types of fabric and their uses ***this will be a continuing process of information to be gathered***

All of the of fabric listed below are variants or blends of just five basic fabric types (silk, cotton, linen, wool and worsted).

Word	Definition
aba	garment of camel or goat hair; camel or goat-hair fabric
aerophane	thin crinkled semi-transparent fabric
ale-pine	mixed wool and silk or mohair and cotton fabric
alpaca	fine wool made from alpaca hair
angora	silk-like fabric made from wool of angora goats
ardass	fine silk
armure	twilled woolen or silk fabric
arrasene	embroidery fabric of wool and silk
atlas	rich satin fabric
baft	inexpensive coarse cotton fabric
bagging	coarse fabric for making bags or sacks
baize	coarse napped cotton or wool fabric
balbriggan	knitted cotton fabric
baldachin	rich embroidered silk and gold fabric
balzarine	light cotton dress material
barathea	pebbly silk or worsted fabric with broken rib weave
barege	gauzy fabric of silk, cotton, wool, or worsted
barracan	fine silk cloth
barras	coarse linen fabric
batiste	fine soft sheer fabric of plain weave
bayadere	fabric with horizontal stripes in strongly contrasting colors
beaupers	linen fabric used for flags
bengaline	crosswise ribbed fabric
bombazine	twilled silk and worsted fabric
borato	thin fabric
bouclé	fabric of uneven looped yarn
brilliantine	light lustrous cotton and worsted fabric
broadcloth	dense twilled wool or cotton worsted fabric used for shirting
brocade	rich silk fabric with raised patterns
buckram	stiff-finished cotton or linen used for linings of garments
bump	coarse cotton fabric
bunting	light loosely woven fabric used for flags
burdet	cotton fabric
burlap	coarse plain-woven jute or hemp fabric
burnet	dark brown; dark woolen cloth
burrel	coarse russet cloth
calamanco	satin twilled woolen fabric
calico	plain white cotton
camaca	fine silk fabric
cambresine	fine linen fabric
cambric	fine thin white cotton or linen fabric
camlet	strong waterproof silk or wool fabric
caneva	fancy woolen fabric made to resemble canvas
canque	Chinese cotton fabric
cashmere	soft twilled fabric made of fine goat's wool
cashmerette	soft imitation of cashmere
cashmere	closely woven twilled cloth of fine wool
cendal	silk fabric resembling taffeta
challis	soft lightweight silk, wool or cotton fabric
chambray	lightweight fabric with colored warp and white filling used for shirting
chamois	cotton fabric made in imitation of chamois leather
charmante	silk fabric with a crepe back
charmeuse	soft and satiny silk fabric
chenille	velvety silk, wool or cotton fabric with protruding pile that looks like caterpillars. It is very heavy and used for bed spreads, robes. Thick it is a bit more difficult to sew
cheviot	coarse heavy plain or twilled wool or worsted
chiffon	sheer silk fabric
chino	strong twilled cotton cloth (see twill)
chintz	glazed printed cotton fabric
cire	fabric with a glazed finish
cloque	fabric with an embossed design
coburg	thin single-twilled worsted fabric with cotton or silk
cordovan	soft goatskin leather
corduroy	durable cotton piled fabric with vertical ribs
crash	coarse drapery and toweling fabric
crepe	light crinkled fabric
crepon	heavy crepe fabric with lengthwise crinkles
cretonne	heavy cotton or linen cloth
crin	horsehair fabric
crinoline	stiff flax or cotton fabric
cubica	fine unglazed fabric resembling light twilled wool like or a worsted
cypress	usually black silk or cotton gauze fabric
damask	a jacquard weave it is a reversible rich weave. Patterned in satin or plain weave. It is a linen
delaine	light fabric of wool or mixed wool and cotton
denim	firm and durable twilled cotton (see twill)
dimity	sheer thin white cotton printed fabric with length wise cords, stripes or checks
domett	plain cotton-wool blend
dornick	stout linen
dowlas	coarse linen
drabbet	coarse linen
drap-de-Berry	old woolen cloth
dreadnought	heavy woolen cloth
drill	strong twilled cotton used in men/women pants (see twill)
droguet	ribbed woolen dress fabric
drugget	coarse durable wool fabric
ducape	plain-woven stout silk fabric
duck	heavy closely woven cotton fabric, heavy weight is used in awnings, light weight is used in summer clothing
duffel	low-quality thick woolen cloth
dungaree	usually colored heavy coarse durable twilled cotton, often used in pants
dupion	coarse silk
duroy	coarse woolen
duvetyn	smooth lustrous velvety fabric
ecarlate	fine woolen cloth, usually dyed scarlet
éolienne	fine silk and wool
etamine	light open-mesh cotton or worsted
