Flannel is a soft, warm fabric familiar to each of us from childhood. Young mothers choose diapers, baby vests and bodysuits made from this material for their newborns. The checkered flannel shirt has been a youth trend for the last few seasons. What else can be sewn from this fabric, what types does it come in, and how to properly wash flannel clothes?

Description, history and production methods

Flannel fabric has a soft fleecy surface on one side and a smooth surface on the other. Such a description cannot reflect the tactile sensations you will experience when wearing a flannel shirt or pajamas. Incredibly soft and warm material will give you a feeling of comfort and coziness, no matter what the weather outside the window!

Flannel is made from cotton or wool using the . As a result, a fine ribbed fabric is formed. There is also material made in the usual way. Thanks to the fleece, it acquires the ability to retain heat.

The name Flannel itself is translated from Welsh as “woolen fabric” and until the end of the 19th century, no other raw material was used for this fabric. Flannel fabric was first woven in Wales in the 17th century. Sheep wool was used as a base. In damp and rainy areas, this fabric was a real discovery.

Types of material

Depending on the production method, there are several types of flannel fabric.

• Bleached. The canvas is an even white color, during the processing of which no dyes were used. Eco-friendly and inexpensive material.
• Plain painted. Made from pre-dyed threads. It can be either plain or with a simple geometric pattern. The pattern is obtained by intertwining colored threads with each other.
• Printed. On the front side the image is applied in the form of a pattern, on the back the fabric remains white.

It is also common to divide into types according to the scope of application.

• Shirt. Dense ribbed material, used for sewing men's and women's shirts.
• Negligent. Durable and dense fabric, it is used in the production of bed linen, children's linen, pajamas and dressing gowns.
• Technical. A harsh and unpainted material for technical needs. They are used in the food industry as filters for juices and syrups, as a cleaning material in auto repair shops, to cover piano hammers, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages

Flannel, like any other fabric, has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are going to sew or buy clothes, home or children's textiles from this material, you should pay attention to them.

The advantages include the following properties:

• pleasant tactile sensations when touched;
• with each new wash, the flannel product becomes softer;
• the fabric warms quickly and retains heat well;
• high strength, resistance to tearing and tensile deformation;
• ability to quickly absorb moisture;
• breathability;
• natural fabric does not cause skin allergic reactions.

If you are allergic to wool, choose flannel made from cotton fabric.

Warm material also has disadvantages:

• tendency to form pellets on the fleecy side of the fabric;
• many types of flannel wrinkle a lot;
• after washing in hot water, an item made of wool or wool blend fabric may shrink in size;
• The fabric takes a long time to dry.

How to properly wash and iron flannel products?

• Cotton fabric can be washed either by hand or in a washing machine in hot water.
• Woolen and wool blend material cannot be washed at temperatures above 30°C.
• Do not twist while spinning.
• Dry not in the sun, but in the shade.
• Iron in the “Wool” or “Silk” mode.

On flannel products, pellets appear on the fleecy side over time. If you don't have a special machine to remove them, use regular wide tape. Glue the strip to the surface of the material, smooth it out and tear it off with a light movement. Treat the entire product in this manner. There will be much fewer pellets.

What can you sew from flannel?

Bleached cotton flannel or fabric with a printed pattern is most often used for sewing diapers and baby underwear. This material does not cause allergies, is pleasant to the baby's skin, and retains heat. A separate advantage over other types of fabric is that there is no contact of the dye with the child’s skin.

It is better to sew bed linen from flannel made with plain weave. With all the heat-saving properties, this material has smooth surface, which is better suited for pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers than ribbed fabric. From this material you can sew pajamas, a robe or bathrobe, towels, and napkins for cleaning the house.

Thick wool blend or cotton flannel made with twill weave is traditionally used for sewing men's and women's shirts. The classic option is a checkered shirt. The model first came into fashion back in the 90s, but remains popular today.

Coarse woolen fabric makes warm coats, jackets, and suits for both men and women. Trouser sets in the style of Marlene Dietrich look especially stylish. Woolen and half-woolen flannel are also used for the production of blankets, bedspreads, and rugs.

