Glossary
Basket Weave
A fabric with a thatched texture, that is the result of a simple weaving style that involves two or more warp ends that are woven parallel to each other.
Batiste
A plain weave fabric that is extremely fine, semi-sheer and lightweight. Usually made of cotton or cotton blends, it is almost completely transparent.
Blend
Fabrics that are a combination of two or more fibers within the same yarn. They are often made from yarns that are blended in order to increase the durability, stretch and stain resistance. Polyester/cotton is the most typical blended yarn or fabric.
Canvas
A plain weave fabric with an even weave that is made from plied yarns. Known for being extremely durable.
Cellulose
A natural material that is derived from cell walls of specific plants. Often used in the production of vegetable fibers, Cellulose is also a major component in raw materials used to produce the fibers that are manufactured and used in acetate, rayon, and triacetate.
Chenille
A fuzzy yarn with a pile which resembles a caterpillar. Used mainly for decorative fabrics, embroidery, tassels, and rugs. Sometimes used broadly to define a fabric woven from chenille yarns.
Cotton
Derived from the soft fibers that grow around the seeds of the cotton plant, cotton is a natural fiber. Considered the most widely used natural-fiber materials in the world, cotton fibers are spun into yarns that create comfortable, breathable and machine-washable fabrics.
Damask
Named for luxurious silk fabrics introduced through the fabric trade in Damascus, Syria, damask is typically used for draperies and home décor. Usually made using a satin weave, this reversible fabric is heavy, and made from cotton, silk, linen, wool or synthetic yarns.
Dupioni Silk
Fabric that is made with silk yarns created from the cocoon of two nested together silk worms. When the silk is spun, the double-strand does not get separated, which creates uneven yarns that give the fabric irregular slubs within the crisp texture.
Embroidery
The art or process of forming decorative designs by sewing thread into a base fabric, either by hand or machine needlework.
Face
The side of the fabric that is considered to be the better-looking, or right, side.
Fiber
This is the basic entity that is either natural or manufactured, which is twisted into yarn and used in the production of fabric.
Flame Resistant
A term used to describe fabric that has the ability to self-extinguish upon the removal of an external flame, or a fabric that burns slowly.
Flame Retardant
A chemical that is incorporated into the fibers of a fabric at the time of production, or applied to the fabric, which greatly reduces the flammability of the fabric.
Flax
The natural fiber, grown chiefly in Western and Eastern Europe that is used in the production of linen.
French Toile
French toile is any linen or cotton fabric which has a detailed design printed on it in a single color. The background of toile fabric is typically white or cream in color, while the overlaying print can be any other color. The design is usually floral or pastoral. The term toile is a French word which means cloth. It is a shortened form of the phrase "toile de Jouy" which refers to a specific type of fabric produced exclusively by a factory located near Versailles, France.
Herringbone
A twill weave pattern in a zig-zag style.
Jacobean
Jacobean is a woven fabric that dates back to the seventeenth century. These woven designs often feature stylized floral patterns, fruits, small animals and birds. Jacobean prints are strong and durable and most commonly used for upholstery projects, draperies and small accessories such as footstools, ottomans and accent pillows.
Jacquard
A fabric that involves a weaving method which uses a machine attached to a loom that electronically selects and controls individual warp threads. A Jacquard loom is used to create intricately woven fabrics like, Brocades and Damasks. Silk, polyester and rayon are fabrics commonly used in the Jacquard process.
Linen
One of the oldest textile fibers, Linen is a natural fabric that is made from fibers taken from a flax plant. Linen fabrics are much stronger and more lustrous than cotton fabrics, and are also very cool and absorbent. Unless they are blended with manufactured fibers, linen fabrics tend to wrinkle very easily.
Matelassé
Made in a double cloth construction, matelassé is a medium to heavyweight fabric that has a blistered or quilted surface.
Nylon
An abrasion-resistant, thermoplastic material that blends well with natural fibers for durability and stretch. Nylon is a synthetic fiber that is strong, elastic and quick-drying.
Olefin (aka polyolefin and polypropylene)
A fiber that is manufactured, and is characterized by its high-strength, light weight, and abrasion resistance. Also good at transporting moisture, and creating a wicking action.
Paisley
A swirled pattern named for the town of Paisley, Scotland, which was a major producer of fabric in the early to mid-19th century. Paisley patterns can often be found on light, summery clothing, quilts and curtains.
Polyester
A strong, synthetic textile that holds its shape well and does not wrinkle. The low absorbency of Polyester allows the fiber to dry quickly.
Rayon
A fabric that is made from regenerated cellulose fiber viscose, and is derived from wood pulp, cotton linters or other vegetable matter. It usually has good drape, soft hand and is highly absorbent.
Sateen
A lustrous, silky satin weave fabric. Sateen often has an increased thread count, which adds extra softness and durability.
Satin
A smooth, lustrous, shiny fabric with a dull back that has a superb drape and sheen. Satin is characterized by a weaving technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. Satin differs from sateen in that it is woven using filament fibers like silk or nylon, whereas sateen fabrics are woven using short-staple fibers like cotton.
Shantung
This medium-weight, refined, plain-weave fabric is characterized by a slubbed effect, similar to Dupioni silk, but with a more sophisticated and polished appearance.
Sheer Fabric
A fabric that is semi-transparent and can be treated to have varying levels of body or crispness. Sheer fabrics can be used as volumizers underneath other fabrics, like draperies, or as sleeves for eveningwear.
Silk
The fabric is woven using the natural filament fiber produced by the silkworm in the construction of its cocoon. Silk is a naturally strong, lustrous, and fine fiber that produces long-lasting, versatile, and high-quality multi-purpose fabrics.
Synthetic
A man-made fiber that has been created through the use of chemical combination. Fibers that are synthetic often have a greater strength, resistance to the elements and increased durability.
Twill
Distinguishable by a soft, smooth finish and diagonal ribs on its face, twill is an incredibly versatile fabric. Other examples of twill fabrics include gabardine, serge, and denim.
Warp
The threads in a fabric or on a loom that run vertically.
Weave
The manner in which a fabric is produced, utilizing methods of combining the warp and weft threads. The type of weave affects the strength, stretch, sheen and weight of a fabric. The basic types of weaves are plain, twill and satin.
Weft
The threads in a fabric or on a loom that run horizontally.
Viscose
Typically referred to as rayon, Viscose is a man-made synthetic fiber. It has a silken, smooth feel and a good drape, and is often used for bridal garments or linings.
Voile
This plain, loosely woven fabric has an extremely clear surface due to excess fuzzy yarns that are singed away. Voile is usually made with cylindrical combed yarns, and is a thin, semi-transparent and very lightweight fabric that resembles an organdy or organza in appearance.
Yarn
Yarn is the basic component of fabrics, and is also referred to as thread. It can be composed of a long, single fiber or of twisted natural or synthetic fibers.