eyelet	Small hole in fabric to allow passage of a ribbon; cotton fabric with small holes
faille	shiny closely woven silk, cotton or rayon fabric
farandine	silk and wool cloth
filoselle	coarse floss silk
flannel flannelette	light woolen or cotton fabric with a nap on one or both sides often used in sleep ware soft cotton with a nap on one side
foulard	soft lightweight plain-woven or twilled silk fabric
foulé	light woolen fulled cloth
frieze	rough heavy woolen cloth
fuji	plain spun silk fabric
fustian	coarse twilled cotton
gabardine	closely woven cotton or wool twill (see twill)
galatea	striped cotton
gambroon gauze	a twilled worsted cloth sheer light woven fabric, similar to cheese cloth. It is also made from silk. Machine wash but it WILL SHRINK
gazar	silk organza fabric
genappe	smooth worsted yarn
georgette	thin silk
gingham	light weight washable stout cotton fabric woven in striped plaids or checks
grenadine	thin silk
grogram	coarse loosely woven silk fabric
grosgrain	heavy close-woven corded silk
gulix	kind of fine linen
harn hemp	coarse linen soft warm fabric made from a plant fiber. Very durable. Used in garment and kitchen linens. Finest is from Italy and largest producer is China
herringbone	twilled fabric woven in rows of parallel sloping lines
hodden	coarse un-dyed woolen cloth
holland	coarse plain-woven cotton or linen
hopsack	loose fabric with a rough-surfaced
houndstooth	fabric with an irregular checked pattern
huckaback	absorbent cotton or linen used for towels
jaconet	stout cotton cloth
jacquard	intricately-woven variegated fabric
jaspe	cotton or rayon cloth with shaded effect
jean	durable twilled cotton material
jersey	plain weft-knitted fabric of wool, cotton, nylon or silk
kalamkari	fabric colorized by repeated dyeing
kelt	coarse fabric made of black and white wool
kente	hand-woven African silk fabric
kersey	coarse woolen cloth
kerseymere	twilled fine wool
khaddar	homespun cotton cloth
kincob	embroidered silk with gold and silver threads
lamé	fabric in which metallic threads are interwoven
lasting	sturdy cotton or worsted cloth
lawn	plain woven soft very light combed cotton or linen fabric with a crisp or  finish. Used to make baby clothes, lingerie or simi- fitted dresses. Sews easily creases easily
leno	open-woven fabric
linsey	coarse linen and wool blend
linsey-woolsey	thin coarse fabric of wool and linen
lockram	coarse linen
loden	heavy waterproof woolen fabric
lustring	glossy silk
lutestring	plain glossy silk
mackinaw	heavy napped and felted wool cloth
mackintosh	lightweight rubberized waterproof cotton
madapollam	fine cotton cloth
madras	fine plain-woven cotton or silk
marabout	thin downy silk
marcella	cotton or linen in twill weave
marocain	ribbed crepe fabric
marquisette	sheer meshed cloth
matelassé	having a quilted ornamentation; fabric with raised pattern as if quilted
melton	strong and smooth heavy woolen cloth
merino	soft wool of the merino sheep; any soft merino-like wool or wool and cotton cloth
messaline	soft lightweight silk with a satin weave
mockado	inferior quality woolen fabric
mogadore	ribbed silk used in making neckties
mohair	fabric made from silky hair of angora goats
moire	watered silk
moleskin	heavy durable cotton
moreen	stout corded wool or cotton
mousseline	fine sheer fabric
mull	soft fine sheer cotton or silk fabric
muslin	plain-woven fine cotton
musterdevillers	archaic mixed gray woolen cloth
nainsook	fine cotton fabric
nankeen	buff-colored; durable buff-colored cotton
needlecord	thinly ribbed cotton
ninon	silk voile or other thin fabric
organdie	fine translucent cotton sheer lightweight rather stiff. Well used for curtain lining. Some as fine as wire mesh. Creases well
organza	transparent thin silk or nylon Silk Organza is a sheer, thin open weave fabric that is heavier and crisper than silk gauze. It has a smooth, flat finish, is strong and durable, and gets its stiffness from tightly twisted yarns. Often used as the base fabrics for embellished fabrics. Silk organza is very lightweight and sheer, but a bit stiff, and can be gathered for bouffant uses, used alone or over other fabrics for fitted to loosely fitted blouses, dresses and evening wear. Also useful for facings, inter facings or lining. Silk organza can be used as an underlining to add crispness to parts of a garment. Sews easily, doesn't show pin holes. Holds creases well. Organza is washable, but wash it before cutting out. Click on the fabric care buttons to the left for more information on washing silks.
