Cotton Fabric

What is cotton fabric?

Cotton fabric is one of the most commonly used types
of fabrics in the world. This textile is chemically
organic, which means that it does not contain any
synthetic compounds. Cotton fabric is derived from
the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants,
which emerge in a round, fluffy formation once the
seeds are mature.
cotton fabric Fabric Name: Cotton

Fast Facts
Fabric also known as:
Pima cotton, Egyptian cotton,
Supima cotton

Fabric composition:
Organic fibers from the seeds
of the cotton plant

Fabric possible thread count

variations:
100, 200, 300, 600, up to
2,000

Fabric breathability:
Very breathable
cotton fabric Moisture-wicking abilities:
High

Fast Facts Heat retention abilities:

Medium

Stretchability (give):
Medium

Prone to pilling/bubbling:
High

Country where fabric was

first produced:
Ancient India
cotton fabric Biggest exporting/producing
country today:

Fast Facts
India

Recommended washing
temperatures:
Medium or high

Commonly used in:

Shirts, dresses, blouses,
underwear, socks, sweaters,
sheets, blankets, bags,
jeans, skirts
how is cotton
fabric made

1. Defoliation - the process of removing

the leaves from cotton plants.

2. Machine Harvesting - A single machine

harvests the cotton and removes large
contaminants from the cotton fibers and
forms it into bales.

3. Separating - A cotton gin separates

cotton seeds from bolls and removes dirt
or trash.

4. Transferring - the cotton is

transferred to a textile production
facility.
how is cotton
fabric made

5. Carding - the process of forming

cotton fibers into long strands

6. Spinning - the strands are spun to

create yarn.

7. Dyeing - this cotton yarn may then be

subjected to a variety of chemical
treatments, and it may be dyed.

