Fabric Glossary
Fabric Glossary
Get to know all the different types of fabric & what they're used for.
fleece processed in a way that reduces pilling; the fibers are often cut shorter than ordinary fleece; typically used for apparel, home decor & crafts cotton duck canvas specially treated with gesso which serves as a primer for painting; used primarily as painter’s canvas. Can also be used for painted dresses, plant covers, pillows, totes & play forts fabric designed to create comfortable, casual clothing; good for exercise and everyday wear durable fabric for outdoor use that provides mold resistance, water repellence and UV protection; typically used to cover outdoor living spaces Back to top made by stamping a design on fabric in wax so it rejects the dye. It can be dyed first, stamped, dyed again, then wax removed to make unique, multicolored patterns; used for quilting & apparel thin, lightweight, sheer cotton fabric; used for light summer clothing & traditional handkerchiefs. Also good for sheers commonly used as stuffing for quilts, it can vary widely in thickness & content; sold pre-measured & by-the-yard foam-backed, opaque fabric used to block light; typically used for drapery thick fleece, brushed for extra softness; also known as polar fleece; great for no-sew blankets heavier weight fabrics, like twill or denim; fabric weight refers to denseness of weave; usually used for pants, skirts & jackets tightly-woven cotton fabric with a dense, smooth texture & glossy finish; used for apparel, quilting & crafts rich, elaborate fabrics, usually silk, with raised designs, typically woven with gold or silver threads; used for apparel & home decor thicker woven fabric that is brushed, creating a soft hand; great for apparel, accessories and home decor woven stabilizer made from cotton fibers and soaked in a starch-like substance to become stiff; often used for bookbinding and hat-making but also used to lend support and structure to apparel and handbags light, loosely woven cloth used for festive decorations (flags, ribbons, banners); also, the word to describe these decorations plain, coarse, heavyweight fabric made with 100% natural jute fiber; used for home decor & crafting, carpet backing & grain sacks Back to top light cotton with a print on only one side of the fabric; commonly used for dresses, aprons & quilts extremely durable, plain weave fabric; also known as a utility fabric; used for home decor & utility projects strong, large-weave netting; good for breathable picnic & beach totes; often used in cars to keep cargo from shifting lightweight, flexible vinyl that can be used as a chalkboard; also known as blackboard fabric; great for crafting & home decor, especially in kids' rooms smooth, lightweight apparel fabric with a characteristic weaving of colored yarn with white yarn; great for tops & dresses scallop-edged lace, often woven with designs of scrolls, vases or flowers, which are outlined by thick cords; commonly used as trimming for bridal gowns & veils soft, smooth, lightweight dress & blouse fabric, woven from silk or polyester, with a satin-like finish. May or may not have spandex added for stretch loose-woven, soft fabric; typically undyed and used in cooking & cheese making tufted & velvety cord or yarn, used to make sweaters, blankets, pillows & upholstery very light, sheer fabric made from silk, nylon, or polyester; typically used for scarves & flowing dresses water resistant, but changes color with water; perfect for kids’ raincoats & umbrellas. Can also be used for outdoor bean bags, ottomans or sandbox covers. sturdy cotton fabric with soft, vertical, velvety ridges, called cords; used for clothing & home decor real cork, backed by a thin layer of fabric, this is thin enough to use with a sewing machine, yet durable and pliable; ideal for making handbags and wallets; all-natural and environmentally-friendly term for a range of colorful, vivid fabrics used to create elaborate costumes a natural, plain-weave fabric with soft fibers known for its breathability; used in clothing, home decor & crafts lightweight woven or knitted fabric, with a distictive crisp, pebbled appearance; primarily used for clothing stiffened, open-weave fabric; once made of horsehair & linen and used for petticoats and in millinery; still used to make stiff underskirts for costumes & evening/ball gowns Back to top rich, heavy fabric with a reversible weave; typically used for upholstery & home decor extremely sturdy cotton twill fabric, usually woven from blue & white threads; used for clothing, such as jeans, overalls and other apparel. Also used for home decor projects like pillows, bedding, poufs and wall decor 100% cotton, easy to care for and durable for repeated washings; soft and safe for babies' skin two distinct fabrics connected at regular intervals in the weave to form a two-layered cloth; commonly used for coats, blankets, furnishings & reversible clothing extremely durable cotton fabric with a strong diagonal weave; typically used for khakis, sneakers, military uniforms strong, durable & versatile cotton fabric, lighter than standard canvas or sailcloth; popular for workwear & camping gear crisp, silk fabric with irregular slubs; often used in bridal & formal wear; suitable for upholstery & other