Cotton is a natural fabric that is most often used in sewing textiles, clothes, linen. The unique properties of cotton brought such popularity to the material: strength, durability, pliability in processing. In this article we want to talk about the composition of cotton, its properties, types and advantages before other types of fabric.

The composition and varieties of cotton

Almost everyone knows that cotton is obtained from the fruits of cotton growing on plantations in Central Asia, the USA, India, China and other countries. By special processing "Raw" fibers are converted into cotton thread, and then a canvas is made from it. Thus, the composition of cotton fabric includes natural threads that form different types weaves. The weave of the fibers affects the physical, chemical and aesthetic properties of the cotton fabric.

Most popular types of cotton weaves:

• twill;
• linen;
• small-patterned
• satin.

It forms a diagonal scar located from top to bottom and from left to right at an angle of 45 degrees.

The technology of production of fabric with twill weave makes it possible to produce dense, smooth and abrasion resistant material... In terms of strength, the twill weave fabric is inferior to the plain one, but at the same time it drapes and stretches well. Twill weave fabrics - soft, elastic and quite heavy - gabardine.

The most common among cotton fabrics - in it the warp and weft threads alternate in a checkerboard pattern.

This weave gives the material strength and increased rigidity. With plain weave, fabrics such as poplin, taffeta,

Divided into 2 groups

• Derived from simple weaves(from plain weave -, from twill weave - reinforced, complex twill, rhombic, from satin and satin - reinforced satin and satin).
• Combined weaves(crepe, diagonal, compound, waffle).

Satin or satin weave gives the surface of the fabric a smooth and even texture. The warp and weft threads are intertwined as follows.

• If weft threads predominate on the right side of the fabric, such a weave is called satin.
• If warp threads prevail on the right side of the fabric, the weave will be called satin.

With the help of these weaves, the following fabrics are made: satin, satin, crepe-satin. These materials have an increased gloss, they are soft, durable, elastic.

Properties of cotton fabric

The properties of cotton fabric can be divided into positive and negative. There are certainly more advantages, so you should dwell on them in more detail.

• High hygroscopicity. Thanks to this property, cotton fabrics absorb moisture, which allows them to be widely used in sewing summer and children's clothing, bed linen and towels.
• Air permeability. Cotton "breathes", so it is comfortable in it in all weather conditions.
• Strength. Cotton fabric is resistant to deformation, stretching and shrinkage after washing. Cottons can be washed with high temperatures, after which they will retain their original characteristics for a long time.
• Cotton fabric lightweight, comfortable and natural... She is pleasant to the body and very aesthetic in appearance.
• Cotton is easy to handle. Fabric cuts during cutting do not crumble, the lines run smoothly and without obstacles.

Disadvantages of cotton

Cotton is a fabric with a history rooted in the distant past. Seven millennia ago, cotton was cultivated on the banks of the great Indus River. Currently, the production of cotton materials accounts for about 40% of the total number of textiles. There are more than 50 of this type. Today the most popular and demanded fabric is cotton. The photo shows how beautiful cotton plantations are, which produce raw materials in more than 40 countries around the world.

Properties of cotton fabrics

Natural materials for the production of clothing and bed linen firmly hold the palm. Especially appreciated are cotton and underwear. And this is not surprising, because cotton fabric has a lot of advantages:

• Perfectly absorbs moisture.
• Nice to the touch.
• Does not cause allergies.
• It is easy to look after her.
• Does not accumulate static electricity.
• It has heat insulating properties.
• It stains well.
• Behaves perfectly when sewing products.
• Cotton is plastic when the fiber is heat treated.

Cotton clothes have negative sides:

• Wrinkles quickly.
• Shrinks when washed.
• Wears out, especially when exposed to direct sunlight.
• Cotton is susceptible to rotting in a humid environment.

The range of fabrics made from cotton fiber is unusually wide.

Cotton fabrics: types

Cotton fiber is a natural cellulose fiber. There are long staple, short staple, medium staple cotton, the fabric of these will be different. Also, the properties of the fabric depend on the way the fiber is woven.

In general, the following groups of materials are distinguished for orientation in the consumer market:

• Linen fabrics: chiffon, cambric, madapolam, grinsbon, muslin, nansuk and teak-eraser, mal-mal and turban.
• Dress and shirts: chintz, satin, calico, eraser, a group of dress and pile fabrics (corduroy rib, velvet, semi-velvet, corduroy cord).
• Summer dress: cambric, veil, maya, volta, matting, marquise.
• Demi-season: poplin, reps, tartan, garus, crepe, pongee, wool, pique.
• Winter: bike, bumazeye, flannel.

