Just to help you out, below is a list explaining some of the commonly used terms when describing clothing.
Applique
embellishment on a garment where the decoration is made by cutting pieces of one material and applying them to the surface of another.
Argyle
A popular design for knitted fabrics (both hand and machine knit), most often used on sweaters and socks. Usually two or three colours appear in this diamond shaped plaid patter, named for the tartan of a clan in the county of Argyle, western Scotland.
Binding
A strip of fabric sewn over or attached along an edge to secure or protect.
Canvas
A strong, durable, closely woven cotton fabric popular for raincoats, handbags and boots. Originally made of unbleached hemp or flax used for sails, tents, etc.
Corduroy
Medium to heavyweight cotton pile fabric with Wales usually cut vertically. This is strong, durable fabric, originally used by the household staff of French kings, was called corde du roi or "cord of the king".
Embroidery
fancy needlework or trimming consisting of a coloured yarn, embroidery floss, soft cotton, silk or metallic thread. Although hand embroidery is still widely practiced, most commercially produced embroidered clothes are by machine.
Engineered Print
Also called a place print, because it is integrated into a specific area of design. Border prints are often engineered into place.
Eyelet
Fabric that is designed with a series of finished small holes or perforations, adding beauty and breath ability to the garment.
Facing
A piece of fabric sewn to the inside of a garment for the lining purposes to add structure.
Flannel
A warm, soft fabric, made in tightly woven twill or plain weave, and finished with a light napping. Derived from the Welsh word gwlanen, which means wool.
Herringbone
A twill weave made up of parallel lines balanced evenly in each direction to create a zigzag effect.
Interlock
A type of cut and sew fabric that is characterised by the interconnecting of the knit stitches.
Jacquard
(ja-card) Elaborate woven or knitted pattern made on a jacquard loom. Invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in France 1801, the loom uses a punch card much like a player piano does. Some Jacquard fabrics have specific names (e.g. Brocade, Damask, Tapestry).
Jersey
A generic term for a plain knit fabric without a distinct rib. Originally made of wool, jersey fabric was first manufactured on the island of jersey.
Linen
Fibres of the flex plant, woven into the fabric that are cooler, stronger and more absorbent than cotton.
Marled Yarn
two single yarns of different colours twisted together. You see this mottled effect most often in sweaters.
Merino Wool
This is high quality wool yarn made from the fleece of merino sheep. It is fine, strong, and elastic, and takes dye well.
Pique
(Peekay) A knitted cotton fabric with a waffle (or diamond shaped) pattern.
Placket
The piece of cloth that reinforces a split or opening in a garment; and that usually also serves as the closure (i.e. the button packet for a shirt).
Pointelle
Delicate looking rib knit fabric made with a pattern of openings.
Poplin
A durable, plain weave fabric similar to broad cloth, But with a heavier rib and heavier weight, made of silk, cotton, synthetic fibres, wool or blends.
Raglan
A sleeve where one piece of fabric extends all the way to the neckline, with slanted seams from the armhole to the neck (no shoulder seam).
Sateen
A semi lustrous surface distinguishes this smooth, durable fabric in a satin weave. Sateen is usually made of cotton.
Twill
A fabric that shows a distinct diagonal wale on the fence (e.g. denim, gabardine).
Velour
Soft plush fabric with a close, dense pile. Originates from the French word for velvet.
Velvet
A short, closely woven cut pile fabric with a rich, soft texture. Originally silk, velvet is now also made of cotton blends.
Yard-dyed
A fabric woven or knitted with yarns that have been dyed prior to fabrication of the cloth (i.e. plaid). Considered a sign of quality, because yarn-dyed makes the fabric resist fading. |