Before cutting pieces for sewing clothes or linen from wool flannel, soak it in warm water. After 20 minutes, wring out without twisting and dry on a flat surface in a straightened form. Cotton material must be washed in hot water before starting work. Be sure to process the cuts using an overlocker or zigzag stitch.

As soon as the summer season ends and the evenings bring with them the coolness of autumn, a person instinctively begins to reach for warm things. Soft, comfortable and cozy things are present in every person’s wardrobe. And we are talking not only about wool sweaters, fleece sweatshirts, but also flannel pajamas and shirts. Let's dwell in more detail on the topic - flannel material.

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Most people are familiar with this material from childhood. Due to the fact that the material has sufficient density, double-sided insulation in the form of pile, and extraordinary softness, it is used when caring for newborn children. Flannel is used for diapers, baby blouses, rompers and pajamas.

What kind of fabric is flannel?

The threads used for its production have a thick cross-section. The weaving density is such that up to 400 grams of threads can be used per meter of material.

History of the appearance of fabric has roots in 18th century England. Then the weavers were able to obtain very soft and smooth material for sewing dresses. Since the fabric was expensive and was produced only in uniform light colors, only society ladies could afford it. A little later, flannel appeared in Russia, where they also learned to produce it. And then, it found wider application. So, in ancient times, flannel was used for sewing underwear and foot wraps. Russian army.

Benefits of flannel

Flannel – all material natural and environmentally friendly. In addition to naturalness, a high degree of heat conservation and softness of the material, items made from flannel will provide the necessary access of air to the body. That is, the body in flannel clothes will “breathe”. If moisture (sweat or perspiration) appears on the body, it will be immediately absorbed. Flannel material has one feature - it takes a long time to dry after washing due to its high strength and the presence of fleece.

Flannel shirts are often found on the streets during the first autumn cold snap. The popularity of this material is difficult to overestimate, because it quickly warms the body and retains the heat coming from it. Even a significant proportion of people with allergies can wear flannel clothes without fear, because they do not cause any negative reactions.

Types of flannel material

The composition of flannel material can be wool or cotton. The weave of threads in the fabric is twill or plain. The material is woven so tightly that no gaps are visible.

Flannel material can be of several varieties:

• bleached;
• printed;
• plain painted.

When examining the canvas you can also glean useful information. For example, if the material has a pattern on both sides, then pre-dyed threads were used for its manufacture. In the event that it is present on only one side, then the staining method was used. The cost of such flannel will depend on the dyeing method. It is clear that the price of the first version of the canvas will be higher than that of the second, due to its higher cost.

Printed flannel can be made on the basis of:

• cotton fabric;
• woolen fabric.

The printed look of flannel is endowed with high degree of strength and density. The material owes its name to a special method of applying a pattern - printing on finished fabric. Moreover, the printing occurs in turn with each color separately onto a white or already dyed plain flannel base. Printed flannel is often dyed using the white earth method, when there is a small pattern on the total area.

This fabric is used for sewing clothes and diapers for newborns. Caps and special capes for swimming are also made from this safe material. In this case, a minimum amount of paint is used.

And also printed flannel is also dyed ground and covered method. In both cases, the pattern on the canvas occupies a large area. In addition, flannel can be produced using the plain-dyed method. What is plain dyed flannel? This is the decoration of fabric with threads of different colors, which provides a long-term effect.

Obtaining a uniform light shade from this soft fabric is called bleaching. Thanks to certain technologies, the resulting flannel has a low cost, faded colors and is highly environmentally friendly.

In addition to clothing, this soft fabric is used to sew bed sheets, which is highly valued in the cold season. Sleeping on such linen is pleasant, warm and comfortable.

But, a fan of this material is also the younger generation, who prefer to wear plaid shirts. Plaid shirting applied to flannel can come in a variety of sizes and colors. Checked fabrics were sewn together and offered to consumers in sufficient quantities. Plaid shirts are worn in tandem with another very popular clothing - jeans.

