Search results for "plain"
plain weave
Plain weave, the best known and most basic form of weaving, is made by passing the filling
thread over and under one
warp thread in alternating rows.
art linen
A medium-weight
linen or blended fabric which is plain-woven. Normally used for
embroidery, dresses, uniforms, table
linens, and other types of embroidered items.
batiste
A fabric named for Jean Baptiste, a French
linen weaver. (1) In
cotton, a
sheer, fine
muslin, woven of combed yarns and given a mercerized finish. It is used for blouses, summer shirts, dresses,
lingerie, infants’ dresses, bonnets, and handkerchiefs. (2) A
rayon, polyester, or
cotton-blend fabric with the same characteristics. (3) A smooth, fine
wool fabric that is lighter than challis, and similar to fine nun’s veiling. It is used for dresses and negligees. (4) A
sheer silk fabric either plain or figured, similar to
silk mull. It is often called “batiste de soie” and is made into summer dresses.
broadcloth
Although the term broadcloth originally meant any fabric made on a
loom of a certain width, it now means a fine, tightly woven fabric with a faint
rib. Originally, it was made of mercerized
cotton, but today the term is used to desc
ribe several dissimilar fabrics made with different
fibers, weaves, and finishes. (1) Originally, a
silk shirting fabric so named because it was woven in widths exceeding the usual twenty-nine inches. (2) A plainweave, tightly woven, high-count
cotton fabric, with fillingwise
rib finer than poplin. Best grades are made of combed pima or Egyptian
cotton, usually with high
thread counts (136x60 or 144x76). The fabrics are usually mercerized, sanforized, and given a soft lustrous finish, and are used for women’s blouses, tailored summer dresses, and men’s shirts. (3) A closely woven, medium-weight
wool cloth with a smooth nap, velvety feel, and lustrous appearance. Wool broadcloth can be made with a two-up-and-two-down
twill weave or
plain weave. In setting up a
loom to make the fabric, the
loom is
threaded wide to allow for a large amount of shrinkage during the filling process. The fabric takes its name from this wide
threading. High-quality
wool broadcloth is fine enough for garments that are closely molded to the figure or draped. Its high-
luster finish makes it an elegant cloth. Wool broadcloth is ten to sixteen ounces per yard and is now being made in
chiffon weights. (4) A fabric made from
silk or man-made
filament fiber yarns and woven in a
plain weave with a fine crosswise
rib obtained by using a heavier filling than
warp yarn.
butcher rayon
A coarse
rayon, or
rayon and
acetate blend, mediumweight fabric woven in a
plain weave and originally intended as a substitute for butcher
linen.
butcher’s linen
Strong, heavy,
plain weave fabric, originally of
linen (and originally worn by butchers), now made of any
fiber.
calico
A smooth-surfaced,
plain weave cloth. Today, the term is almost always applied to fabric with bright, sharply contrasting, usually small-print designs. Calico is usually woven, although calico prints may appear on knits. Calico is a traditionally popular fabric for patchwork. It is also used for dresses,
sportswear, and aprons.
cambric
A closely woven,
plain weave, white fabric that is fini
shed with a slightly glossy surface. The fabric is traditionally made from
cotton or
linen, but can be made from any
fiber. It was formerly used in underwear and handkerchiefs, but today its major uses are to reinforce book bindings and to upholster the underside of chairs and sofas. Very low count, heavily sized glazed cambric is used for costuming.
canvas
A heavy, strong, usually
plain weave fabric that historically was made of
flax,
hemp, or
cotton. Today, it is usually made of
cotton, but some fabrics made of
man-made fibers or blends are also called canvas. Canvas is, roughly speaking, heavier than
duck or
sailcloth although the three names are often used interchangeably. The unbleached fabric is used for coat fronts, lapels, and linings of men’s suits. Hair canvas for interlinings is made of goat’s hair and
wool. See
duck and
sailcloth.
chalfis
One of the softest fabrics made, it is named for the AngloIndian term shalee, meaning soft. lt is a fine, light-weight, plain-weave fabric, usually made of
wool,
cotton, or
man-made fibers. Challis was traditionally printed with vivid floral patterns on dark grounds or with paisley designs, but now is produced in darker tones of allover prints and solid colors, in the finest quality fabrics. lt is normally used for neckties, dresses, blouses, scarves, bed jackets, and infants’ sacques.
chambray
(1) A plain-woven fabric with an almost square count (80x76), a colored
warp, and a white filling, that gives a mottled, colored surface. The fabric is named for Cambrai, France, where it was first made for sunbonnets. Although chambray is traditionally woven, the look itself is so popular it is imitated in
knitting. It is similar in appearance to
denim but much lighter in weight. It is used for women’s and children’s summer dresses and men’s shirts. (2) A
cotton print cloth made of
yarn-dyed
yarns that can also be woven in patterns and woven in stripes. (3) A similar but carded-
yarn fabric used for work clothes and children’s play clothes. See
denim.