Let's consider the most popular materials.

Cotton fabrics are divided into two main types: household and technical. The bulk of cotton fabrics are household fabrics (about 80%), which are intended for sewing clothes, including linen, suit, dress, forties, as well as fabrics for jackets, summer and light season coats and raincoats.

Among household fabrics, you can find decorative fabrics used for the manufacture of curtains and furniture upholstery, as well as moisture-absorbing fabrics (handkerchiefs and towels). Cotton fabrics can be of different widths: 80, 90, 140 and 160 centimeters.

Cotton is also used to make summer fleece blankets, tablecloths, bedspreads and gauze. Technical fabrics are of packaging and packaging.

Types of cotton fabrics and their applications

Below is a list of cotton fabrics, their short description and application. If you are not well versed in fabrics, then after reading this list you can not only find out what cotton fabrics are, but also find out from which fabrics clothes, beddings are sewn or used for upholstering furniture.

Bike- dense soft fabric with thick pile. It is used in making light blankets, pajamas, warm underwear and home clothes.

Velvet- soft tissue. There is a thick pile on the front side. It is used in sewing jackets, trousers, women's dresses, as well as in interior decoration and curtains production.

Batiste- translucent thin plain weave fabric made of highly twisted threads. The main application of cambric is sewing light dresses and lingerie.

Bumazeya- fabric with one-sided fleece, as a rule, on the seamy side. Sew children's clothes from bumazey and women's dresses.

Bufmuslin- translucent fabric, very thin. It was especially popular in the 1830s. Nowadays it is used for sewing blouses and women's dresses.

Calico- dense unusual fabric... Its warp threads are much thinner than weft threads. They sew overalls from coarse calico, men's and bed linen. Bleached calico is called a canvas.

Waffle fabric- fabric, distinguished by the originality of the weave, visually resembling waffles. Possesses good absorbency properties. Therefore, it has received its application in the manufacture of towels.

Velveteen- a fairly dense fabric. On the front surface it has longitudinal ribs made of weft pile. Corduroy is used in light coats, suits, skirts, trousers and men's shirts. Corduroy with a rib more than 5 mm is called corduroy cord, and with a narrow one - corduroy scar. There is also a corduroy-based fabric - corduroy, a very durable and very dense fabric with a thick combed pile on one side. The main application is the sewing of sports suits.

Volta- light, thin, silky and translucent plain weave fabric. They sew blouses from volta.

Veil- transparent and smooth fabric used in sewing dresses, blouses and scarves.

Gas- finely spun cotton fabric. Gas is used in the sewing of scarves and shawls.

Worsted- coarse, dense fabric with double-sided printing in plain weave. It is used in sewing dresses.

Guipure- a fabric with a spectacular variety of interweaving of threads, similar to lace. Guipure is used in sewing elegant women's dresses, lingerie and blouses. It can also be used as a decorative finish for the listed products.

Greensbon- dense fabric with a twill weave (in a herringbone). Bleached greensbon is used in men's underwear. Plain dyed greensbon is in workwear, and severe greensbon is used for technical purposes.

Dalemba- the fabric, like the grinsbon, has a twill weave, and is used in the sewing of demi-season clothing.

Damascus- fabric with plain weave. Sometimes combined with satin. Goes to sewing curtains and linen. Can be used as an upholstery fabric.

Demicoton- double, very dense satin weave fabric. Distributed among poor townspeople and small officials in the 19th century. It was used in the manufacture of coarse coats and frock coats.

Denim is a type of denim. Its warp threads are black or blue colors, and the weft thread itself is white. Simply put, the seamy part of the manufactured product turns out to be white, and the front part is colored. Outerwear is sewn from denim: jackets, trousers, skirts and summer coats.

Denim- durable fabric. It was originally used in sewing workwear. Now it is very popular all over the world and is used in the sewing of trousers, skirts, suits, shoes, bags, accessories and hats.

Diagonal- dense cotton fabric with a slanting rib. They sew jackets, suits and military uniforms from the diagonal.

Kazinet- one-color fabric with twill weave. In the 19th century, the Kazinet went to sewing clothes for the lower civilian ranks.

