Glossary of Fabric Terms

acetate [ās'ĭ-tāt'] – Also called acetate rayon. A synthetic filament, yarn, or fabric composed of a derivative of the acetic ester of cellulose, differing from viscose rayon in having greater strength when wet and greater sensitivity to high temperatures.

acrylic [ə-krĭl'ĭk] – A lightweight, warm, soft fabric with a wool-like feel. It has excellent colorfastness. A resilient fiber, it retains its shape and resists shrinkage and wrinkles. Varied in form, it sometimes has an appearance similar to wool or cotton.

angora [āng-gôr'ə, -gōr'ə] - The hair of the Angora goat. Also known as Angoramohair. Angoramay also apply to the fur of the Angora rabbit.

appliqué [āp'lĭ-kā'] - A cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material.
  
batiste [bə-tēst'] - A thin plain weave or figured weave cotton or linen fabric.

beaded [bee'-did] - This refers to any style of fabric that has beads embroidered into the design. Beading can be done at the time the lace is made or can be re-embroidered after the lace is made.

bengaline [běng'gə-lēn'] - A fabric with a crosswise rib made from textile fibers (as rayon, nylon, cotton, or wool) often in combination.

boucle [bōō-klā'] - A knit or woven fabric made from a rough, curly, knotted boucle yarn. The fabric has a looped, knotted surface and is often used in sportswear and coats.

brocade [brō-kād'] - A heavy, exquisite, jacquard-type fabric with an all-over raised pattern or floral design.

cambric [kām'brĭk] - A fine thin white linen fabric.

canvas [kan'-vuhs] - A strong, durable, closely woven cotton fabric.

cashmere [kash-meer'] - A luxury fiber obtained from the soft, fleecy undergrowth of the Kashmir goat of Tibet, Mongolia, China, Iran, Iraq, and India. Most commonly used in sweaters, shawls, suits, coats, and dresses.

chambray [shām'brā'] - A plain woven fabric that can be made from cotton, silk, or manufactured fibers, but is most commonly cotton. It incorporates a colored warp (often blue) and white filling yarns.

Chantillylace [shan-til'-ee lās] - This lace has a net background, and the pattern is created by embroidering with thread and ribbon to create floral designs. The pattern has areas of design that are very dense, and the pattern is often outlined with heavier cords or threads.

charmeuse [shär-mōōz'] - Trade name of silk and silk-like fabrics that are characterized by a shiny, soft, satin-like appearance.

chenille [shə-nēl'] - Soft, fuzzy yarns stand out around a velvety cord on this fabric, whose name comes from the French word for "caterpillar."

chiffon [shĭ-fŏn', shĭf'ŏn'] - A plain, woven, lightweight, extremely sheer, airy, and soft silk fabric, containing highly twisted filament yarns. The fabric, used mainly in evening dresses and scarves, can also be made from rayon and other manufactured fibers.

chintz [chĭnts] - A usually glazed printed cotton fabric.

cotton [kŏt'n] - A unicellular, natural fiber that grows in the seed pod of the cotton plant. Fibers are typically 1/2 inch to 2 inches long. The longest staple fibers, longer than 1-1/2 inch, including the Pima and Egyptian varieties, produce the highest quality cotton fabrics.

crepe [krāp] - Used to describe all kinds of fabrics--wool, cotton, silk, rayon, synthetics and blends-that have a crinkle, crimped or grained surface.

crepe back satin [krāp bak sat'-n] - A satin fabric in which highly-twisted yarns are used in the filling direction. The floating yarns are made with low twist and may be of either high or low luster. If the crepe effect is the right side of the fabric, the fabric is called satin-back crepe.

crinkled [krĭng'kəl] - Forming many short bends or ripples.

crocheted [krō-shād'] - Loose, open knit made by looping thread with a hooked needle. Used for light, summer sweaters.
 
damask [dam'-uhsk] - A reversible fabric of linen, silk, cotton, or wool, woven with patterns.  Also called damask steel, or Damascus Steel, it refers to the pattern or wavy appearance peculiar to the surface of such steel.

denim [děn'ĭm] - True denim is a twill-weave, cotton-like fabric made with different colored yarns in the warp and the weft. Due to the twill construction, one color predominates on the fabric surface.

dupioni [doo-pee-oh'-nee] - Similar to shantung, this textured fabric is recognized by irregular-sized, thick fibers woven into the base fabric. Fibers that create the texture, are thicker and heavier than those used in shantung.

elastin [ĭ-lās'tĭn] - A protein that is similar to collagen and is the chief constituent of elastic fibers.

embroidered [ěm-broi'dərd] - An embellishment of a fabric or garment in which colored threads are sewn into the fabric to create a design. Embroidery may be done either by hand or machine.

faille [fīl, fāl] - A glossy, soft, finely-ribbed, silk-like woven fabric made from cotton, silk, or manufactured fibers.