China silk
China
silk is a lightweight and soft fabric. This plain-weave
silk fabric is used for
lingerie and soft suits. Nowadays, China
silk has been replaced almost completly with
lining fabrics of
man-made fibers.
chine
This French word, meaning speckled, is used for fabrics in which the
warp threads are printed before weaving whereas the filling threads are left plain, giving a shadowy effect to the fini
shed fabric.
chintz
Any closely woven, plain-weave, glazed
cotton and blends of polyester
cotton fabric, often printed in bright designs, which are most often floral. It is used for draperies, slipcovers, bedspreads, upholstery, and now mens’ and boys’ shirts, and ladies’ and girls’ dresses.
cretonne
A plain-weave, carded
cotton fabric, usually printed with large designs. Cretonne is unglazed, and is used for draperies, slipcovers, and other home furnishings.
Donegal tweed
Originally a thick
woolen homespun fabric woven by hand by Irish peasants in County Donegal, Ireland. Today, the term is used to refer to any tweed in
plain weave characterized by thick, colorful slubs woven into the fabric. See tweed.
duck
Originally, a fabric lighter in weight than
canvas. Today, the terms are synonymous. A durable plain-weave, closely woven
cotton, generally made of ply yarns, in a variety of weights and
thread counts. It is used for uniforms, belts, awnings, tents, and sails. See
canvas.
foulard
A lightweight, soft, plain- or
twill-weave fabric made of
silk, mercerized
cotton,
rayon,
acetate, or thin worsted
wool. Foulard has a high
luster on the face and dull on the reverse side. It is often printed, and the patterns range from simple polka dots to small, allover elaborate designs on light or dark grounds. It is also made in plain and solid colors. Foulard has a characteristic hand that can be described as light, firm, and supple. It is used for spring and summer dresses, scarves, robes, and neckties, and frequently sold as
surah.
gauze
A thin,
sheer, open, loosely woven, plain-weave
cotton fabric with widely spaced yarns, used for diapers and surgical dressings. It can also be made of
wool,
silk,
rayon, or other
man-made fibers. Some weights are stiffened for curtains, trimmings of dresses, and other decorative or apparel purposes.
grass cloth
A plain-weave, loosely woven fabric made from such fibers as
hemp,
ramie, and even nettle. Today, true grass cloth is relatively rare, but the appearance of grass cloth is copied in wallpaper and fabrics of
man-made fibers.
holland
A plain-weave fabric used in the home primarily for window
shades.
homespun
Originally, fabrics made from yarns spun by hand. Today, homespun is used for fabrics that imitate this look. It is a very coarse, rough, plain-weave fabric, loosely woven with irregular, tightly twisted, and nubby, unevenly spun yarns. It is made from
linen,
wool,
cotton, or man-made
fiber, or blends in varied colors and is used for coats, suits,
sportswear, draperies, upholstery, and slipcovers.
Indian muslin
Muslin is the name for a very large group of plain-weave fabrics originally made of
cotton. Most
muslin used for purposes other than sheets is unbleached, which means that bits of trash, usually appearing as brown flecks, add color to the fabric. Occasionally, unbleached
muslin becomes popular in fashion, even for wedding gowns. Indian
muslin is a very fine
muslin from India, often printed with gold and silver and is an expensive luxury fabric. See
muslin, trash, and flecks
jersey
A
single knit fabric with plain
stitches on the right side and purl
stitches on the back. A
weft-knitted
rayon,
acetate, or two-bar
tricot-knitted
rayon or
acetate used for slips, gowns, and blouses. Jersey is also made of
wool,
cotton,
silk, nylon, or blends of the newer synthetics. As an elastic knitted
wool fabric, usually in stockinette
stitch, jersey was first made on the Island of Jersey off the English coast and used for fisherman’s clothing. [t is also used for blouses, dresses, and basque shirts. The word jersey is also occasionally used as a synonym for any knit. See
knitting,
single knit, and purl knit.
you will find a wide selection of
jersey fabrics at jerseyfabrics.net.
rib knit
A knit that consists of groups of alternate plain and purl stitches (the reverse of a plain knit with loops showing). Rib knit fabrics are stretchier and have a snugger fit than plain knits. Rib knit is frequently used at wrists, waists, and necklines of plain or patterned knit garments where it is called
ribbing.
single knit
Single knit, made on a
weft knitting ma
chine, is another term for plain knit
lawn
A light, well-hackled
linen fabric first made in haon, France. Now, it is a lightweight, fairly
sheer, fine, plain-weave
cotton or
linen muslin fabric generally more
sheer and with a higher count than nainsook. It can be given a soft or crisp finish and is sized and calendered to produce a soft, lustrous appearance. Linen lawn is synonymous with handkerchief
linen. Cotton lawn is a similar type of fabric. Lawn is slightly stiffer than
batiste, but can be used for similar purposes. [t is white, solid colored, or printed and is used tot dresses, blouses, curtains,
lingerie, and as a base for embroidered items. See
batiste, nainsook, and handkerchief
linen.