Kanifas- plain dense fabric. It happens with an ornament in the form of stripes or printed. It has been used in Russia since the times of Peter the Great. Popular with the poor for its durability and value.

Kindyak- fabric with a printed pattern. It took place in the 19th century. Was on the lining.

Kiseya- translucent and very thin fabric. Like many cotton fabrics, it has a plain weave. Kisei can be colored, white, patterned, large and small, and even with embroidered ornaments. Goes into sewing children's and light women's dresses.

Calico... The fabric is heavily starched during the finishing process. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was used for lining and church needs. It is widely used as a binding material.

More beautiful- airy light fabric with a "crumpled surface", obtained through chemical treatment or pleating and a special weave of threads. Sometimes they are more beautifully decorated with silver or gold threads, which gives special beauty to women's dresses made of beautifully.

Cretonne- dense, plain weave fabric. The pre-dyed yarn produces geometric colored patterns in the form of cells and stripes. At one time it was used for the manufacture of various draperies, awnings, curtains, and also went to the upholstery of furniture.

Xandreika in the 19th century in France it was in red stripes. In Russia, it is one-color, with a red or pink color. Ksandreika is produced near the northern capital - Petersburg at the Aleksandrovskaya Manufactory.

Kumach- red fabric with plain weave. Shirts, sundresses and flags were sewn from kumach.

Eraser- lightweight fabric with a shiny surface. They sew dresses and shirts from an eraser. Used as linings.

Madapolam- hard, glossy fabric. Gloss is obtained by bleaching calico. Madapolam is used as a linen fabric.

Madras- porous fabric of plain weave. The porosity of madras is explained by the interweaving of threads of unequal thickness. Used in blouses and summer dresses for women.

Mayan- the fabric is lightweight. Available in printed, one-colored and bleached. Goes to the sewing of blouses, children's and women's dresses.

Marquis- transparent, light and thin fabric. The marquise is made from very fine twisted yarn. Sew blouses from the voile, light summer dresses and linen.

Gauze- hygroscopic transparent lightweight fabric. Mostly white. It is used in the printing industry, sewing industry, as well as in medicine as a dressing material.

Terry cloth has loop (terry) weaving. The surface of the terry cloth forms a double-sided pile in the form of loops formed from the warp threads. Bathrobes, towels, beach ensembles, sheets are sewn from terry cloth, and they are also used for decorative purposes and upholstered furniture.

Calico is a harsh fabric. It is used as a semi-finished product in the production of leatherette and oilcloth. Further processing of calico allows you to obtain other types of cotton fabrics: by bleaching - calico, by applying an ornament - chintz, dyeing and finishing operations are used to obtain linen fabrics: muslin and madapolam.

Moleskin- plain dyed, dense, heavy and durable fabric of reinforced satin weave, having smooth surface... Used in the tailoring of suits.

Muslin- soft thin plain weave fabric. Goes to sewing light dresses, underwear and blouses.

Nanka is usually yellow-brown in color, rough and tough. Goes to sewing hats, fur products, and also used in the manufacture of emery cloths.

Nainsook- lightweight and thin fabric. Goes to sewing bed and underwear.

Percale- technical dense, but thin fabric made of untwisted yarn. Percale is used in the manufacture of parachutes. Some types of percale are used in blouses and summer dresses.

Pique has longitudinal relief and narrow scars. May have a convex geometric ornament on the front side. Blankets are made from the peak. Goes to the sewing of blouses, dresses, collars and children's products.

Raincoat fabric, raincoat fabric, raincoat diagonal possesses water-repellent impregnation... In the process of wearing products made of this fabric, the level of waterproof properties decreases, and with repeated washing and dry cleaning, they will completely disappear. The raincoat fabric is used in the sewing of raincoats and jackets.

Plis is a kind of velvet. Has the greatest pile length. Began to spread from the 17th century. In Russia, merchants and rich peasants sewed elegant clothes from plis, and the nobles used it in home clothes... Plis also went into sewing upholstery for furniture and was used in the manufacture of shoes.

Plush has the greatest pile length in contrast to velvet. Its length is approximately 2.2 mm. Plush is used for decorative purposes, in furniture upholstery, as well as in sewing and finishing clothes.

Poplin has transverse scars. It is used in the sewing of blouses and men's shirts.

Prunella- dense but thin twill weave fabric. Prunel began to spread at the end of the 19th century, went to the upholstery of furniture and the manufacture of shoes.

