Alencon Lace A needlepoint lace on a fine net background. Characterized by a heavy thread (cordonnet) outlining the design. Although usually machine made, there are instances where the cordonnet is inserted/done by hand.
Allover Lace A general term for a 'wide' lace in which the pattern covers the full width of the fabric.
Bark Cloth Originally Referred To Fabric Made From The Bark Of Trees. Now The Term Is Used To Describe Fabric With A Surface Texture Resembling Tree Bark.
Batik A Traditional Indonesian Dyeing Process In Which Portions Of Fabric Are Coated With Wax And Therefore Resist The Dye. The Process Can Be Repeated To Achieve Multi-color Designs. Fabric Usually Has A Veined Appearance Where The Dye Has Gone Through The Cracks In The Wax.
Batiste 1. A Sheer, Fine, Soft, Light Weight, Plain Weave Fabric Usually Of Combed Cotton Or Polyester/cotton. It Often Has Lengthwise Streaks Due To The Use Of 2 Ply Yarns. Used For Shirts Blouses Dresses Nightwear And Lingerie. 2. A Lightweight Smooth All Wool Fabric. 3.a Sheer Silk Fabric.
Beaded Referring To A Fabric Embellished With Beads.
Bias Any Direction In The Fabric Which Does Not Exactly Flow In The Direction Of The Weft Yarn (vertical Yarns) Or Warp Yarns (horizontal Yarns) Of A Fabric. A True Bias Makes An Angle Of 45 Degree Across The Length And Width Of A Fabric, Fabric Cut On A Bias Has Maximum Stretch.
Boucle 1.a Fancy Yarn With An Irregular Pattern Of Curls And Loops 2. A Fabric Made From Boucle Yarn.
Bourette A Fancy Plied Yarn With Nubs And Knots Of Another Color.
Brocade A Heavy Rich- Looking Jacquard Fabric With Contrasting Surfaces Or A Multicolor Design . Used In Upholstery , Draperies Evening Wear.
Burn Out A Fabric Made Of 2 Fibers Then Printed With A Chemical That Dissolves One Of The Fibers Thus Creating A Design (often Done On Velvet).
Challis A Soft, Lightweight, Plain Weave Fabric With Good Drape. Often Used For Printed Dresses And Skirts. Most Commonly Wool Or Rayon But May Be Of Cotton Or Other Spun Fibers.
Charmeuse A Soft Lightweight Woven Satin Fabric With Good Drape. It Is Made With High Twist Yarns, Has A Semi-lustrous Face And A Dull Back . Often Used For Blouses, Intimate Apparel.
Chemise An undergarment made of finely woven soft material worn by both sexes, usually in the form of a basic t-tunic with straight sleeves.
Chiffon A Lightweight , Sheer, Plain Weave Fabric With A Dull Surface, A Soft Hand , And Good Drape. It Is Made With Fine High Twisted Yarns And Has An Even Or Close To Even Number Of Threads Per Inch In The Warp And Weft. Originally Made In Silk But Now Found In Polyester And Other Man-made Filament Yarns. Used In Dresses Blouses, Scarves, Veils.
Cool Colors Blue, Violet And Green Are Cool / Light Colors. They Are Reducing In Nature, As Seen By The Eye They Move Away From The Object Thereby Increasing It’s Size. Cool Colors Have A Calm And Restful Effect.
Crepe A Fabric Characterized By An All Over Crinkled, Pebbly, Or Puckered Surface. The Appearance May Be A Result Of The Use Of High Twist Yarns , Embossing , Chemical Treatment Or A Crepe Weave.
Crepe De Chine Lightweight Plain Weave Fabric Usually Of Silk Or Man Made Filament Yarns With A Slight Crepe Texture Produces By Using High Twist Yarns . Used In Blouses And Dresses.
Crepe-back Satin A Two Faced Fabric In Which One Side Is Crepe And The Other Satin. Also Called Satin-back Crepe.