How to care for flannel fabric

Modern people prefer natural materials, for which it is necessary to organize easy care. The peculiarity of the canvas is that after washing, the material becomes even softer and more pleasant to the body. You can wash flannel items either manually or automatically. Only the water temperature during washing should be maintained no higher than +35C, otherwise the material will shrink. Optimal care for fabric involves pre-soaking the item in cool water and then washing it.

When choosing a mode, you should consider a gentle mode, after which pellets will not form.

The first acquaintance with these fabrics occurs immediately after our birth - warm, soft, hygienic and very cozy, cotton fabrics with pile are simply a symbol of tenderness and care. But older people are also happy to wear clothes made of flannel and flannel, especially since for a long time they were considered medicinal. These are what they are amazing fabrics. What else do we know about them?!

Flannel

This fabric has been one of the most popular for several centuries. And although you won’t see it on fashion catwalks, in every home there will certainly be something made of flannel - for children and home clothes and bed linen, pajamas and nightgowns, warm dressing gowns. In addition, it is often chosen as a lining for children's clothing. Both children and adults wear flannel clothes with pleasure. And probably not in vain English language The name "flannel" is the same as the verb "to please."

And the birthplace of this type of textile is also England, where it was first produced back in the 17th century. Its features were the use of long-staple varieties of cotton, dense rep or twill weave and fluffy one-sided pile, which was obtained by combing the fabric by hand. The result was a rather warm fabric, which was called “winter cotton” (by the way, this word can still be seen on store price tags to this day). The fabric was quite expensive, and it was even attributed medicinal properties. Moreover, it was believed that they intensified when it was dyed red (the tradition of wearing red flannel pantaloons as therapeutic and prophylactic underwear persisted until the beginning of the twentieth century). Over time, production technology spread throughout Europe - this fabric began to be produced in Russia. Moreover, even in Peter’s troops, flannel began to be used as winter foot wraps for soldiers, but was only finished recently.

At the end of the 18th century, flannel began to be produced on special machines, the process of combing out the pile was simplified, and plain weave began to be used instead of twill - the fabric became cheaper and more popular. Around the same time, they began to produce it from wool. A traditional women's or men's suit made of pure wool flannel in the English style is still considered a sign of elegance and aristocracy.

But for several centuries now, cotton flannel has been widely used. Its features:

• softness, strength, resistance to repeated washing and ironing;
• ability to retain heat;
• high hygienic properties, hygroscopicity.

Flannel is especially popular in England and the USA; these countries are considered the founders of the “flannel” fashion. By the way, the boho style that has been so popular lately has brought back interest in this fabric. Nowadays, in addition to the traditional check (for men's shirts) and flowers (for women's dressing gowns), costume cotton flannel with interesting bright prints appears on the shelves more and more often.

Fule

By the way, twill weave cotton fabric is still popular. Only now it is called “foulé” (from the French foulé - “to roll”). Initially it was made from wool, but then fule made from cotton also appeared. Unlike flannel, foulé is a denser fabric (thanks to the twill weave) with a thinner, silky pile; it shrinks less when washed and retains heat better. Usually it is made plaid and is widely used where traditional tartan is not always convenient - children's dresses, vests, trousers, jackets, shirts. And, like flannel, for lining.

Bike

If flannel was originally cotton and only then became wool, then with another popular fleecy fabric - flannel - everything was exactly the opposite! Initially it was made from wool. Cotton fabric with a special dense weave and double-sided pile appeared later.

There are two versions of the origin of this word: from the Latin name dark Brown(“badius”) and from the Old French word for woolen fabric (“baie”). In the Middle Ages, this thick and dense brown material with thick pile was in great demand: raincoats were made from it, reliably covering them from bad weather, outerwear, warm women's skirts, etc. The bike came to Russia along with the reforms of Peter I and the fashion for Western-style clothing. Practical and warm, although discreet, textiles soon became widespread in all levels of society. They not only sewed clothes from it, but also made blankets and women's headscarves. In the 19th century, in the wake of fashion for English style, this material was very often used for men's outerwear, walking, and hunting clothing.