orleans	interwoven cotton and worsted
osnaburg	coarse linen or cotton
ottoman	heavy clothing fabric with crosswise ribs
oxford	soft durable plain-woven cotton used in shirting
paduasoy	corded silk
paisley	soft wool fabric with ornamental pattern
panne	heavy lustrous silk or rayon with waxy feel
paramatta	worsted and cotton blend
pashmina	fine goat's wool fabric used for making shawls
pekin	fine soft silk
pellicule	thin diaphanous fabric
percale	closely woven lightweight cloth
percaline	glossy lightweight cotton
perse	dark blue or bluish-gray; cloth of such a color
piqué	stiff durable corded fabric of cotton, rayon or silk
platilla	fine white linen
plissé	fabric with puckered finish
pongee	thin soft fabric woven from raw silk
poodle	coarsely looped or nubby fabric
poplin	corded woven silk and worsted
prunella	strong and heavy silk or wool
rabanna	raffia fabric of Madagascar
ramie	strong lustrous fabric resembling linen or silk
raploch	coarse un-dyed woolen cloth
raschel	light loosely kitted cloth
ratiné	rough bulky plain-woven fabric
rep	plain-woven fabric with crosswise ribs
reticella	old Venetian lace-like fabric
romal	handkerchief or head-cloth; silk or cotton fabric
rumchunder	fine silk
russel	ribbed cotton and wool
russet	coarse homespun cloth
sagathy	light blend of silk and cotton or wool
samite	rich and heavy silk, sometimes interwoven with gold or silver
sarsenet	fine and soft silk; soft or gentle
satara	ribbed wool with a luster
sateen	glossy cotton or wool
satin	closely woven silk with lustrous face
satinet	thin silk satin or imitation thereof
saxony	fine soft woolen fabric
say	delicate woolen fabric
scarlet	fine clotton
scrim seersucker	durable plain-woven cotton fabric
sempiternum	durable wool
sendal	thin silk or linen
serge	strong twilled worsted
shalloon	light twilled wool or worsted
shantung	plain rough silk or cotton
sharkskin	smooth durable wool or worsted fabric
shetland	lightweight loosely twisted wool fabric
shoddy	woolen fabric made from rags
sicilienne	ribbed silk
silesia	thin twilled cotton or linen
silkaline	soft light cotton fabric resembling silk
sindon	fine linen
stammel	coarse woolen fabric, usually dyed red; bright red color
stockinette	soft elastic cotton fabric
surah	soft twilled silk or rayon
swansdown	heavy napped cotton flannel
swanskin Swiss dot	soft napped fabric resembling flannel light weight plain weave cotton with a pattern of hand knotted or clipped dots. Creases well
tabaret	striped watered silk and satin fabric
tabby	plain-woven silk taffeta fabric
tabinet	silk and wool watered fabric
taffeta	thin glossy silk
tamin	thin glazed worsted
tamis	thin wool
tarlatan	thin sheer stiff cotton
terry	piled fabric consisting of uncut loops
ticking	strong linen or cotton fabric used for mattress and pillow cases
tiffany	transparent silk-like gauzy fabric
tiretaine	wool cloth mixed with cotton or linen
toile	plain or simple twilled fabric
tricolette	silk or rayon knitted fabric
tricot	plain knitted silk or woolen fabric
tricotine	double-twilled worsted fabric
tulle	sheer and delicate thin silk
tussah	brownish silk fabric
tweed	rough twilled wool
twill	distinguished by diagonally woven stripes a strong fabric well used in uniforms, pants or work clothing. Sews easily
velour	piled velvety cotton
veloutine	velvety corded wool
velvet	soft piled fabric of silk, cotton or synthetic material Silk velvet is a soft, elegant fabric that looks and feels expensive. It drapes better than other velvet, falling close to the body. S-L-I-N-K-Y. The silk velvet we most often have is a rayon pile on a silk base, making the fabric 18% silk, 82% rayon. We also have a good selection of 'burnout' silk velvet, processed silk velvet where parts of the pile have been removed so you can see through around the resulting pattern. We occasionally have 100% silk velvet, but it is very rare and expensive. Silk velvet is most often used for loose, full, flowing garments. Popular for dresses and evening wear. Choose simple styles with few seams to make the most of its drape ability. Difficult to sew because silk velvet is so-o-o-o slippery. Pin and sew carefully, pins and needles show holes. Worth the effort
velvetine venise	cotton with silk pile  a very fine damask with with large floral patterns used often in table cloth
vicuna	fabric made from wool of the vicuna, a small ruminant
voile	soft fine sheer fabric originally used for veils, now it is used in bloused, baby clothing, lingerie and semi-fitted garments
wadmal	thick coarse wool
whipcord	fabric with bold twill used for making dresses
wigan	stiff plain-woven cotton
wincey	plain or twilled cotton
woolsey	cotton and wool blend
worcester	fine wool
worsted	fine closely-woven wool
zanella	mixed twilled umbrella fabric
zephyr	lightweight wool or worsted fabric; the west wind
zibeline	soft piled wool