Linen Definitions to Assist you in Your Shopping The Linen Closet Online.com™
APPLIQUÉ- A surface decoration, sewn
or embroidered, or otherwise attached to the fabric.
BACK-COATING - Fabric treated with sizing on the back only
to give added weight, strength and opacity.
BATIK – a process also know as Tjap where areas are
opaqued with wax before the fabric is dyed. For two or more
colors each preceding wax layer is removed and reapplied in
a different patterned layer. A crinkled pattern is achieved
by crumpling the fabric and cracking the wax. Primitive or
ethnic batik patterns from Indonesia and Africa are reproduced
by mechanical silk screen or roller printing on contemporary
fabrics.
BLANKET STITCH - A closely spaced stitch that forms a line
of closely spaced loops at the edge. It is used in embroidery
for purely decorative purposes.
BLEACHING - Necessary process to remove the natural and artificial
impurities in fabrics to obtain clear whites for even dyeing
and printing.
BOURDON STITCHING - A close, narrow row of decorative raised
stitching such as a monogram, finished edge or accent.
BROCADE – a multi-use formal,
Jacquard weave with supplemental warp or weft woven into
the fabric to give an embroidered, often-colorful design.
Background weave is often satin. Threads not tied-down are
carried as "floaters" on the back of the fabric and indicate
the supplemental set of threads.
CAMBRIC - Usually a thin, white closely -woven cotton fabric
treated to give it a slight gloss. Normally used for pillow
and duvet shells.
CARDING - A process of cleaning fibers by separating and laying
them parallel to each other.
CHAMBRAY – lightweight cotton
or blend fabric in plain, balanced weave. Yarns are slightly
slubbed in both directions. Warp is usually white with a
solid colored weft.
CHENILLE - A fuzzy cotton yarn or fabric that has pile protruding
around it. Chenille is the French word for caterpillar.
CHINTZ - Cotton fabric produced by passing the fabric between
heated rollers under pressure. This glazed cotton is often printed
with figures and large flower designs. Used widely in upholstery
fabric.
COMBED COTTON - Separates the long, choice, desirable fibers
of the same length from the short immature fibers. The result
is stronger, smoother cotton yarn.
COVERLET - a usually ornamental cloth cover for a bed
CREPE - A lightweight fabric with a surface that is more or
less crinkled according to the method used. Crepes are made
in every variety of fibers.
DAMASK - A woven cotton fabric made on a jacquard loom that
has an alternating satin and matte texture. Damask fabrics are
reversible.
DOBBY - Woven on a dobby loom, this fabric can be made with
a dot or geometric design.
DOBBY BORDER - a decorative woven area generally about two
inches for the top and bottom edges of a towel
DUVET - French word for comforter cover
EYELET - A style of decorative fabric stitched with small
cut out openings.
EASY CARE - A finishing process using resin, which gives the
fabric a smooth appearance.
EGYPTIAN COTTON - A long-staple fine cotton grown chiefly
in northern Africa.
EMBOSSING - A pressure process using engraved rollers and
heat application to produce raised or relief patterns on the
surface of the fabric.
FAGOTTED - A decorative trim created by pulling out horizontal
threads from a fabric and gathering the remaining cross threads
into an hourglass shape.
FAILLE - A slightly ribbed, woven fabric of silk, cotton,
or rayon.
FAUX - French word for imitation
FLEUR-DE-LIS - French for lily flower
GREIGE GOODS (pronounced "gray") - Loom state of
cloth that has not received dry and wet finishing.
GUSSET - Refers to mattress depth.
HEMSTITCHING - A decorative stitching along the stitching
lines of hems and borders to create an open weave pattern.
INDANTHREN - Indanthren® is synonymous with high-quality,
heavy-duty cotton fabrics with good colorfastness.
JACQUARD - Elaborate cloth weaves such as tapestries, brocades,
and damask fabrics;fabric of intricate variegated weave or pattern
LINEN - Fabric woven from flax
LOCK-STITCH - A type of stitch consisting of two threads that
are interlocked at short intervals. A lock-stitched terry does
not pull easily.
LOOPS - The number of loops in a towel determines its drying
ability. The more loops, the greater the absorbency. A cotton
loop in a towel is termed a "terry loop."
MATELASSÉ - French for "cushioned or padded".
A cotton jacquard fabric. The term refers to the type of weave.
It is a triple-woven fabric. This weaving process creates the
signature raised pattern/appearance.
MERCERIZATION - A wet finishing process for cotton yarn or
fabric. This treatment increases cotton's luster and strength
allowing the fabric to retain dyes more readily.
MOHAIR - A fabric or yarn made wholly or in part of the long
silky hair of the Angora goat
MUSLIN- Cotton sheeting fabric with thread count of less than
180 threads per square inch.
NAPPED FABRICS - Cotton fabrics which have been dry finished
by raising fibers on the surface to produce a fuzzy appearance.
Cotton flannel is an example.
PERCALE - Usually made with combed yarns, this closely woven
cotton fabric has a thread count of 180 threads per square inch
or higher.
PLISSÉ - Produced by a wet finishing treatment, this
fabric has the look of woven seersucker, similar to crepe.
PICOT - A narrow row of dainty holes produced to create an
edge or a finished flange.
PIERRE FREY - A French company that specializes in designing,
editing and manufacturing woven and printed decorator fabrics.
Its worldwide success is due not only to the continuing richness
of designs it has produced since 1935 and to the diversity of
its sources of inspiration, but also to the outstanding quality
of the techniques established for the manufacture of its fabrics.
PILLING - Occurs as a result of fibers loosening from the
fabric surface to form balls of matted fiber particles.
PIQUE - A stiff, durable ribbed fabric with an embossed pattern
produced by a double warp thread.
SATEEN - A weave construction for mercerized cotton fabrics,
which produces a smooth, lustrous surface.
SATIN - A fabric (as of silk) in satin weave with lustrous
face and dull back
SCALLOPED EDGE - A border that contains continuous curves
finished with bourdon stitching.
SHAM - An ornamental covering for a pillow
SHRINKAGE - The contraction of a fiber, yarn or fabric after
washing and drying. All products made of natural fibers have
a tendency to shrink 4%-8%.
SILK - The only natural fiber that comes in a filament form,
reeled from the cocoon, cultivated, or wild
TERRY CLOTH - Type of cloth that has uncut loops on the pile.
THREAD COUNT - The number of yarns per square inch in a woven
fabric. The higher the count the finer the fabric.
TICKING - A very durable striped linen or cotton fabric with
a twill weave. This closely woven material is primarily used
for mattress and pillow coverings.
TOILE - A usually light-colored fabric printed with a scenic
pattern or design .
TOILE DE JOUY - A usually light-colored fabric printed with
a scenic pattern or design .
TWILL - This type of weave is characterized by the lines that
are ribbed diagonally across the fabric.
WAFFLE CLOTH - A honeycomb weave usually of cotton or wool,
used mainly for towels and robes.
WARP THREAD - The set of fixed threads that are set lengthwise
across the fabrics.
WEFT - The crosswise threads of any woven fabric.
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We
Recommend Our LeBlancŪ Linen Wash for All Your Fine Linens. Endorsed and used
by many luxury linen manufacturers and importers, including Yves Delorme and
Peacock Alley.