Cut Velvet Jacquard Fabric Consisting Of A Velvet Design On A Plain Ground. Also Called Beaded Velvet.
Damask Originally A Silk Fabric Made In Damascus, Only One Color, With Patterns Of Flowers, Branches And Animals In Satin Finish Contrasting With The Slightly Textured Taffeta Background. Multi-colored Damasks Are Called Lampas.
Deco Refers To Designs Which Suggest The Art Deco Style Of The 20's And 30's, Characterized By Bold Outlines And Streamlined Shapes.
Dotted Swiss A Sheer Fabric Often A Lawn Or Batiste, Usually Of Cotton Or Cotton Blend, With A Small Dot Pattern. The Dots Are Usually Woven Into The Fabric But May Be Flocked Or Printed . Used For Curtains, Children's Clothes, Dresses.
Drapey Refers To A Fabric With Good Drape, That Is, One That Is Supple And Falls Easily Into Graceful Folds When Hung Or Tailored.
Draping Draping Means To Hang Or To Adorn The Body Form With Loose Fabric, And To Obtain A Body Fitted Garment By Using Adequate Sewing Techniques.
Duchesse Lace A Guipure Lace Characterized By Floral And Leaf Designs With Very Little Ground . Heavier Threads Are Intertwined To Give Raised Texture. Used In Bridal Veils And Gowns.
Ecru Descriptive Of Fibers, Yarns, Or Fabrics That Have Not Been Subjected To Processes Affecting Their Natural Color.
Eyelet A Fabric Decorated With Cut Out Areas Surrounded By Stitching. Used For Dresses, Blouses, Children's Apparel, Curtains.
Faux Fur A Pile Fabric Made To Simulate Animal Fur. May Be Woven Or Knit In A Variety Of Fibers Although Acrylic And Modacrylic Are Most Common.
Floral Refers To Design Motifs Dominated By Flowers.
Flounce A Band Of Cloth Or Lace Fluting Around A Garment To Which It Is Attached Only By Its Upper Edge.
Gabardine A Tightly Woven Durable Twill, Usually 2x2 Right Handed, With A Distinct Twill Line. Common Used In Men's And Women's Trousers, Rainwear And A Variety Of Other Uses.
Georgette A Lightweight, Plain Weave, Crepe Fabric With A Pebbly Texture And Slightly Raspy Hand. Uses High Twist Yarns Which Alternate Between S And Z Twist Every Thread Or 2 In Both Warp And Weft . Used For Blouses, Dresses.
Gingham A Plain-weave, Light-weight Cotton Fabric, Approximately Square In Construction, In Which Dyed Yarns, Or White And Dyed Yarns, Form Small Checks Or, Less Usually, Narrow Stripes., Note: If Fibers Other Than Cotton Are Used The Term Should Be Suitably Qualified (e.g. Viscose Rayon Gingham).
Gore A triangular piece of fabric inserted into a skirt to make it wider.
Guipure Lace A Needlepoint Lace Made With A Heavy Buttonhole Stitch And With The Pattern On A Coarse Mesh Or Held Together With Connecting Threads.
Hammered Satin A Satin Fabric With An Allover Surface Texture That Looks Like Hammered Metal.
Illusion A Very Fine Sheer Fabric Usually Of Nylon Or Silk.
Interfacing A Fabric That Is Meant To Be Fused Or Sewn To Another To Give It Body And Shape.
Interlining Any One Of A Wide Variety Of Fabrics Used Between The Inner And Outer Layers Of A Garment To Improve Shape Retention, Strength, Warmth Or Bulk. Interlining May Be Of Woven, Knitted, Or Non-woven Material And May Be Produced With Or Without A Fusible Adhesive Coating.
Iridescent A Fabric With A Changeable Color Effect Depending On The Angle Of View And Lighting. It Is Usually The Result Of Weaving With One Color In The Warp And Another In The Weft.