Around the same time, the bike began to be made with the addition of cotton, and then completely on a cotton basis. Cotton baize was cheap and easier to dye and print. This fabric provided less protection from the cold, but it was soft, hygienic, easier to care for and sew, and quickly gained popularity as a raw material for sewing children's clothing.

One of the disadvantages of flannel is that it is less elastic than flannel. In addition, any fabrics with pile are more difficult to cut and sew, and when washing it is necessary to observe certain conditions- use soft detergents and rinse aid, because at high temperatures, the pile, especially long ones, tends to fall off.

Nowadays, bike, foulé and flannel are available in very wide range and are used for the manufacture of:

• Warm underwear and clothing for children, starting from birth (diapers, blouses, rompers, etc.).
• Home clothes for any age (pajamas, bathrobes, sweatshirts, etc.).
• Warm shirts for men and boys.
• Sports suits.
• Shawls and blankets.
• Insoles and inner covering for shoes, linings for various purposes, etc.

You should definitely have some of this in your home!

Bumazeya

If in a friendly family of warm fabrics there is one more, now, unfortunately, forgotten. The word "bumazea" or "bombazin" (often found on the pages of ancient novels) is now not heard. And initially this was the name for dense silk material, then this name began to denote textiles in which the warp threads were silk or linen, and the weft threads were made of wool or short-staple cotton, forming a low pile on the wrong side.

The emergence of long-staple cotton varieties led to bombazine becoming all cotton. It was made using the crepe or twill weave method, resulting in a dense, but quite thin cloth with a smooth front surface and a fluffy back.

Like all cotton fabrics, cotton wool is pleasant to the body, hygroscopic, its disadvantages are low strength, quick abrasion of the pile, and insufficiently durable coloring. However, cotton wool has been and is widely used for children's clothing and as a technical fabric. However, these days this material is gradually being replaced various types knitwear

We hope that now you will not be confused in front of the shelves in a fabric store.

• Linen and diapers for newborns, sets for cribs and strollers - for them we choose light flannel, cotton wool and flannel.
• Children's clothing for home, pajamas and nightgowns, warm shirts, dressing gowns, linings for children's clothes and sportswear - printed flannel and flannel, fule.
• Trousers for boys, plaid dresses, plaid insulated shirts for children and adults, lining - foulé, plaid flannel.

By the way:

You can use all the mentioned materials. And we hope our short review will help you understand them better.

With the arrival of cold weather, there is a desire to surround yourself with warm, soft and cozy things. Flannel is endowed with all these properties. This fabric consists exclusively of cotton and has a slight fleece on one side of the fabric.

Characteristics and composition

Flannel fabric is a dense fabric made from thick cotton threads woven together in a plain linen manner. On the front side, a small backcomb is done using special machines.

The main difference between the fabric is the soft and delicate pile, evenly distributed. It can be on one or both sides of the matter.

Flannel first appeared in England in the 18th century. And only a century later they learned about it in Russia. At that time the fabric was very expensive. Only wealthy and noble people wore costumes from it. Initially, flannel was made exclusively in light shades, which gave the material special luxury and chic.

The composition of flannel fabric is presented in several options. The fabric can be wool, half-woolen, cotton. Its density is 175+250 g/m2, but deviations are possible. Wool fibers are rarely used in the manufacture of fabric; cotton is usually combined with a small amount of synthetics. This composition gives the material the following characteristics:

• strength;
• softness;
• wear resistance;
• thermal conductivity.

The width of the fabric produced by manufacturers is 80 cm; 90 cm; 150 cm; 220 cm. As a rule, 80-90 cm are used for diapers, the rest for both bedding and dress production.

The description of flannel fabric is not limited to these properties. Even despite the increased density, this is a “breathable” material that has high vapor permeability and has many advantages.