Reps covered with ribs on the front and seamy sides. It is used for making shoes and sewing outerwear.

Twill has oblique scars on the front surface. Used for linings.

Satin has a shiny and smooth face. Goes into sewing men's underwear, shirts, women's and children's dresses.

Chintz, crinkled chintz- fabric with a printed variegated pattern of plain weave. Goes to sewing shirts, light dresses for children and women. Crinkled chintz is obtained by special heat treatment and is used in sewing bed linen that does not need to be ironed after washing.

Cloth can be lint-free and pile-free. The front side of the cloth has a felt-like layer, behind which the weave pattern is not visible. Cloth is used in sewing coats and suits.

Tarlatan- lightweight fabric. In the 19th century she was engaged in sewing women's dresses.

Taffeta- dense fabric of tightly twisted threads with patterns or small transverse ribs on a matte background. Taffeta is used in the sewing of women's dresses and men's shirts.

Tick ​​(tikal)- dense cheap fabric with a pattern in the form of longitudinal stripes. Due to its low cost, it is used as an upholstery material for the manufacture of pillowcases for down and feather pillows, mattresses.

Tights- dense fabric. It has a pronounced weave pattern (cells, longitudinal stripes, scars, etc.). Used in sewing dresses and suits.

Tulle- thin mesh fabric with mesh holes. The name of the fabric is derived from the French city of Tulle. Goes to sewing curtains.

Flannel- soft tissue. Has a double-sided fleece. Pajamas, underwear, women's dressing gowns, baby clothes and diapers are sewn from flannel.

Chintz- polished fabric with a surface that gives the impression of having been waxed. Chinz has the properties of not being soaked in water and not getting dirty. Goes into sewing tents, raincoats and jackets.

Sherstyanka ivanovskaya- crepe weave fabric. Found application in demi-season clothing.

Plaid- fabric with a check pattern. Children's and women's dresses and men's shirts are sewn from plaid. Tartan winter shirts are made with fleece on the wrong side.

Types of fabrics for sewing clothes

Everyone wants clothes to be attractive, fashionable and comfortable and fit their purpose: warm or protect from rain, tight-fitting or beautifully draped. These qualities largely depend on the material from which coats, dresses, suits, jackets or underwear are sewn. What types of fabrics are used to make clothes, how they differ from each other, their main characteristics and properties - about this in detail in our article.

The appearance, structure and quality of materials used for sewing clothes determine the composition of the fibers from which they are made. The following groups are distinguished by the type of feedstock:

1. Natural. In turn, they are subdivided into fabrics of vegetable origin: cotton, linen - and animal: silk, wool.
2. Artificial. They are made by processing natural raw materials, most often wood pulp.
3. Synthetic. They are a product of the chemical transformation of polymers obtained from oil, coal or gas.

As a rule, the materials from which clothes are sewn do not consist of 100% of fibers belonging to the same group. To obtain properties that more fully meet the needs of consumers, blended or combined fabrics are produced.

Every year the list of materials is updated with new names. We will try to understand this variety, focusing on the most common fabrics from each group and considering their advantages and disadvantages.

Natural materials

Due to the natural origin of the fibers natural fabrics highly appreciated. They allow the skin to "breathe" freely, do not cause irritation and do not provoke allergic and other diseases. These canvases are so safe that diapers and undershirts for newborns, clothes for expectant mothers, bedding sets and underwear are sewn from them.

Cotton fabrics

Lightweight, soft and pleasant to the touch, cotton clothing is always in demand. This is facilitated by the advantages of the material:

• breathability;
• hygroscopicity;
• high hygienic qualities;
• strength;
• ease of care.

Despite the insignificant thickness, cotton fabrics retain heat well, which is achieved due to the hollow structure of the fibers. Products made from them are inexpensive and available to any category of buyers.

The disadvantages include increased creasing, lack of elasticity and low wear resistance. In addition, fabrics are afraid of excessive dampness, in which mold forms on them, and the fibers become thinner and overheated.

Types of cotton fabrics

To improve the properties of cotton materials, artificial or synthetic fibers are added to them. Some canvases undergo a mercerization procedure - pre-treatment with a solution of caustic soda, due to which they acquire strength and become resistant to premature wear.

