WHAT IS COTTON?

What is cotton?

Cotton is obtained from the ripe fruits of the cotton plant, a plant whose seeds are covered with fibers.

One of the main criteria for industrial use is the length of the cotton fiber:

• Short fiber, up to 26 mm long;
• Medium fiber, from 35 mm long;
• Long fiber, from 45 mm long.

The cotton flower lives for one day, then the petals fall off and a seed pod is formed. Flour and oil are obtained from the seeds.

The main source of raw material for mass production is long-staple cotton - it is strong, and the fabrics made from it are durable.

In the past, cotton fabric production was exclusively manual labor, which made it a premium product. However, with the development of industry, most processes were automated, which led to an expansion of the choice of fabrics, a decrease in their cost and increased availability. We will talk about how cotton fabric is made below.

One of the important characteristics of cotton material is density: weight per square meter. For example, the density of cambric is 55-70 g/m2, and satin is from 113 to 150 g/m2. The denser the fabric, the stronger and more durable it is. Less dense fabrics are more breathable, more flexible and comfortable to wear.

Long-staple cotton materials:

• Batiste.

A thin, low-density fabric that is relatively wear-resistant. It is made from combed yarn that has been twisted using a plain weave method. This type of cotton material is used to sew various sleepwear, underwear, and table textiles.

• Marquisette.

It is made from combed yarn with a plain weave, like cambric, but from more twisted threads. It is 10 times denser than cambric. This type of cotton fabric is used as the main material for making summer clothes, bed linen, and curtains.

• Footer.

This cotton fabric can be described as soft, durable, dense (190-360 g/m2), elastic material, smooth and soft on the front side and fluffy, with an airy loop texture, on the back. It is made with a special weave of threads - lined: additional back threads are woven into the main fabric, creating fluffiness and providing high performance characteristics. It is used for sewing children's (including newborns) and adult clothing for everyday wear, home knitwear, sportswear.

• Volta.

This material is soft and silky to the touch, while being characterized by high density. It is made from specially twisted and combed yarn using the linen pattern technique. This type of cotton fabric is needed for sewing underwear and dresses.

• Percale.

Exquisite, sophisticated material with high density, produced according to the linen scheme. It is distinguished by its wear resistance, easily withstands multiple washings.

• Poplin.

It is produced using a plain weave pattern from combed twisted yarn and is used for sewing bed linen.

• Taffeta.

A lightweight fabric made from twisted combed yarn, produced using a plain weave. Used for sewing elegant items.

• Kiseya.

Lightweight, transparent material. It is produced using a special technology: paired interlacing of threads with crossing of the base fibers. It is used for decorating women's suits and sewing curtains.

• Krashe.

A lightweight fabric with a wrinkled effect, which is obtained from combed yarn using a special technology. Women's dresses are made from it.

• Tulle.

A thin, light, transparent, patterned material. It is produced on specialized machines and is used for decorating women's clothing, sewing curtains, capes and bedspreads.

• Guipure.

An impressive fabric made from thin threads. It is produced by several methods: removing the fiber or dissolving the threads in the form of a pattern.

• Combed satin.

The material is made from combed yarn with a satin weave. It is used for sewing bed linen and home textiles.

• Denim.

Denim is a coarse, dense twill fabric made from the highest quality raw materials. It is used to make various wardrobe items and accessories.

The following fabrics are produced from medium-fiber varieties of the plant:

• Chintz.

Made from medium twist threads. The main fabric for sewing summer clothes.

• Calico fabric.

This cotton fabric is similar in characteristics to chintz and is used for sewing home textiles.

• Calico.

Made from natural materials or with some synthetic fibers.

• Carded satin.

Dense material made from thick threads.

• Cretonne.

A dense, pre-dyed material, the weave of which is done in a linen pattern: ornaments and patterns are obtained. It is used for furniture upholstery.

Short-fiber varieties of the plant are used to produce yarn for flannel, baize, and fustian – dense materials with a fleece on one or both sides.

Mercerized cotton - what does it mean?

This is a high-class material obtained using a special technology: the threads undergo complex treatment with an alkali solution, and small fibers are removed from the surface. The durable, soft fabric resembles silk in appearance and has a slightly noticeable noble shine. Products made from it are pleasant to wear, do not fade or burn out in the sun, do not tear or deform.

Cotton fabrics are also classified by purpose: winter, demi-season, summer. Separate groups include clothing (for sewing clothes), lining (auxiliary) and decorative (for furniture upholstery) materials.

Advantages and disadvantages of cotton fabric

First, about the advantages, of which the "XB" has many:

• Hygroscopicity. The material absorbs moisture well, so products made from thin cotton fabrics are considered the best option for hot summer days.