Varieties

Flannel is divided into the following types:

• Printed. A pattern is applied to the surface of the canvas. It is used for sewing baby diapers and clothes for newborns. Typically, the design is applied to one side of the material so that the dyes do not come into contact with the child's skin in order to reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions.
• Plain painted. The fabric has a single color on both sides.
• Bleached. At the initial stage of preparation for painting, the fabric is bleached. In this form, it is also used in the clothing industry for making bed linen, baby diapers, and foot wraps.

The fabric is bleached for the reason that cotton - the plant from which cotton is produced - comes in not only white color, but also other shades. To obtain an even color when dyeing, it is pre-bleached.

There are such concepts as white-earth and soil flannel. The first is bleached fabric on which a pattern is embossed.

The second type of material is when a pattern is applied to some background (not white).

Application of material

Not only bed and underwear, diapers and bathrobes are made from flannel, but also shirts and suits. For such items of clothing, woolen and half-woolen and cotton fabrics are used.

Women's, men's and children's coats are made from plain-dyed wool flannel. Many men also have trousers made from this natural fabric in their wardrobe. Soft and delicate material will bring warmth and comfort to your home if you use flannel bedspreads and rugs in the interior.

Product care

Taking care of things is not at all difficult, but you should still know some rules and features:

• You can even wash cotton flannel in hot water manually or automatically. Before washing, the items are turned inside out, buttons and zippers are fastened. The first time before use, items are washed in cool water. All subsequent times, its temperature should be 60-90 C. It is recommended to use soft powders or liquid ones for colored laundry.
• Even white items cannot be washed in chlorine-containing detergents, as they destroy the structure of the fabric. To remove stubborn stains, it is necessary to use special stain removers.
• At hand wash Flannel items cannot be rubbed. Such actions lead to abrasion of the top fleecy layer.
• Products are dried in a natural way away from heating devices, avoiding direct sunlight.
• Can be ironed lightly high temperature– “Cotton” or “Wool” mode depending on the composition.
• To keep items soft after washing, add a spoonful of glycerin to the water.

Wool flannel is more demanding to care for. It can be washed in water at 30-40°C. If the temperature is higher, when in contact with hot water, the fabric containing wool may shrink after washing, greatly decreasing in size.

Advantages and disadvantages

Considering the properties of the fabric, flannel has many advantages:

• The material is very soft and pleasant in contact with the body. It has an amazing feature - with each wash it becomes softer and more tender.
• The products warm well and retain body heat, while the fabric allows air to pass through and does not create a greenhouse effect.
• The fabric is resistant to bending, abrasion and stretching, therefore it has a long service life.
• Endowed with hygroscopicity - the ability to absorb moisture.
• Considering that flannel contains cotton, it is hypoallergenic. However, wool and wool blends can cause allergic reactions.

You should know that this material also has its disadvantages:

• during prolonged use, pellets may form on the surface of the canvas;
• cotton flannel wrinkles a lot, but is easily smoothed out;
• When washed in hot water, the fabric may shrink;
• wet products take a long time to dry.

Flannel is a high-quality and soft natural fabric, endowed with many positive properties. It is characterized by a wide range of applications and ease of care, thanks to which flannel products are among the favorite things of many housewives.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Flannel: what kind of fabric? The first fabric in every person’s life, soft and warm, like childhood itself, carries a special tenderness even in its name. The word Flannel comes to us from the Welsh language.

There, in rainy, chilly Wales in the 17th century, local craftsmen wove a warm fabric that laid the foundation for modern flannel. A hundred years later the material was produced in the traditional plain or twill weave, not only in Wales, but throughout England and Ireland. So what is flannel?

Flannel: what kind of fabric, composition and production

The fabric, which has a delicate pile and loose texture, was made from sheep wool until the end of the 19th century. The twentieth century opened its cotton page. With development modern technologies and materials, flannel was also made from artificial, synthetic and mixed fibers.

Classic wool flannel gray various shades - from deep dark to whitish-light. Checkered and striped versions are also available.