The most famous cotton fabrics are the following:

It's important to know! Clothes made of cotton materials are not too whimsical to care for. It can be machine washed, wrung out and twisted, ironed with a hot iron. However, if the fabric contains synthetic or artificial fibers, then carefully read the description on the label before putting the product in the machine.

Linen fabrics

Compared to cotton, linen fabrics that are used for sewing clothes appear denser and sometimes coarser. They also have all the positive characteristics inherent in natural materials, namely:

• good breathability;
• high thermal conductivity;
• wear resistance;
• hygroscopicity;
• strength.

Interesting fact! Flax fiber has been proven to have antiseptic properties. They destroy pathogenic microorganisms and are not subject to decay. It is not for nothing that since ancient times, linen bandages have always been applied to open wounds.

Unfortunately, during the operation of linen products, problems arise: clothes wrinkle, and when wet, they shrink significantly. In addition, the shedding makes it difficult to cut and sew. To reduce the negative characteristics, a small amount of polyester is added to pure flax.

Linen materials are classified according to the weaving method:

• linen. Most fabrics for dresses or suits are formed with it;
• leno. The result is openwork materials for skirts or summer sundresses;
• jacquard. Large-patterned fabric made on special machines with convex drawings or ornaments for sewing elegant clothes;
• translucent. The fabric turns out to be very thin and is used to make individual elements of products - capes, sleeves or inserts.

Clothes made of pure linen can not only be washed at high temperatures, but even boiled. It is best to dry them flat on a horizontal plane. To completely get rid of folds and creases, ironing is combined with steaming.

Woolen fabrics

The raw materials for the production of these materials are wool and down of various animals: rabbits, sheep, llamas, camels and others. They have high heat-saving properties and are quite expensive. Nevertheless, it is these fabrics that take precedence among all fabrics intended for warm clothes, since they have truly unique properties:

• hypoallergenic;
• low crease;
• aeration;
• moisture absorption;
• durability.

The only thing that pure wool lacks is elasticity. This problem is solved by introducing 5-10% elastane into the raw materials, due to which sweaters, sweaters or skirts acquire better fit and elasticity.

Assortment of woolen fabrics

In addition to pure-woolen fabrics, semi-woolen fabrics are also used for sewing clothes, in which cotton, silk or synthetic fibers occupy from 25 to 80%. Depending on the composition, the properties of these canvases also differ.

Interesting to know! In order to understand whether the fabric is 100% wool or has impurities, there is a simple method.... You need to pull the thread out of the canvas and set it on fire. Pure wool fiber will burn for a long time with the characteristic smell of burnt hair and leave behind a ball that can be easily rubbed with your fingers.

Silk fabrics

Natural silk fabrics look so attractive and sophisticated that they are suitable for clothes worn at various special occasions. In ancient times, only the wealthiest and most titled persons could afford to wear silk things. Even now, silkworm cocoon fabric is not a cheap pleasure.

Nevertheless, the high price does not discourage those who value not only the beauty of the material, but also its quality. And natural silk has enough positive properties:

• high hygroscopicity;
• breathability;
• thermoregulation;
• wear resistance;
• durability.

An important fact! Silk fabrics are uniquely hygienic. They literally repel all microorganisms and bacteria and are endowed with the ability to heal small wounds or abrasions on human skin.

Like all beauties, silk is considered a very capricious material. It cannot stand the bright sun, and when wet forms unattractive stains on the surface. The fabric is also very whimsical in care. It is best to wash products by hand and dry away from heating appliances. You need to iron silk items with an iron, setting the regulator to the most gentle mode.

Variety of silk fabrics

Since clothes made from natural silk are not affordable for everyone, many manufacturers seek to reduce the cost of production and add synthetic or artificial fibers. Such canvases are also beautiful, but they can no longer boast of the uniqueness of their properties. They do not have a characteristic iridescent sheen, flow less and drape poorly.

When buying, you should pay attention to the label, since the following types belong to 100% silk fabrics:

From all types of silk fabrics, with the exception of brocade, beautiful lingerie is sewn. It is decorated with embroidery, guipure or lace inserts. Despite the fact that such things have a significant cost, they are always in high demand.

Interesting fact! Few people know that there is another type of natural fabrics - hemp. Made from natural raw materials, hemp clothing is considered the most hypoallergenic and safe. In addition, it is distinguished by increased strength, durability and the body does not "float". Doctors say that wearing hemp underwear helps to eliminate toxins from the body and speeds up metabolic processes.

