Sheeting Fabrics
COTTON
Cotton is the single most popular fabric purchased by American consumers today. Cotton's popularity stems from the fiber's inherent benefits, such as tactile comfort (that is, a sensation of softness when touching cotton fabric), and an unsurpassed ability to accept and retain color. Cotton is a seasonless fiber--cool in the summer, insulating in the winter. It "breathes" and therefore keeps body moisture away from the skin. It launders beautifully. There are four primary cotton varieties. The types of cotton are named after the region in which they were first grown, but are now grown all over the world.
- SEA ISLAND --- is very silky and refined. It is grown exclusively in the West Indies and the islands of the Carolinas and Georgia Coast. It is best noted for its length of staple (average of 2 inches).
- EGYPTIAN-- has a longer staple than the most other varieties. It can be spun into finer texture thread and woven into a softer, more lustrous fabric. All of Peacock Alley's sheets are made of Egyptian cotton.
- PIMA -- an American version of Egyptian cotton, but with a shorter staple (fiber). Pima was originally cultivated in Arizona by the Pima Indians.
- AMERICAN UPLAND -- comprises 80% of the world's production. It is a short, sturdy fiber that is durable but coarser to the touch. Similar strains are grown in Malaysia, Peru, Burma, and Madagascar.
COTTON-POLYESTER BLEND
This blend offers the convenience of "wash and wear", and is less expensive than 100% cotton products. Blends do not "breathe" or absorb moisture as natural fibers do. They are also not as comfortable.
LINEN
Linen is spun and woven from flax, and therefore has several advantages over cotton. Its cooling effect makes it ideal for summer. Linen sheets grow softer and more precious with time and care. These extremely durable sheets can last 20 years or more.
Standard Fabric Terms
APPLIQU - A surface decoration, sewn or embroidered, or otherwise attached to the fabric.
BACK-COATING - Fabric treated with sizing on the back only to give added weight, strength and opacity.
BLANKET STITCH - A closely spaced stitch that forms a line of closely spaced loops at the edge. It is used in embroidery for purely decorative purposes.
BLEACHING - Necessary process to remove the natural and artificial impurities in fabrics to obtain clear whites for even dyeing and printing.
BOURDON STITCHING - A close, narrow row of decorative raised stitching such as a monogram, finished edge or accent.
CAMBRIC - Usually a thin, white closely -woven cotton fabric treated to give it a slight gloss. Normally used for pillow and duvet shells.
CARDING - A process of cleaning fibers by separating and laying them parallel to each other.
CHENILLE - A fuzzy cotton yarn or fabric that has pile protruding around it. Chenille is the French word for caterpillar.
CHINTZ - Cotton fabric produced by passing the fabric between heated rollers under pressure. This glazed cotton is often printed with figures and large flower designs. Used widely in upholstery fabric.
COMBING - A process for removing short fibers. The process enables cotton to be spun into very fine, lustrous yarns for high quality fabrics.
CREPE - A lightweight fabric with a surface that is more or less crinkled according to the method used. Crepes are made in every variety of fibers.
DAMASK - A woven cotton fabric made on a jacquard loom that has an alternating satin and matte texture. Damask fabrics are reversible.
DOBBY - Woven on a dobby loom, this fabric can be made with a dot or geometric design.
EYELET - A style of decorative fabric stitched with small cut out openings.
EASY CARE - A finishing process using resin, which gives the fabric a smooth appearance.
EMBOSSING - A pressure process using engraved rollers and heat application to produce raised or relief patterns on the surface of the fabric.
FAGOTTED - A decorative trim created by pulling out horizontal threads from a fabric and gathering the remaining cross threads into an hourglass shape.
GREIGE GOODS (pronounced "gray") - Loom state of cloth that has not received dry and wet finishing.
GUSSET - Refers to mattress depth.
HEMSTITCHING - A decorative stitching along the stitching lines of hems and borders to create an open weave pattern.
JACQUARD - A loom as well as a type of intricate fabric woven on a jacquard loom. The loom produces elaborate cloth weaves such as tapestries, brocades, and damask fabrics.
LOCK-STITCH - A type of stitch consisting of two threads that are interlocked at short intervals. A lock-stitched terry does not pull easily.
MATELASS - A cotton jacquard fabric. The term refers to the type of weave. It is a triple-woven fabric. This weaving process creates the signature raised pattern/appearance.
MERCERIZATION - A wet finishing process for cotton yarn or fabric. This treatment increases cotton's luster and strength allowing the fabric to retain dyes more readily.
MUSLIN- Cotton sheeting fabric with thread count of less than 180 threads per square inch.
NAPPED FABRICS - Cotton fabrics which have been dry finished by raising fibers on the surface to produce a fuzzy appearance. Cotton flannel is an example.
PERCALE - Usually made with combed yarns, his closely woven cotton fabric has a thread count of 180 threads per square inch or higher.
PLISS - Produced by a wet finishing treatment, this fabric has the look of woven seersucker, similar to crepe.
PICOT - A narrow row of dainty holes produced to create an edge or a finished flange.
PILLING - Occurs as a result of fibers loosening from the fabric surface to form balls of matted fiber particles.
PIQUE - A stiff, durable ribbed fabric with an embossed pattern produced by a double warp thread.
SANFORIZED - A process to preshrink fabric. Fabrics with this trademark should never shrink more than 1%.
SATEEN - A weave construction for mercerized cotton fabrics, which produces a smooth, lustrous surface.
SCALLOPED EDGE - A border that contains continuous curves finished with bourdon stitching.
SHRINKAGE - The contraction of a fiber, yarn or fabric after washing and drying. All products made of natural fibers have a tendency to shrink 4%-8%.
TERRY CLOTH - Type of cloth that has uncut loops on the pile.
THREAD COUNT - The number of yarns per square inch in a woven fabric. The higher the count the finer the fabric.
TICKING - A very durable striped linen or cotton fabric with a twill weave. This closely woven material is primarily used for mattress and pillow coverings.
TWILL - This type of weave is characterized by the lines that are ribbed diagonally across the fabric.
WAFFLE CLOTH - A honeycomb weave usually of cotton or wool, used mainly for towels and robes.
WARP THREAD - The set of fixed threads that are set lengthwise across the fabrics.
WEFT - The crosswise threads of any woven fabric.
WOOF - The threads that cross the warp of a woven fabric; the weft.
YARN-DYED - Yarns dyed in a bundle or package before weaving into fabrics like ginghams, stripes and plaids. Also known as "color-woven" fabric.