home décor, such as drapes/curtains Back to top any fabric that’s embellished with embroidery (stitched, decorative designs that may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, and sequins); great for embellishing clothing & home decor fabric designed with patterned cut-outs, often bordered with stitching to keep prevent the edges from unraveling; typically used for apparel Back to top popular way for quilters to buy fabric; one yard of fabric is cut down into 18 ”x 21” pieces slang term for synthetic materials made to look as if made from animal pelts; also known as fun fur; used for apparel, home decor & crafts term used to describe artificial or synthetic leathers; used for apparel, home decor & crafts non-woven material made by joining fibers using heat, moisture & pressure; great for crafting & appliques cotton, wool or synthetic fabric brushed on both sides for softness; perfect for shirts & dresses polyester satin fabric strengthened with a flannel backing for use in upholstery & home decor projects flannel fabrics used for casual shirts; most often brushed twill or brushed poplin umbrella term for a range of warm, soft materials made from natural or synthetic fibers; typically used to make warm clothing & accessories knit jersey with loops on one side, designed to absorb water; great for swimsuit coverups usually woven or knitted from rayon, wool or cotton, finer than faux fur; made with a pile that is dyed & finished to resemble an animal's fur; used for apparel, home decor & crafts Back to top twill fabric with a highly durable, compact weave; wool gabardine is used year-round for classic business suiting thin, sheer fabric with loose, open weave; great for apparel, home decor & crafting lightweight, yarn-dyed woven fabric, usually cotton, with a small check or plaid pattern; typically used for apparel 100% cotton fabric with a grip backing to reduce slippage; often used on the back of rugs, slippers & pajama feet Back to top typically used for the interior roof of vehicles, headliner has a face fabric with a nonwoven or foam backing V-shapedpattern usually wool; one of the most popular fabrics forsuitsandouterwear a large checked pattern with notched corners suggestive of a canine tooth; typically used in cloth for jackets and suits Back to top insulating utility fabric used to provide insulation to maintain cold temperatures in lunch or grocery bags as well as protection against heat transference, as around water heaters & in potholders a stabilizing material, typically used between two layers of fabric; often found in collars & facings; can be sewn in or fusible double-sided, smooth, stretchable fabric; typically twice as thick as standard jersey; typically used for apparel Woven of 100% cotton with a unique aluminized coating, this fabric gives your ironing board a smooth, resilient, heat-resistant surface and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth; also used for potholders, oven mitts and casserole carriers; comes quilted and un-quilted Back to top fabric with an elaborate pattern incorporated directly into the weave rather than printed onto its surface; great for dressy apparel stretchable, lightweight fabric, usually cotton or cotton/synthetic blend. Jersey knits have a visible “right side” & “wrong side”; commonly used for T-shirts, pajamas, dresses & other apparel natural fiber derived from plants; the long, soft and shiny fibers are spun into coarse, strong threads; used for making twine and rope or woven into sacking or matting. Back to top umbrella term for a range of fabrics made from one continuous, interlacing fiber, rather than the two-part weave of other fabrics; valued in apparel manufacture for its stretchability & versatility Back to top delicate fabric made when yarn or thread is woven in a decorative, open, weblike pattern; used in apparel, particularly bridal & as trim, as well as curtains/drapes & other decor delicate fabric woven with silver or gold threads; primarily for limited-use items, like theatrical costumes & evening wear a very thin layer of polyurethane film on the face of the fabric, making it waterproof; perfect for tablecloths light, crisp cloth made of of cotton or linen; used in spring/summer apparel woven from flax, linen is often lightweight and favored for its coolness in hot weather. Also used for home decor projects lining is an inner layer of fabric added to garments or accessories; used to make the garment less see-through, improves garment structure and conceals seams, padding, interfacing, etc. Back to top lightweight cotton fabric with a brightly-colored, distinctive plaid or checkered pattern; used for casual clothing and home decor projects characterized by a net-like, open weave; found in lace, netting, tulle, as well as many utility fabrics; used for apparel, crafts & utility projects particularly soft fleece, perfect for baby blankets & accessories, cold-weather clothing & winter wear super soft, plush fabric which resembles real mink & can be as soft as cashmere; often used for baby blankets, plush toys characterized by ability to pull perspiration from the body to the exterior of the fabric where it can evaporate more easily; typically made from polyester blends which don’t retain moisture like natural fabrics; great for