faux fur  [fō fûr] - Artificial fur made from synthetic material.

flannel [flān'əl] - A warm, soft fabric made in tightly woven twill or plain weave and finished with a light napping.

fleece [flēs] - A soft, bulky, deep-piled knitted or woven fabric.

foil [foil] - A thin piece of material put under another material to add color or brilliance.

gabardine [gāb'ər-dēn', gāb'ər-dēn'] - A tightly woven, twilled, worsted fabric with a slight diagonal line on the right side. Wool gabardine is known as a year-round fabric for business suiting.

gauze [gôz] - A thin, sheer plain-weave fabric made from cotton, wool, silk, rayon, or other manufactured fibers. End-uses include curtains, apparel, trimmings, and surgical dressings.

georgette [jôr-jět'] - A sheer lightweight fabric, often made of silk or from such manufactured fibers as polyester, with a crepe surface.

gingham [gĭng'əm] - A medium-weight, plain-weave fabric with a plaid or check pattern.

heather [hěth'ər] - A yarn that is spun using pre-dyed fibers. These fibers are blended together to give a particular look. (For example, black and white may be blended together to create a gray heathered yarn.) The term, heather, may also be used to describe the fabric made from heathered yarns.

intarsia [ĭn-tär'sē-ə] - A knitted design resembling a mosaic that is visible on both sides of the fabric.

jacquard [jāk'ärd', jə-kärd', zhä-kär'] – A fabric with an elaborately woven pattern produced on a Jacquard loom. A French inventor named Joseph Jacquard created the first automatic, mechanical loom to weave complex patterns in 1801. This jacquard head, or loom attachment, creates patterns known as jacquard weaving. Brocade and damask are types of jacquard woven fabrics.  

jersey [jûr'zē] - The consistent interlooping of yarns in the jersey stitch to produce a fabric with a smooth, flat face, and a more textured, but uniform back. Jerseyfabrics may be produced on either circular or flat weft knitting machines.

knit [nĭt] - Fabrics made from only one set of yarns, all running in the same direction. Some knits have their yarns running along the length of the fabric, while others have their yarns running across the width of the fabric. Knit fabrics are held together by looping the yarns around each other. Knitting creates ridges in the resulting fabric. Wales are the ridges that run lengthwise in the fabric; courses run crosswise.

knitted [nĭt' id] - Formed by interlacing yarn or thread in a series of connected loops with needles.

lace [lās] – A delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern.

lawn [lôn] - A light cotton or linen fabric of very fine weave. The fabric has a crease-resistant, crisp finish.

leather [lěth'ər] - Animal skin dressed for fabric use.

leatherette [lěth'ə-rět'] – A material constructed of paper or cloth and finished to the grain, color, and texture of leather.

linen [lĭn'ən] - A fabric made from linen fibers obtained from inside the woody stem of the flax plant. Linen fibers are much stronger and more lustrous than cotton. Linen fabrics are very cool and absorbent, but wrinkle very easily, unless blended with manufactured fibers.

lycra [lī'krə] - A DuPont trademark for its spandex fiber that provides lasting comfort, movement, and shape retention.

marabou [mār'ə-bōō'] - A thrown silk usually dyed without being separated from the gum; a fabric made of this silk.

matelasse [maht'-luh-sey] -  Ornamented by means of an imitation or suggestion of quilting, the surface being marked by depressed lines which form squares or lozenges in relief, as, matelasse silks. 

matte [mat] - Lacks luster or gloss and has a usually smooth even surface without shine or highlights.

mesh [měsh]  - Any knit, woven, or knotted fabric of net-like open texture.

microfiber [mī'krō-fī'bər]  - An extremely fine synthetic fiber that can be woven into textiles with the texture and drape of natural-fiber cloth but with enhanced softness, breathability, and durability.

net [nět]  - An openwork fabric made of threads or cords that are woven or knotted together at regular intervals.

nylon [nī'lŏn']  - The first completely synthetic fiber developed. Known for its high strength and excellent resilience, nylon has superior abrasion resistance and high flexibility.

olefin [ō'lə-fĭn]  - A very comfortable, extremely lightweight, synthetic fiber that is resistant to moisture, abrasions, static, and stains. It is one of the lightest textile fabrics.

organza [ôr-gān'zə]  - A sheer rayon, nylon, or silk fabric constructed in plain weave and with a crisp finish, used primarily in evening dresses and trimmings.

ottoman [ŏt'ə-mən]  - A heavy silk or rayon fabric with a corded texture and ribbed effect, often used in trimmings.

percale [pər-kāl']  - A closely woven, smooth-finished, plain or printed cotton cloth. 
 
picot [pē'kō, pē-kō']  - A series of small embroidered loops forming an ornamental edging on some ribbon and lace.
 
placket [plak'ĭt]  - A piece of cloth sewn under an opening.  For example, a button closure is sewn on a placket that folds to the inside of duvet cover so that it is not visible. 