moss crepe
Officially, moss
crepe is made in a plain or
dobby weave with
rayon yarns that produce the moss-like effect. In practice, however, the term refers to any
crepe, including polyester, considered to have a moss-like surface. See weaving.
mousseline de soie
Literally, “
muslin of
silk.” The words de soie mean “of
silk” which may explain why the fabric, similar to this made from
man-made fibers is usually called mousse
line. Mousse
line de soie (
silk organdy) is a lightweight,
sheer, plainweave
silk fabric similar to
chiffon in its appearance and uses, but a little crisper.
muslin
The name for a large group of plain-weave fabrics, originally made of
cotton.
rib weave
A
plain weave that forms ridges in a fabric through the way in which it is woven or by the use of thicker yarns for the filling than those used tot the
warp. See weaving, filling, and
warp.
ribbing
Rib knit that is used at wrists, waists, and necklines of plain or patterned knit garments. See
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rib knit.
sailcloth
Originally, a firmly woven
cotton canvas used for making sails. Today, sailcloth is a very heavy, strong, plain-weave fabric made of
cotton,
linen,
jute, nylon, or palyester. It comes in many qualities and weights. In common usage, the terms
duck, sailcloth, and
canvas often are used interchangeably. Sailcloth can be used for
sportswear, slipcovers and upholstery, and curtains and draperies. See
canvas and
duck.
scrim
An open, plain-weave,
mesh fabric used for curtains,
bunting, and as a supporting fabric for some laminated fabrics. Scrim was traditionally made of
cotton, but today usually is made of nylon or other
man-made fibers. See
bunting.
sharkskin
(1) A heavy weight, fairly lustrous
cotton,
linen,
silk, or man-made
fiber fabric with a sleek, hard-fini
shed, crisp, and pebbly surface and a chalky
luster. Today, it is almost always made of
acetate or tri
acetate. Filament yarns, when used, are twisted and woven tightly in a plain-weave or basket-weave construction, depending on the effect desired. Staple
fiber yarns are handled in the same manner, except for
wool. Sharkskin is best known in its stark white color especially popular for tennis outfits and for permanently pleated white skirts when they are in fashion. (2) A
wool fabric in
twill weave, originally made of yarns of two colors.
pongee
A plain-weave, fairly lightweight
silk fabric with a slight slub to the yarns. Today, the terms
Honan and pongee are used interchangeably for fabrics with this
texture, but made from man-made fabrics.
silk broadcloth
A soft spun-
silk fabric in
plain weave, used for shirts, blouses, and sports dresses.
stockinette stitch
In hand
weft knitting, characterized by vertical wales on the face and horizontal courses on the back of the fabric. See plain
stitch.
taffeta
A fine,
yarn-dyed, closely woven, plain-weave, smooth on both sides, stiffened fabric with a crisp feel and a sheen on its surface. Taffeta was originally made of
silk, but is also made of
rayon,
cotton,
acetate, or other
man-made fibers. lt is named for the Persian fabric "taftan". The
rustle of
silk taffeta is called
scroop, and it may be a solid color, printed or woven so that the colors appear
iridescent. A list of the most common types of taffeta follows. lt is used for dresses, blouses, ribbons, draperies, bedspreads, and curtains. See
scroop.
cotton thread
Formerly the most common
thread, but difficult to find today. lt is usually made in two types. A plain
thread with a dull surface is called basting
thread. Mercerized
cotton thread has a shiny surface that enables it to slide smoothly through fabric and is suggested for general purpose sewing. Polyester
thread has replaced
cotton thread to a large extent. See
mercerization.
tufted fabric
"A fabric ornamented with soft, fluffy, slackly twisted ply yarns (usually
cotton). Most tufts are inserted by needles into a woven fabric, such as unbleached
muslin,
textured cotton, and
rayon plain-weave cloth. When tufts are spaced (as coin dots), a bed
spread is called candlewick
unbleached muslin
A
cotton plain-weave printcloth fabric in grey goods and lightweight sheetings, used for ironing board covers, dust covers, and dust cloths.
velvet rug
A floor covering woven on a plain harness
loom with Cut pile. It has solid color or printed pile.
voile
A
sheer, transparent, low-count, crisp or soft, lightweight, plain-weave
muslin with a thready feel, made of highly twisted yarns. lt can be comprised of
wool,
cotton,
silk,
rayon, polyester, or other
man-made fibers. Voile is especially popular when made of
cotton or blends for summer wear and is often printed to match heavier fabrics. Voile is used for clothing, especially for blouses and summer dresses, and for curtains and similar items.
plain weave
Plain weave, the best known and most basic form of weaving, is made by passing the filling
thread over and under one
warp thread in alternating rows.
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