A Glossary of Sheet Terminology

The ability of a fabric to take in moisture. Absorbency is a very important property, which affects many other characteristics such as skin comfort, static build-up, shrinkage, stain removal, water repellency, and wrinkle recovery.

A term applied to a yarn or a fabric that is made up of more than one fibre. In blended yarns, two or more different types of staple fibres are twisted or spun together to form the yarn.

The ability of a fabric to resist wear through continual use.

An embellishment of a fabric or garment in which coloured threads are sewn onto the fabric to create a design. Embroidery may be done either by hand or machine.

The basic entity, either natural or manufactured, which is twisted into yarns, and then used in the production of a fabric.

The way the fabric feels when it is touched. Terms like softness, crispness, and silkiness are all terms that describe the hand feel of the fabric.

Woven fabrics manufactured by using the Jacquard attachment on the loom. This attachment provides versatility in designs and permits individual control of each of the warp yarns. Thus, fabrics of almost any type or complexity can be made. 

A medium to heavyweight luxury fabric made in a double cloth construction to create a blistered or quilted surface. Common end-uses are upholstery, draperies, and bed linen.

A medium weight, plain weave, low thread count cotton sheeting fabric. 

A medium weight, plain weave, low to medium thread count cotton fabric. 

An entangled formation of fibres that appear on the surface of a fabric, as a result of wear or continued friction or rubbing on the surface of the fabric.

In woven fabric, the yarns that run lengthwise (horizontal) and are interwoven with the fill (weft) yarns.

A process of laundering and cleaning items, a guide to which can be found here.

In woven fabric, the filling yarns heightwise (vertical) that run perpendicular to the warp yarns.

Fabrics composed of two sets of yarns. One set of yarns, the warp, runs along the length of the fabric. The other set of yarns, the fill or weft, is perpendicular to the warp. Woven fabrics are held together by weaving the warp and the fill yarns over and under each other.

A continuous strand of textile fibres created when a cluster of individual fibres are twisted together. These long yarns are used to create fabrics, either by knitting or weaving.

Yarns are dyed before being prepared for the weaving loom — the colour is placed in the body of the yarn, in the thread. When the fabric is yarn-dyed, the colour or pattern is realised through the weaving of it, determined by yarn arrangement and construction. A yarn-dyed fabric ages uniquely and beautifully, due to this process. 

In contrast, prints can be placed on the fabric after construction, or a solid fabric can be dyed.