Artificial fabrics

As mentioned above, materials obtained chemically from natural components are considered artificial. Due to this origin, they are environmentally friendly and do not pose a danger to human health. Their characteristics speak for themselves:

• strength;
• ease;
• fast drying;
• unpretentious care;
• wide range of colors;
• wear resistance.

It is noteworthy that for the production of these materials, not expensive raw materials are used, as is the case with natural linens, but wastes from the woodworking industry, that is, ordinary cellulose. Very often, artificial fibers are introduced into the composition of many cotton or woolen fabrics in order to endow them with greater strength and durability.

The main types of artificial fabrics

Clothing made from artificial materials is always in demand among customers. After all, these canvases are attractive in appearance and are quite inexpensive. The list of the most common ones includes the following:

Interesting to know! In addition to the production of clothing, artificial materials are also used as filler for bedding. For example, bamboo pillows and blankets are considered the most environmentally friendly and hygienic, they are able to follow the anatomical contours of a person and thus create ideal conditions for relaxation and good rest.

Synthetic fabrics

The beginning of the era of synthetic materials is considered to be 1938, when specialists of the chemical concern "DuPont" obtained the first polyamide fibers - the "progenitors" of the famous nylon and nylon. Technological progress does not stand still, and the number of synthetic canvases currently known far exceeds the number of natural and artificial ones.

The properties of these materials depend on the raw materials, but they all have such undoubted advantages:

• high strength;
• abrasion resistance;
• low wear rate;
• durability;
• ease of care.

Of course, synthetics cannot be compared with cotton, silk or wool in terms of the degree of aeration, hygroscopicity or safety. But it has elasticity, extensibility and is not susceptible to mold and bacteria.

Important to remember! Clothing made of synthetic materials is not recommended to be worn in the summer heat, as it is poorly breathable and can create a greenhouse effect. In addition, some tissues build up static electricity and sparks, which, according to doctors, causes people to become fatigued and irritable.

Assortment of synthetic materials

Low production cost brings synthetic fabrics to the top of sales. Of the large number of "chemical" fabrics, let's pay attention to the most popular ones:

Today, every chemical concern considers it a matter of honor to develop a new synthetic material that would be in demand not only in the textile industry, but also in other industries. At the same time, it is important that the synthesized fibers have not only pre-programmed properties, but also be as environmentally friendly and safe as possible for humans.

Knitted fabrics

The classification of materials that are used for sewing various garments would be incomplete without knitted fabrics. They are knitted on special machines from fibers of various origins: both natural and artificial or synthetic.

Despite the variety of shapes, knitted fabrics have General characteristics... The advantages of knitted materials include:

• pleasant tactile sensations;
• elasticity;
• hygiene;
• wide range of applications;
• practicality;
• ease of care;
• durability.

However, when using low-quality or cheap raw materials knitwear can quickly lose their shape - stretch or sit down. In addition, the ability to fit a figure tightly is not always welcomed by owners of curvaceous forms. Nevertheless, there are knitwear in every person's wardrobe.

Variety of knitwear

Most often, in the production of knitted fabrics, mixed raw materials are used. The combination of cotton or woolen threads with polyester and lycra makes the material durable and wrinkle-free, without reducing air exchange and hygroscopicity. The most famous knitted fabrics are the following:

• diving. This variety is specially designed for sportswear. For its special fit and elasticity, the material is often called "second skin". In addition to swimsuits, leggings, leggings, shaping underwear and gymnastic suits from diving, even ballroom and evening dresses are sewn;
• interlock. Natural dense knitted fabric, from which sliders, blouses, undershirts and caps for newborns are made. The material has a double-sided structure resembling an elastic band. Interlock is also cozy and beautiful tracksuits, T-shirts, pajamas, nightgowns and dressing gowns;
• kashkorse. Elastic 100% brushed cotton fabric can be dyed or melange. It is used for sewing children's clothes;
• wader. The most common knitwear for the production of underwear and summer clothes. The fabric stretches very well in length and does not stretch in width. Perfectly conducts air and absorbs moisture. It is produced both plain-colored and supplied with various patterns or prints;
• makhra. Knitted fabric with looped pile on one or both sides. Salient feature- increased hygroscopicity, therefore the fabric is used for sewing bathrobes and other accessories for bathing;
• ribana. Thanks to the special "rubber" knitting, the fabric stretches well in width and keeps its shape perfectly. Sweaters, turtlenecks, tracksuits and hats are made from it;
• fleece. A soft and cozy knit with a pile feel reminiscent of sheared lambswool. Consists of 100% polyester. It retains heat well, is pleasant to the touch and does not require special care. Warm tracksuits, jackets, shirts, children's overalls, pajamas are sewn from fleece, women's clothing for home;
• footer. It is a thick cotton jersey with a fleece on the seamy side. Very warm, soft and tender. The main application is clothes for the little ones, a variety of sweaters, sweaters, robes and dresses.

