Woven, knit, weight and finishes

The same fibre can make completely different fabrics depending on how the yarns are interlaced. You need to understand this before you order a swatch.

Woven fabric

• Yarns cross at right angles, so it is usually more stable and less stretchy.
• Examples: poplin, twill, satin, denim.

Knit fabric

• Interlocking loops, so it is stretchy and comfortable.
• Examples: jersey, rib, fleece.

Weight in GSM

It means grams of fabric per square metre. An illustrative example: a fabric of 180 grams and 1.5 metres wide weighs about 270 grams per running metre (180 × 1.5). The higher the weight, the denser and thicker it usually is, which affects drape, season and price.

Finishes

A finish is a treatment after the fabric is made: softening, reducing shrinkage, crease resistance or cleaning. Ask the supplier which finish is applied, because it changes feel and performance.

Exercise

Decide for your piece: woven or knit? What approximate weight? Why? Then ask a supplier to describe the candidate fabric in the three terms: composition, construction and weight.