Named from the
French word meaning
cushioned or padded.
Matelasse’
- Heavily felted, hard,
plain, face-finished
cloth. Napped and
very closely sheared. - Originally meant as a
hunting cloth in
Leicestershire
England.
Melton
- Net-like open
appearance. - Typically
seen in office chairs. - Herman Miller was the
1st to release office
chairs with mesh.
Mesh
- Generic term for a
variety of cotton
fabrics. - From the French term
mousseline meaning
smooth delicately
woven cotton fabric.
Muslin
Fine, soft fabric with a
plain weave usually
mercerized to
produce luster.
Nainsook
Smooth, transparent
high textured fabric
made in plain or
novelty weaves.
Ninon
- Fiber from cotton,
very light, thin, stiff,
transparent and wiry
cloth. - for barongs
Organdie
- Tough medium to
heavy weight coarsely
woven plain weave
fabric.
- Medium weight is used for bags, sacks and pipe coverings while heavy weight is used for mattress, slipcovers.
Osnaburg
Tightly woven plain
weave ribbed fabric
with a hard slightly
lustered surface.
Ottoman
Soft, porous stout
fabric with a silk-like
luster finish that soils
easily.
Oxford
- Named from the
French word for
plush. - Satin-faced material
made with a high
luster by a roller pressure treatment
during finishing. - Resembles velvet but
has a longer pile.
Panne’
Low to medium count,
180-250 threads per
square inch. Common
for bed sheets.
Percale
A medium weight
fabric with raised
cords that run in the
warp direction.
Pique
Fabric treated with a
caustic soda solution
that creates crinkles
or pleated effect.
Plisse’
Dull surfaced net with
various sized holes.
Has white or colored
dots.
Point D’ Esprit
- A warp pile cloth
covered with a surface
of cut-pile yarns. - From the term
peluche by way of the
Latin pilus meaning
hair. - Pile is more than 1/8”
Plush
Combed and carded
fabric that has been
calendared to produce
a high-luster finish.
Polished Cotton
- Thin, natural, tan colored silk fabric made of wild Chinese silk with knotty rough weave.
- Named from Chinese
punk-ki meaning
woven at home on
one’s own loom.
Pongee
- Fine rib effect in the
filling direction from
selvage to selvage. - Named from the
obsolete French term
papeline.
Poplin
Similar to poplin but
has a more distinctive
crossrib cord.
Rep
Plain weave fabric
where majority of the
face is composed of
warp threads.
Sail Cloth
Woven cloth with
errors or flaws.
Seconds
- Fabric made from silk
yarns. - Very smooth lustrous
effect while the back
of the material is dull.
Satin
Fabric made from cotton yarns. Produced by floating fill yarns over warp yarns.
Sateen
- High-grade coating
fabric made from
Merino sheep wool. - From Saxony,
Germany. - Name for a soft
woolen cloth with
elaborate yarn effects.
Saxony
An open mesh, plain weave cloth in several
construction and
weights
Scrim
A lightweight cloth in which a base warp lies flat and second warp becomes crinkled because of the chemical treatment
Seersucker
- One of the oldest basic terms in textiles.
- Has diagonal lines or ridges on both sides
- Implies any smooth faced cloth made with
a 2 up and 2 down
twill weave.
Serge
- Silk fabric made of
several fibers but
designated by an
elongated filling yarn. - Named from the city
of Shantung, China. - Uses raw silk made from Tussah
Shantung
Made from a small twill weave and has a smooth compact surface resembling the skin of a shark.
Sharkskin
- Plain-weave corded
cloth which comes in
light, medium or
heavy weights. - Muslin, low thread
count. - Percale180 thread
count.
Sheeting
- Fabric that has an
iridescent look and a
crisp but not stiff
hand. - Made of two different colored yarns, rayon or
polyester blend.
Shimmer
- Fabrics developed to provide greater freedom of body movement for the athlete.
- Good surface texture, durable and moisture absorbent. Fabric will return to original shape.
Stretch Woven
Soft, twill-woven silk
or rayon fabric often
made in plain effects.
Surah
Fine, sheer, crisp, stiff
cloth which may be
plain, dotted or
figured.
Swiss
- Fine, plain weave fabric that is smooth on both sides and usually sheen on its surface.
- Colors seem
changeable. - Named from the
Persian fabric taftan.
Taffeta
- Cloth made in plain
weave or 2 up and 2
down twill weave. - Multi-colored fabric
associated with
Scottish clans. - Originated from Spain
and was called tiritana.
Tartan
Uncut loops on both
sides of the fabrics
which makes it very
absorbent.
Terry Cloth
Term for extremely
strong woven fabrics
used for covering
pillows, mattresses.
Ticking
- Made from 100% micro
fiber polyester. - Light weight fabric
that is extremely
strong.
Tissue Faille
- Durable heavy poplin
made of polyester and
cotton blend.
- Considered a utility cloth used for table cloths, chair covers, unifroms and flags or banners.
Trigger
- Rough, irregular, soft,
flexible, unfinished
shaggy cloth. - Named for the Tweed
River which separates
England from
Scotland. - One of the oldest and
most popular
outerwear fabrics.
Tweed
- World’s first ultra microfiber.
Feels like natural
suede. - It is resistant to stains
and discoloration and
ages better than real
suede.
Ultrasuede
- Term applied to cutpile cloths in general.
- Fabrics with fine
raised finish. - Named from the
French term meaning
velvet. - Has a lower cut pile
than velvet.
Velour
Warp-pile cloth in which a succession of rows of short cut pile stand so close together to give a uniform surface.
Velvet
- Filling pile cloth that
has a pile made by
cutting an extra set of
filling yarns usually made of cotton. - Type of imitation velvet, has a firm hand and slightly sloping pile.
Velveteen
- Crisp, lightweight,
plain weave cottonlike fabric made with high twist yarns in a high yarn count
construction. - Cloth is made from
gassed yarns. - Derived from French
term meaning veil.
Voile
- Fabric with a
characteristic of a
honeycomb weave. - “Waffle Pique” when waffle is made in cotton.
Waffle
- Fabrics that have been
laundered before
shipping. - Done to reduce
shrinkage.
Washed
- Cloth made from
cross-bred yarns. - Fabric is strongly
colored with a highly
raised lustrous finish.
Zibeline