It's important to know! To knitwear served as long as possible, they need to be properly looked after. It is better to wash them using liquid products, do not twist, but slightly squeeze and dry in a horizontal position. It is not recommended to hang knitted items on hangers to avoid stretching. For storage, it is advisable to use special bags in which you should put a moth repellent.

The quality, beauty and comfort of clothes largely depend on the material from which they are made. Various types of fabrics produced by the modern textile industry allow you to choose the one that will fully correspond to the purpose of the thing.

The history of cotton fabric production goes back millennia. It is believed that cotton first appeared in India more than seven thousand years ago. But the use of cotton as a fabric for sewing clothes began relatively recently - in the 19th century.

Currently, the main cotton producers are three countries: the United States, China and India. Cotton fabric is a natural fiber. This fiber is made from the fruit of cotton. To grow it, you need the presence of a large number of warm sunny days per year, the complete absence of frost and an average rainfall of 600-1200 mm. In other words, cotton grows best in tropical and subtropical climates, in regions where long dry periods prevail. Of the countries of the former Soviet camp, Uzbekistan most of all corresponds to such conditions, where at the time Soviet Union the main production of cotton in the USSR was concentrated.

Description of fabric

Historically, in Russian, the name "cotton fabric" arose due to the fact that in the 19th century in Russia this fabric was called "cotton paper". Gradually this name was transformed into the term "cotton fabric".

Cotton fiber refers to natural fibers of plant origin. The chemical formula of cotton is as follows (С6H10O5) n. Fiber is a plant cell that develops from the seed coat. Fiber thickness - 15-25 microns. The length can be different: from 5 to 60 mm. Depending on the length of the fiber, a distinction is made between short staple, medium staple and long staple cotton. Cotton fiber is a hollow tube, twisted several times around its axis. The hollow structure of this fiber is the reason for the poor thermal conductivity of the cotton fabric. Chemical composition cotton: 95% cellulose, 5% mineral impurities.

Properties

According to its properties, cotton has with the following characteristics:

Depending on the length of the fibers, the fabric is divided into three groups.

Before the cotton harvested in the fields turns into linen, it must be turned into cotton thread, that is, subjected to a spinning process. This is done on special machines. For cotton fibers use three spinning technologies: gimbal, combed and hardware.

Synthetic inclusions

At present, pure cotton thread is rarely used, most often the composition of cotton fabric contains certain synthetic additives that reduce the negative natural properties of cotton, such as easy creasing, high abrasion, and poor resistance to ultraviolet radiation. The most common synthetic fibers for cotton fabrics today are acetate, rayon and polyester. Their use is significant improves the properties of the original tissue.

Varieties of cotton fabric

According to the method of external finishing, several types of material are distinguished:

The most expensive fabrics are made from cotton fiber having a long-fiber structure. The description of such fabrics will take more than one page. We will mention only the main ones:

From medium staple cotton, a huge variety of fabrics of the middle price category are obtained.

Short staple cotton get the cheapest grades of fabrics, which are called "prophetic cotton":

The properties of cotton fabric make it possible to use it in almost all areas of our life. For example, it is used for sewing bedding. For these purposes, as a rule, are used soft tissue, such as satin, chintz, calico, flannel. Cotton bed linen is characterized by such positive qualities as naturalness, there is never an allergy to it, a pleasant fit to the body, good moisture absorption.

It is also used for the production of lightweight textiles: dresses, blouses, shirts, sundresses, nightwear and shirts. High quality Chinese cotton is especially good for these purposes. A distinctive feature of lightweight clothing made of natural cotton is that the stuffy, hot weather is very comfortable in it. Cotton is a symbol of home coziness and comfort.

It also happens outerwear made of cotton: all kinds of jackets, windbreakers, raincoats, coats and bavos (a type of poncho), as well as work clothes and special-purpose products.

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