polyester [pŏl'ē-ěs'tər, pŏl'ē-ěs'tər]  - Synthetic fabrics that are light, strong, and resilient with a high abrasion resistance. Low absorbency allows the fiber to dry quickly.

pongee [pŏn-jē', pŏn'jē]  - A soft thin cloth woven from Chinese or Indian raw silk or an imitation (from a cotton or rayon fabric) thereof. (Compare Shantung.)

poplin [pŏp'lĭn]  - A ribbed fabric of silk, rayon, wool, or cotton. The construction is characterized by having a slight ridge effect in one direction, usually the filling.

ramie [rām'ē, rā'mē]  - A flaxlike fiber taken from the stem an Asian shrub.

rayon [rā'ŏn]  - Any of several synthetic textile fibers composed of regenerated cellulose, derived from wood pulp, cotton linters, or other vegetable matter.

re-embroidered [rē' -ěm-broi'dərd]  - To outline a design (as on lace) with embroidery stitching.

ribbed [rĭb]  - To make with ridges or raised markings.
 
sateen [sā-tēn']  - A strong cotton fabric constructed in a satin weave and having a lustrous face.
 
satin [sat'-n]  - A traditional smooth fabric, as of silk or rayon, woven with a glossy face.

Shantung [shan'-tuhng]  - A heavy fabric with a rough nubby surface, made of spun wild silk. Or a rayon or cotton fabric that is imitative of this silk fabric.

sheer [shîr]  - Any very light-weight fabric (e.g., chiffon, georgette, voile, sheer crepe). A thin, fine, and transparent cloth.

silk [sĭlk]  - The soft, lustrous fiber obtained as a filament from the cocoon of the silkworm. Strong and absorbent, it has a brilliant sheen and is one of the finest textiles.

spandex [span'-deks]  - A synthetic fiber, used chiefly in the manufacture of garments to add elasticity. This fiber that can be repeatedly stretched over 500% without breaking and will still recover to its original length.

suede [swād]  - Leather with a soft, napped surface.

taffeta [taf'-i-tuh]  - A crisp, smooth, plain-woven fabric with a slight sheen and ribbed appearance in the filling (crosswise) direction. Made of various fibers, such as silk, rayon, or nylon, it gives an ultimate rustle.

Tencel [tĭn-sel]  - A trademark name of Courtaulds for a high performance Lyocell fiber used to make soft, beautifully draping rayon fabrics. Its look is luxurious and refined, and it has an environmentally friendly production process, which was awarded the European ECO Award. A washable fabric, Tencel is made from wood pulp that is harvested from replenished tree farms.

terry [ter'-ee]  - A woven fabric, usually cotton, with loop pile of the fabric when left uncut on one or both sides.

toile [twahl]- The name comes from “Toile de Jouy” which is the fabric style that originated in the villageof Jouy-en-Josas, near Paris. These designs typically resemble finely engraved copper etchings, use one color on a solid ground, and originally had a narrative element – such as motifs from classical mythology or a pastoral scene.

tri-acetate [trahy-as'-i-teyt]  - A manufactured fiber, which, like acetate, is made by modifying cellulose. It is less absorbent and less sensitive to high temperatures than acetate, and it can be hand or machine washed and tumble dried, with good wrinkle recovery.

twill [twĭl]  - A fabric that shows one of the basic weave structures in which the filling threads are woven over and under two or more warp yarns, producing a characteristic diagonal pattern (e.g., denim, gabardine, tricotine).

velour [vuh-loor']  - A closely napped fabric resembling velvet. It can be made using either a plain weave or a satin weave construction.

velvet [věl'vĭt]  - A luxurious fabric of silk, nylon, acetate, rayon, etc. sometimes having a cotton backing, with a thick, soft pile formed of loops of the warp thread either cut at the outer end or left uncut.It has a high luster.

viscose [vĭs'kōs']  - The most common type of rayon.

voile [vwal]  - A crisp, lightweight, semi-sheer fabric of wool, silk, rayon, or cotton constructed in plain weave. It is similar in appearance to organdy and organza.

wale [weyl]  - The texture or weave of a fabric.

warp [wôrp]  - To arrange (strands of yarn or thread) so that they run lengthwise in weaving.

weft [wěft]  - The horizontal threads interlaced through the warp in a woven fabric, woof.

woof [woo f, wōōf]  - The threads that run crosswise in a woven fabric, at the right angles to the warp threads. Also, the texture of a fabric.
 
wool [wool]  - Although the term "wool" is usually associated with fiber or fabric made from the feece of a sheep or a lamb, it can also be applied to all animal fibers including the hair of Cashmere or Angora goat or the specialty hair fibers of the camel, alpaca, llama, or vicuna. It can also apply to any of a certain vegetable fiber, as cotton or flax, used as wool, esp. after preparation by special process.
 
Terms presented here are based on definitions and pronunciations from dictionary.reference.com.