activewear heavyweight cotton with a soft pile on one side of the fabric; similar to felt or chamois in feel, but equal to denim in durability; typically used in clothing coarse, heavyweight cotton often used for draperies, decor & craft projects strong thread or cord worked into an open, meshed fabric; used as protection against insects and for catching fish, birds or animals. Can also be used for canopies inexpensive, natural or bleached cotton fabric; often used for burping cloths & film/photographic backdrops. Great “test” fabric for making garments, pattern making, and other sewing projects silver mirror-like fabric used to maintain temperature & reflect heat away; used in coolers, lunch bags, pizza bags and heat-reflective windshield blocks Back to top made of synthetic rubber material that is heat & cold resistant; used for functional scuba gear, apparel, accessories and lunch bags/coolers threads are crossed so that their intersections are knotted or looped, forming a geometrically shaped mesh; used for accenting or lining special occasion apparel. Can also be used to protect plants from insects has features like iridescence, glitter & metallics; primarily used for crafting. Can also be used for totes & purses very strong and elastic synthetic fibers used to make fabrics, plastics, molded products Back to top cotton fabric coated with a waterproof finish; commonly used for raincoats, luggage, bibs sheer, crisp & delicate, similar to organza; typically made of spun cotton yarn equally sheer, crisp & delicate as organdy, but made of filament yarn; typically polyester, rayon or silk; typically used for apparel coarse, heavy cotton; used for furnishings and bags fabric designed to withstand outdoor elements; properties can include hundreds of hours of UV exposure, water repellence or resistance, and durability; used for outdoor cushions, pillows & more Back to top lightweight velvet fabric in which the pile is flattened in one direction by a roller press, which gives it its shine; used for apparel built for active wear; fabric can include enhancements such as sun protection & moisture wicking multi-use vinyl mesh screen fabric; often used as an insect/pet barrier a plastic fabric made to look like leather (see also "Faux Leather"); used for apparel, home decor & crafts cotton fabric with a crinkled or puckered texture; found in nightgowns, summer shirts defined by the polymer fibers it is made from; popular as an apparel fabric since it is durable, wrinkle- & stretch-resistant, easily dyed, and requires no ironing or special cleaning a thick, double knit fabric; heavier weight perfect for more structured garments; with the forgiveness of a knit and versatility of a woven strong fabric with a fine rib weave; typically used for sportswear, semi-casual wear, pajamas, decorative fabric fabric that is sold in individual cuts; packaging will communicate specific size; great for quilting & crafts 100% cotton with a plastic film between two layers of flannel to create a liquidproof barrier. Ideal for bed-wetting problems, it absorbs fluid quickly from the surface and protects sensitive skin from moisture and staining Back to top double-faced, pre-quilted fabric has a layer of batting between two layers of fabric with a quilted pattern; commonly used for quilts, quilted bedding, table runners & handbags heavier weight flannel that is used in quilting; specifically to back quilts Back to top polypropylene fabric is a nonwoven textile that does not absorb moisture; lightweight with thermal conductivity; perfect for cold weather wear, grocery bags & lunch bags term for knit fabric with vertical rows that intermesh alternatively on the front & back of fabric; known for shape retention & stretchability; typically used for apparel 100% nylon strong, woven utility fabric; tear & abrasion resistant; often used for outdoor flags, banners, backpacks, duffel bags, camping tents Back to top unique canvas fabric that can be woven from a variety of natural or synthetic fibers to make a strong fabric for use in sail construction soft, smooth, often cotton, with a subtle luster; commonly used for draperies & upholstery lustrous, glossy surface and a dull back; drapability depends on fiber content; silk & rayon satins are best for apparel three-layer fabric that is lighter weight than regular neoprene, with insulating properites that keep items hot or cold; it will not fray, has an extremely smooth finish and more drapability than regular neoprene; great for apparel, lunch totes & beverage insulators. Can also be used to give body to apparel light cotton fabric with alternating smooth & puckered striped or checkered designs; needs no ironing, commonly used for summer clothes a small, shiny disk sewn as one of many onto fabric for decoration and texture; perfect for dressy apparel made from very small fibers that trap lint & dust and also absorb water; used for dusting cloths, bath mats & rugs made using thin thread or low density knit, resulting in a semi-transparent, lightweight fabric with great drape; used in apparel and home decor for drapery fine cotton used to make shirts, typically dress & button-down work shirts; can be poplin, broadclath, twill, chambray, denim, oxford or linen strong, lustrous fiber made from processing the