Flannels, pure cotton fabric comes in several types:

• Negligent. Is different high density and wear resistance. It can have both one-sided and double-sided fleece.
• Bleached. The most common type of flannel. Bed linen and children's linen are made from it.
• Shirt. Thick fabric for practical and cheap men's shirts.
• Belozemelnaya. Bleached fabric with a pattern printed on it.
• Smoothly colored. Material for technical needs.

The pattern on flannel is obtained in two ways.

• The fabric is made from dyed fibers. In this case, the image is clearly visible on both sides of the canvas.
• The image is printed on the fabric. The single-sided print is also bright, but with use it loses color faster.

Special properties of flannel

The fabric has a number of attractive qualities.

• Extremely pleasant to the touch. A small, loose pile provides gentle softness. The material has the amazing property of becoming softer with each wash.
• A fabric that quickly warms and retains heat, especially necessary in the cold season.
• The high strength of the material is explained by the dense weave of the threads. The surface density of the fabric ranges from 170 to 257 g/m2.
• Durability is due to the excellent resistance of the fabric to bending, abrasion and stretching.
• Hygroscopicity. Flannel absorbs moisture well.
• Aeration. The material is breathable and comfortable to wear.
• Hypoallergenic. The fabric does not cause allergic reactions.
• Easy to care for. The products are easy to wash.

Flannel has some minor disadvantages.

• When wearing products for a long time, the material may form pills.
• Some types of flannel wrinkle a lot, but are easily smoothed out.
• Fabric may shrink when washed in hot water.
• Washed items take a long time to dry.

What is flannel made from?

• Clothes for all family members are made from comfortable, easily draped fabric.
• Sew from wool flannel men's suits, jackets and trousers, as well as traditional clothes for playing croquet and some other sports.
• Cotton and blended flannel is used for pajamas, dressing gowns, and children's clothing.
• Gorgeous and practical, plaid shirts have been incredibly popular since the 90s. They can be made in delicate gray-cream colors or attract attention with the special brightness of red, blue, green, burgundy or black checkered patterns.
• Bedding sets and linen for newborns are made from flannel.

• From the time of Peter the Great until 2007, the material was used to make soldiers' foot wraps.
• For several centuries, piano hammers have been wrapped in this soft, sound-absorbing fabric.

How and with what to wear

This democratic material requires certain combinations of cut and fabrics in clothing.

• Gray trousers are usually worn with mismatched jackets of other colors. It can be blue, olive, chocolate. It is acceptable to wear them without a jacket. In this case, it is better to complement the set with a vest. Formal shoes are clearly out of style here. But brown or burgundy suede is just right.
• Flannel suit dark color and with a faintly expressed pattern it will look good both with plain - white, blue and pink shirts, and with checkered or striped items. A wool, cashmere or knitted tie would be a good addition. Shoes made of smooth leather or dark suede will suit the ensemble.
• Shirts look great with any informal trousers: jeans, chinos or other loose-fitting models. They can be worn with sports jackets or cardigans. These products look perfect with plain T-shirts.

Features of care

• Caring for flannel products is easy. Cotton items can be washed even in hot water, and the cut edges can be ironed after washing.
• Before washing, bedding is turned inside out and fastened with zippers or buttons. The first time the laundry is washed in cool water before use. Subsequently, the temperature is increased to 60-90 o C. It is recommended to use soft powder for colored laundry.
• Chlorine bleaches destroy the fabric structure. Special stain removers should be used to remove stains.
• Flannel fabric Do not rub, as this will cause the top fleecy layer to roll off.
• Wool fabric wash at 30-40 o C detergents for wool. They also do not twist or rub. Dry away from sunlight and heating devices.
• Iron with a not too hot iron.

To maintain the softness of products when washing, it is recommended to add 1 tablespoon of glycerin dissolved in 10 liters of water.

Flannel has a completely informal look, which is more of a wonderful feature than a drawback. This is undoubtedly youth material for an informal setting, conducive to quiet or active recreation in the cool season. In summer, flannel products will be appropriate on cool evenings.