The following list contains fabric terms and their definitions for your reference...Enjoy!
Aniline Dyed Leather – leather that has been soaked in a transparent dye, allowing the natural characteristics of the leather to show through
Backing – a coating applied
to the back of fabrics and rugs to provide better strength and stability
Batiste – a fine fabric
made from the choicest cotton yarns
Bouclé – a yarn with bumps
or loops along the length producing a texture when woven
Brocade – satin weave
fabric with a raised floral design. Traditionally in silk, now available in
cottons and blends, can contain metallic threads.
Canvas – a tightly woven cotton fabric also known as ‘duck’
Charmeuse – a soft, smooth, satin-like fabric with a lustrous front, and a matte, or crepe back
Chenille – French for ‘caterpillar’; soft fuzzy yarns, upholstery may have light latex backing
Chintz – cotton fabric glazed with a resin finish creating a soft sheen known to repel dirt
Corduroy – heavy fabric
with evenly spaced ridges or wales
Damask – a 13th
century weave, alternating matte & satin finishes to create a reversible
fabric
Dobby – a decorative fabric weave usually in a small geometric pattern. Typically used at the end of bath towels.
Finish – a treatment
producing napping, embossing, glazing, waterproofing, or wrinkle resistance
Hand – refers to the
softness, firmness, and elasticity of a fabric
Jacquard – fabric woven on
a Jacquard loom where each warp yarn is controlled separately to create an intricate pattern. Damasks, tapestries, and brocades are examples.
Matelassé – French for
‘cushioned’; soft fabric that appears quilted
Moiré – ribbed fabric with
wavy watermarks produced by engraving rollers. Taffeta is an example.
Muslin – a gauzy cotton
fabric
Ottoman – a heavy, stiffly
ribbed fabric with silk warp and cotton weft
Percale – a
smooth-textured, closely woven cotton or polyester blend fabric, commonly used
in sheeting
Piqué – a closely woven ribbed fabric with ribs or cords made from cotton or silk
Sateen – cotton fabric loomed with fill yarns that float over warp yarns to create a smooth, satiny hand and a lustrous finish
Seersucker – light to medium weight fabric woven with varying levels of tension on the warp yarns to create puckered stripes that alternate with smooth stripes
Shantung – a heavy fabric made from spun wild silk, with a rough, nubby texture
Sheer – thin translucent
fabric. Lace or muslin are examples.
Silk Dupioni – pure silk, woven from double cocoons creating a slubby texture
Taffeta – fabric with
subtle ribbing and silky texture
Tapestry – heavy woven fabric
Toile – a printed fabric that mimics a romanticized landscape or floral design
Tweed – coarsely woven
fabric made from natural or synthetic fibers
Twill – fabric with diagonal grain. Herringbone, denim, and gabardine are examples.
Velvet – soft luxurious
fabric with a short dense pile
Voile – fine, lightweight
fabric. Ideal for sheers.
Warp – set of fixed fibers
running the length of a loom, top to bottom. Applies to fabrics and rugs.
Weft – set of fixed fibers running the width of a loom, left to right. Applies to
fabrics and rugs.