cocoons of silkworm larvae; typically used in apparel fabrics 100% cotton; used for polishing silver a vinyl coated woven fabric used for outdoor seating with a wide enough weave to allow for water to drain through the fabric, allowing for an easy clean and quick dry breathable honeycomb-type fabric that allows air to travel both ways through fabric; popular in tennis shoes, baseball caps & mattress covers to encourage airflow and minimize odor. Can also be used for apparel a strong, elastic fabric made from synthetic fibers; perfect for activewear lightweight, black fabric that allows sound to pass through, but keeps dust and contaminates from settling on the speaker's woofer leather with the flesh side rubbed to create a velvety nap; used for apparel, home decor & crafts fabric used for the construction & tailoring of suits, trousers, jackets & skirts soft, lightweight puckered cotton muslin commonly used to create baby blankets and accessories knitted fabric giving the appearance of a knit sweater Back to top rich, crisp, ribbed fabric; commonly used for formalwear fabric with uncut loops on both sides that absorbs water effectively; typically used for towels waffle- or honeycomb-textured weave traps warm air between the yarns, making it an effective insulator; perfect for cold-weather wear a very strong, striped twill; typically used to cover pillows, mattresses & box springs. Can also be used for work wear, such as overalls light net material, typically used for delicate clothing such as veils and wedding/evening dresses synthetic fibers made to look like grass; used for indoor 3-season rooms and shoe mats. Can also be used for photo backdrops, home decor accents, fairy gardens & playscapes twill refers to both a weave of parallel, diagonal ridges & a fabric recognizable by that weave; sturdy construction makes it effective for upholstery & work clothing, such as denim Back to top woven fabric for lining the bottom of furniture to protect from dust and dirt a range of fabrics of various weights used for home décor, typically built for heavy wear & long use general term used for fabrics built for heavy-duty use; performance fabrics, vinyl, burlap, duck canvas, ripstop, etc Back to top velvet-like knit fabric with a short pile & no luster; used in apparel, home décor and car seat covers soft, smooth, luxurious woven fabric with a deep luster & a thick, short pile; often used in high-end apparel, upholstery & drapes made to resemble velvet, this is a stiffer cotton woven fabric without velvet’s luster or fine drap; typically used for apparel thick fabric made of synthetic materials which can be used for a variety of projects including decor, utility, accessories and apparel lightly crisp, semi-sheer, smooth woven fabric; used for clothing, curtains & soft furnishings Back to topA
Anti-Pill Plush Fleece
Artist Canvas
Athleisure
Awning
B
Batik
Batiste
Batting
Blackout
Blizzard
Bottom Weight
Broadcloth
Brocade
Brushed Cotton
Buckram
Bunting
Burlap
C
Calico
Canvas
Cargo Netting
Chalkboard
Chambray
Chantilly Lace
Charmeuse
Cheesecloth
Chenille
Chiffon
Color-Changing Vinyl
Corduroy
Cork
Cosplay
Cotton
Crepe
Crinoline
D
Damask
Denim
Diaper Cloth
Double Cloth
Drill (Chino)
Duck
Dupioni
E
Embroidered
Eyelet
F
Fabric Quarters
Faux or Fake Fur
Faux or Fake Leather
Felt
Flannel
Flannel Back Satin
Flannel Shirtings
Fleece
French Terry
Fur
G
Gabardine
Gauze
Gingham
Grip-Stop
H
Headliner
Herringbone
Houndstooth
I
Insul-bright
Interfacing
Interlock Knit
Ironing Board Cover
J
Jacquard
Jersey Knit
Jute
K
Knit
L
Lace
Lamé
Laminated
Lawn
Linen
Lining
M
Madras
Mesh
Micro-Fleece
Minky
Moisture-Wicking
Moleskin
Monk's Cloth
Mosquito Netting
Muslin
Mylar Vinyl
N
Neoprene
Netting
Novelty Vinyl
Nylon
O
Oil Cloth
Organdy
Organza
Osnaburg
Outdoor fabric
P
Panne Velvet
Peformance
Pet/Mesh Screening
Pleather
Plisse
Polyester
Ponte
Poplin
Pre-cut fabric
Protective Flannel
Q
Quilted Fabric
Quilters Flannel
R
Reusable Bag
Rib Knit
Ripstop
S
Sailcloth
Sateen
Satin
Scuba
Seersucker
Sequin
Shag Microfiber
Sheer
Shirting
Silk
Silvertex
Sling Chair
Spacer
Spandex
Speaker Cloth
Suede
Suiting
Swaddle Cloth
Sweater Knit
T
Taffeta
Terry Cloth
Thermal Knit
Ticking
Tulle
Turf
Twill
U
Underlining
Upholstery
Utility
V
Velour
Velvet
Velveteen
Vinyl
Voile
& what they're used for.
Fabric Glossary
Fabric Glossary
There are thousands of different types of fabric. What do they all mean? What are the different types of fabric? What can different types of fabric be used for? This page is here to help you through all of those questions. This fabric glossary can be helpful to beginners who are just learning how to sew, have just bought their first sewing machine, are working on their first sewing project all the way to experts if you just need a refresher for your current advanced project! Knowing what type of fabric to buy for your project is very important, and understanding what that fabric type is tradiontally used for or how it is made can help you learn how to make other similar projects, or find use cases for your unused fabric you have laying around the house! Regarldess of fabric type, from Learning what different types of fabric are can open up so many new ideas to spark even more creativity in your life. While a glossary isnt very inspiring, we have the