Fabric Terms

Drape: Drape is used to characterize a fabric even before its sewn. “The degree to which a fabric falls into graceful folds when hung or arranged in different positions.

Fiber Content: The type and amount of fiber(s) used in making a textile product. Fiber content refers also to fabrics that are non-wovens.
Ex: 56% polyester, 44% cotton. The total will always equal 100%.

Flocked: When a base cloth fabric has a raised pattern of fibers applied to it with an adhesive. The pattern will resemble a fuzzy or velvet like look.

Print: Design formed by colorants applied to fabric with stencils, rollers, wooden blocks, screens and lasers.

Repeat: Intervals at which the pattern is duplicated vertically and horizontally. One repeat is a full pattern. This is an important factor in how many yards to buy.

Sheen: A slight luster or shine. May appear to be satin and change colors slightly in different lights.

Weave:
The various ways yarns are woven together to give a particular fabric a unique appearance or texture.Ex: plain, twill, basket, jacquard.

Width:
The more common industry term used to refer to the width is weft, although width is more understandable. It is the distance from selvage to selvage 54 inches is the most standard width.

Weight:
How heavy or thick the fabric is. Here are some common fabric weights.
• Tapestry is considered a heavy weight fabric.
• Cotton and poly blends are considered medium weight
• Silks and delicate fabrics are considered light weight.
There could be a lightweight or heavyweight blend of any of the above mentioned weights.

Fabric - Categories

Cotton:
A natural fiber derived from the cotton seed.

Faux Suede:
A fabric made primarily of polyester bonded together to give the appearance and feel of suede.

Linen:
A natural fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant.

Lycra:
The elastic fiber made by DuPont. This fiber adds stretch and comfort to many clothing fabrics.

Polyester:
A man made (synthetic) fiber.

Post-consumer Recylcled Polyester:
These fabrics are made from products used by and recycled by consumers.

Rayon:
A fiber composed of regenerated cellulose, derived from wood pulp, cotton linters, or other vegetable matter.

Sateen:
A weave construction that has more yarn surface on the face (right side)
of the cloth than other basic weaves giving a softer hand and more
lustrous look.

Shantung:
A rough, plain weave fabric made of uneven yarns to produce a textured effect.

Taffeta:
A plain weave fabric that possesses a fine, smooth, crisp, and either lustrous or dull face

Utility:
A heavy weight fabric made using the denier system which is a measuring system of the weight of a continuous filament fiber. Our Utility fabrics are made by Dupont under the brand name Cordura. Cordura nylon is a 1000 denier weave that is well-known for its durability. Cordura also has a stain resistant coating making it ideal for heavy-use bags.

Velour:
A medium-weight, closely-woven fabric with a thick pile. It can be made using either a plain weave or a satin weave construction. It resembles velvet, but has a lower cut pile.

Velvet:
A fabric woven on a special loom. It is a tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, giving it its distinctly soft feel. Velvet can be made from many different fibers, both natural and synthetic.

Viscose:
A type of rayon with a soft and silky feel made from a cellulose solution.

Fabric - Construction

Basket weave:
A weave structure similar to plain weave, but instead of one thread used in the warp and weft there are two or three.

Boucle:
A fabric with a looped or knotted texture.

Damask:
A flatter reversible version of a jacquard. Can be made of any fiber.

Denim:
A twill weave cotton fabric, typically in indigo color.

Embroidered:
An embellishment on top of a fabric where various colored yarns are sewn to make a design.

Felted:
A process of compressing fibers into a sheet, creates a soft hand.

Matelasse:
A double weave cloth giving a “pouch” or quilted look.

Plain Weave:
A simple weave in which each warp thread interlaces over and under each weft thread.

Quilted:
Layers of fabric held together by sewing a pattern over it.

Ribbed:
A fabric with raised ridges running parallel to one another.

Tapestry:
A woven fabric with a complex design, mostly pictures telling a story.

Tweed:
A weave that has a rough hand and appears slubby or unfinished.