8. Weaving - next, it is woven into a

particular type of textile material such
as a bedsheet, T-shirt, or pair of blue
jeans.
different types
of cotton
 basket weave
A derivation of a plain weave in
which two or more warp and/or two or
more filling yarns weave side by
side as one yarn to create a
checkerboard effect.
 batik
A type of resist printing process in
which wax is applied to the fabric
in specific areas. When the wax
hardens, the fabric is submerged in
dye. The wax prevents the dye from
reaching the fibers. The fabric is
then boiled to remove the wax.
This fabric-dyeing method makes
cotton look crackled. Batik fabric
can typically be found in dresses
and household décor.
 batiste
Originally, a sheer linen fabric
named for the famous French weaver
Jean Batiste. Today, batiste most
often refers to a lightweight plain
weave fabric made with mercerized
cotton.
It’s also the perfect fabric to wear
on hot summer days, and is also a
great fabric for sheets and bedding.
 cable knit
A knit pattern that produces the
appearance of a heavy cord where two
or more loops pass over and under
one another. This stitch is most
often found in cable knit sweaters,
throw blankets, and pillows.
 canvas
A compact, firm, heavy plain weave
fabric usually made with cotton. The
terms canvas and duck are used
interchangeably.
Once used in tents, boat sails, and
other utilitarian products, canvas
has expanded into other products
such as sport gear, sneakers, and
bags because of its durability. The
texture of canvas is sturdy and
slightly rough to the touch.
 chenille
A fuzzy cotton yarn of fabric that
has pile protruding around the
weave. This fabric looks exactly
like what its name means in French:
a caterpillar! Because of its
softness, it’s often used in
blankets, sweaters, bedding,
pillows, and upholstery.
 corduroy
Corduroy is a fabric with evenly
spaced vertical rows of soft piles.
These rows are arranged in a
distinct pattern called a “cord” or
a “wale.”
Corduroy as a fabric dates back to
eighteenth-century England, where it
was primarily a rough wool cloth,
rather than contemporary corduroy,
which is soft to the touch and
usually made from 100% cotton.
 denim
Denim is a sturdy cotton twill
fabric woven with an indigo, gray,
or mottled white yarn. Denim is
perhaps one of the most well-known
and commonly worn fabrics there is,
from the classic blue jeans to
jackets, dresses, overalls, and
more. For almost a hundred and fifty
years the blue jean has been a
symbol of classic Americana.
 double cloth
If you’ve ever worn anything
reversible, you know what double
cloth is. Just like its name
implies, it’s two different fabrics
bound together with yarn and used to
make coats, blankets, furnishing
fabrics, brocades and reversible
clothing.
 drill
A durable cotton fabric woven with a
diagonal pattern that’s most
commonly used to make khakis. It’s
also used in shirts, safari jackets,
sneakers, military uniforms, and
chef coats.
 flannel
A soft, medium-weight cotton
fabric that has a napped, or
fuzzy, finish on one or both
sides. This napped finish either
comes from brushing or from its
characteristic loosely spun weave.
Its soft, cozy feel makes it the
perfect fabric to keep you warm
and comfortable all winter long.
It’s often woven with patterns,
especially plaid and tartan, and
is a favorite fabric for sheets
during the winter.
 fleece
Fleece is a soft, fuzzy fabric made
to keep you warm! The word “fleece”
derives from what we call a sheep’s
coat, even though modern fleece
isn’t usually made from sheep’s
wool.
Fleece is made by weaving very fine
fibers into a light fabric, which is
then brushed into the fluffy, thick
fabric we know today. While some
fleece today is made with polyester,
fleece made from natural fibers,
especially cotton, are better for
the environment. Cotton fleece is
also breathable while keeping you
warm.
 french terry
French terry is a knit fabric
similar to jersey, with loops on one
side and soft piles of yarn on the
other. This knit results in a soft,
plush texture you’ll recognize from
your comfiest sweatshirts and other
kinds of loungewear.
French terry is midweight—lighter
than cold-weather sweatpants but
heavier than your typical tee. It’s
cozy, moisture-wicking, absorbent,
and keeps you cool.
 gauze
You’re probably familiar with the
cotton gauze bandages in your first-
aid kit, but this thin, sheer fabric
is also used to make loose,
unstructured dresses and blouses,
curtains and baby carriers. Because
of its open, airy weave, this is the
perfect fabric to wear during hot
summer months.
 herringbone
Named for its resemblance to the
backbone of a herring fish,
herringbone is a broken twill weave
composed of vertical sections that
are alternately righthand and
lefthand in direction, creating a
fishbone pattern. It is used widely
in suits, jackets, and dresses.
 houndstooth
A duotone textile pattern, often in
black and white, that’s
characterized by broken checks or
abstract four-pointed shapes named
for their resemblance to a dog’s
tooth. Find it in coats, suits,
skirts, dresses and scarves.
 jacquard
A decorative design that’s woven
into the fabric on a jacquard loom
forming a slightly raised decorative
area. Typically made of cotton,
these designs can range from basic
florals to very large, intricate
patterns.
 matelasse
The word matelassé is taken from the
French noun matelas, meaning cushion
or pad. Made on a jacquard or dobby
loom, it has a raised pattern that
gives bedspreads and other home
fabrics a quilted look. Matelassé is
heavily used in bedding and home
décor.
 mesh
A broad term for fabric
characterized by open spaces between
the yarns. Mesh fabric may be woven,
knit, lace, net, crocheted, and
more. Known for its characteristic
screen-like weave, this fabric is a
go-to for shirts, leggings, shoes,
and even your summer wardrobe
staples.
moisture wicking
cotton
A cotton fabric that will keep you
in a sweat-free zone during an
intense workout because it’s
designed to draw moisture and
perspiration away from your skin and
onto the exterior of the fabric.
Moisture-wicking cotton is made from
100% natural cotton that has been
treated to have special properties.
Moisture-wicking cotton is
incredibly effective at wicking
sweat during workouts.
 organdy
A lightweight, sheer, stiff fabric,
usually made of cotton, and used for
collars, cuffs, aprons and on the
inside of garments to stiffen them.
 ottoman
Originally developed in Turkey,
ottoman is a heavy fabric with flat
crosswise ribs. Some ottomans have
small ribs and others have ribs
which alternate in size from wide
and narrow. It's a tightly-woven,
lustrous fabric used for coats,
evening wear, upholstery and
trimmings. Not to be confused with
the piece of furniture!
 plaid
One of the most popular prints for
dress shirts, this fabric features
stripes or bands of color that
intersect to form squares. Plaids
date back to the 1500s and now come
in many patterns, from argyle and
gingham to madras and windowpanes.
Plaid remains an incredibly popular
fabric, especially for plaid shirts
and sheets.
 pointelle
A lightweight, cotton knit fabric
with subtle openwork, usually in a
geometric pattern, that adds a
delicate texture to T-shirts,
pajamas and children's clothing, as
well as cardigans, sweaters, and
skirts.
 quilting
A fabric construction in which a
layer of fill—often down, cotton or
batting—is sandwiched in between two
other fabrics, and stitched together
in crisscross lines. Often used in
outerwear, sleepwear and bedding,
quilting adds warmth for cozy
comfort.
 rib knit
A knitted fabric with alternating
raised and lowered rows. More
elastic and durable than plain
knits, they tend to fit the body and
are used frequently in T-shirts, as
well as for the trims of socks,
sleeves, waists and necklines.
 sateen
A fabric made with a satin weave
using cotton instead of silk that
has a lustrous, smooth feel and
glossy sheen. It’s used to make
dresses, skirts, jackets, sheets and
household décor.
 seersucker
Synonymous with the classic summer
suit, this is a lightweight cotton
fabric with alternating crinkled and
smooth vertical stripes that never
needs ironing.
 thermal knit
A knit or woven fabric with a waffle
or honeycomb texture that’s made to
trap warm air between the yarns,
making it the perfect fabric to wear
during the cold winter months.
 velvet
Velvet is a closely woven fabric
with a short, thick, plush pile.
Velvet is softest when woven from
natural fibers, especially cotton.
Velvet is synonymous with softness
and luxury, especially since it was
originally made from silk.
Velvet used to be an extremely
expensive fabric to make, and thus
solely reserved for royalty and
nobility. It originated in Baghdad
around the eighth century.
 voile
A sheer, lightweight cotton fabric
that has a slightly crisp feel. It’s
commonly used to make curtains,
women’s work blouses, dresses,
nightgowns and lingerie.
 waffle weave
Waffle weave is a fabric with
characteristic recessed squares that
make this cotton fabric look just
like the popular breakfast food it’s
named after. Although it can’t be
eaten, it can keep you warm, which
is why it’s a staple in winter
clothing like long johns. It is also
known as honeycomb. It is commonly
used for robes, towels, and
blankets.
 wrinkle
resistant
This is a fabric that resists
creasing. While natural fibers
aren’t usually wrinkle-resistant,
cotton can be specially treated to
prevent wrinkles and save you time
and effort during the clean and care
process. Wrinkle-resistant cotton is
especially used for men's and
women's dress shirts and cotton
sheets.
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