TLE

• Solid Cotton

  • Durable, comfortable, and easy to care for
• Cotton Velvet

  • Comes in many weights, appropriate for upholstery, clothing, and decorative accessories
  • Clean with soft, dry brush or dry-clean
  • Steam (do not iron) to remove wrinkles
• Muslin

  • Inexpensive plain-weave cotton, often used as a lining or to make a practice version of a garment or slipcover to test for fit
• Terry Cloth

  • Most commonly used fabric to make bath towels and robes
  • Absorbent because of its looped pile of cotton yarns
  • Can have a pile on one or both sides
• Flannel

  • Can be made of cotton, wool, or a wool blend
  • Soft, popular for baby clothes and lining winter garments
• Chambray


  • Plain-weave fabric made of cotton or cotton-synthetic blends
  • Warp thread is dyed, weft threads are left white, like denim
  • Used for making clothing, especially shirts
• Poplin

  • Durable cotton poplin has a tightly woven plain weave and slightly horizontal ribs
  • Good choice for children's and lightweight adult's clothing
• Cotton Voile

  • Lightweight sheer cotton, perfect for clothing and breezy curtains
• Patterned Cotton Fabrics

  • Ticking
  • Dotted Swiss
  • Gingham
  • Shirting
  • Calico
• Ticking

  • Sturdy and tightly woven cloth made of cotton or linen, gets its strength from having more warp (lengthwise) yarn than weft (crosswise)
• Dotted Swiss


  • Also called Swiss dot, features raised polka dots on a background of light, shear cotton
  • Can be used for making curtains and clothing, including children's garments
• Gingham

  • Distinct, two-tone over white checkered pattern
  • Can be made of cotton or blended fibers
  • Well suited to lightweight summer clothing and household linens
• Shirting

  • Often used to make men's and women's shirts
  • Made of cotton or synthetic cotton blends
  • Can be a solid color or patterned
  • Yarn-dyed patterns do not fade, printed patterns often do
• Calico

  • In the United States, refers to inexpensive, lightweight cotton with a small printed pattern
  • Used to make quilts, craft projects, and clothing
• Silk

  • Originated in China
  • Used for interior decoration and fashion
  • Strong and lightweight, takes dye well, has a natural luster
  • Some silks may be gently handwashed, although dry-cleaning is recommended for most
  • Do not wring wet silk as fibers become weaker when wet
  • To dry, roll the fabric inside a towel to absorb excess water
  • Never spot-clean as water may leave marks
• Linen

  • Made from flax, one of the oldest textiles in human history
  • Extremely strong and durable, can be heavy yet feels light and cool against the skin
  • Ideal for warm-weather wear, beddings, and table linens
  • Available in natural hues, including solids and patterns
  • Softens if machine-washed, a trait some people find desirable
  • If you prefer your linen crisp, dry-clean it
  • Wash, dry, and press (or dry-clean) linen before sewing it
• Upholstery Linen

  • Heavyweight, will stand up to years of wear and tear
  • Used to cover furniture such as chairs, sofas, ottomans, and headboards
• Homespun Linen


  • Loosely woven with a textured surface made to resemble hand-made cloth
• Damask

  • Woven in such a way that the pattern on one side is the inverse of the other, so it has no "wrong side"
  • Often woven from threads in similar shades, although you can find all kinds of color combinations
  • Especially popular for tablecloths and napkins
• Linen Mesh

  • Loose weave that makes it easy to fringe
  • Good choice for table linens or curtains
• Handkerchief Linen

  • Lightweight, fine linen, ideal for making blouses and other warm-weather garments, baby clothes, and handkerchiefs
  • Feels smooth to the touch and is slightly sheer
  • Makes a pretty background for embroidery
• Coated Linen

  • Treated with a layer of plastic or vinyl to make it water-resistant and easy to clean
  • Similar to oilcloth
• Wool Fabrics

  • Mohair
  • Flannel
  • Windowpane
  • Herringbone
  • Tweed
  • Cashmere
• Mohair

  • Lustrous fabric from the hair of Angora goats
  • Fibers can be either straight or curly, can be dyed to brilliant shades
• Flannel

  • Wool or wool-cotton blend
  • Can be made with a plain or twill weave
  • Sometimes has a nap (a fuzzy, slightly raised fiber) on one or both sides
• Windowpane

  • Classic man's wear pattern characterized by horizontal and vertical pinstripes
  • Fabric is worsted wool, which is smooth and lustrous, and most often used for suiting
• Herringbone

  • Typically made from wool
  • Twill weave fabric with a distinct V pattern, named for resembling the skeleton of a herring (fish)
  • Popular choice for suits
• Tweed

  • Originally from Scotland, characterized by its coarse weave, stubby texture, and flecks of color
  • Comes in a range of colors, from dark or neutral shades to bright hues and patterns
  • Can be found in a plain or twill weave
• Cashmere

  • Exceptionally lightweight and soft
  • Comes from goats, not sheep
  • Goats produce usable hair in small quantities, making the finished product costly
  • Cashmere blended with other fiber is a less expensive alternative than pure cashmere
• Repairing Defective Clothing, Linens, and Fabrics

  1. Mending - Strengthening worn-out parts of a garment by restitching them

  2. Darning - Replacing and reinforcing worn-out and broken threads of fabric by stitching or weaving in new threads

  3. Patching - Stitching a piece of fabric to cover a hole

  4. Mending and darning should be done before washing to prevent the tear or hole from getting worse

  5. Learn simple ways of altering linens

  6. Clothes look better and last longer if you mend rips and tears as soon as they appear

  7. Depending on their size, holes in a garment may be mended by patching
• TLE REVIEWER