FABRIC TYPES

The Bengaline fabric was first produced in Bengal, India where it got its name.  Bengaline is a woven fabric with wide, raised crosswire cords or ribs that create a sturdy texture.  It may be made of natural textiles, such as cotton, wool or silk, or from synthetic fibers, such as rayon or nylons.  Often, it is made of a combination of two different materials and the texture makes the fabric useful in many types of clothing.  It is often found useful for trim on clothing or for making coats, suits and dresses.

Many seamstresses find bengaline a good choice for draperies since the texture is often considered luxurious, long lasting and is available in a wide variety of colors. 

Most broadcloth today is cotton or a cotton blend and comes in a variety of colors.   It is a very lightweight, smooth, flat looking fabric, with no pattern in the weave of the threads.  It is a popular type of dress shirt fabric and comes in a variety of thread counts, ranging from 50 singles to over 140 doubles.  Broadcloth dress shirts are versatile and will appear very dressy and perfect for formal occasions.  This is a great year round fabric.

Burlap is constructed loosely, with a heavy weight made from plain weave fabric.  To wash this fabric you need to hand wash in cold water and hang to dry.  This fabric is extremely versatile being used for wall coverings or crafts to the garden to protect your plants.

A popular lightweight, plain weave fabric with a denim look.  The name is derived from Cambrai, France where it was first made.  Chambray is usually plain but may be found in stripes, checks, or other patterns.  This fabric wears well, is easy to sew, launders well but does wrinkle easy.

Lighter weight chambray can have either a dressy or casual appearance. Some will be woven with a tighter weave and have a nice shine and dress up nicely, while others will have a looser weave that is better suited for a casual look.

Cotton is the most common vegetable fibre, making it the third oldest fabric after flax and wool. The quality can vary depending on its length; a long strand will produce a strong high quality cotton. The lightness of the material makes it ideal for lite summer time outfits. Cotton is also good because it is non-irritating for the skin. The cotton fabric is easily washable and can be ironed at high temperatures.

This fabric is completely acquired through a chemical process. A benefit of polyester is its high resistance to wear and tear and its low inflammability. Polyester is easy to care for with a crease resistance.

As a bride plans her wedding, one of the major details is choosing a dress. Most bridal dresses definitely use satin, a staple in bridal designs.

Satin fabrics typically have a glossy surface and a dull back. If a fabric is formed with a satin weave fibers such as silk, nylon, or polyester, the corresponding fabric is termed a satin, although some definitions insist that the fabric be made from silk. If yarns such as cotton are used, the fabric formed is considered sateen. Many variations can be made of the basic satin weave including a granite weave and a check weave. Satin weaves, twill weaves, and plain weaves are the three basic types of weaving by which the majority of woven products are formed.

This natural fibre is composed from silkworms, and is the softest and finest natural fabric. This fabric can go from being cool in the hot summer or warm in the cold winter. Silks main features are offering thermal isolation, has to be carefully washed in the washer and ironed at 130 Celsius.

Pronounced “tool”, tulle is a popular fabric used in decorating and sewing. A lightweight netting, bountiful tulle bows decorate church pews for weddings and packages for gift giving. Wreaths made of tulle adorn many front doors. Ideal for tutus and hair bows, many young girls become princesses wearing tulle creations. Veils flow with tulle from the well-coiffed heads of brides. Tulle definitely finds its place in a fabric lover’s inventory.

Tulle is one of thousands of fabrics to be found in bulk at Phoenix Of Anderson for clothing manufactures throughout the world.

This fabric is obtained from sheeps fleece. The first gathering of sheep fleece for wool is most prized because the fibres are of high quality and very soft and is called lambswool. The wool is great for keeping you warm with its thermal protections. This fabric is also very elastic and absorbent.