Cotton Fabric Facts
Comfort is one of the main selling features offered when purchasing apparel made from cotton. The fibers, often referred to as breathable, allow vapor and air to pass through, keeping the wearer dry and comfortable. In "Textile Fabrics and Their Selection", Isabel B. Wingate and June F. Mohler write, "...cotton remains porous no matter how it is woven or knitted."
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Cotton Fabric
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Soft vegetable fibers, taken from the seedpod of the cotton plant, are used to make cotton fabric. Fiber lengths vary from less than half inch to often more than two inches, and the longer the plant fiber, the better quality the cotton fabric will be.
Cloth Count
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The number of ends and picks per inch in a woven fabric are referred to as the cotton's cloth count. A pick count refers to the number of filling picks per inch. Woven goods or cloth, with the same number of ends and picks per inch, are referred to as a square cloth.
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Cotton Grading
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There are several major types of cotton such as American Pima cotton, China, Egyptian, Indian and Sea Island. The American Cotton Grading Table grades cotton fiber by comparing it to middling cotton. The term middling refers to cotton categorized within the middle range of the grading scale. A few grades shown on the grading table are middling fair, good middling and low middling.
Different Cotton Fabric Types
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Lightweight cotton cloths such as calico, batiste and lawn have a plain weave fabric construction. The filling yarns pass over and under each warp yarn, alternating each row as the weave is produced. Medium weight cotton fabrics, such as chino, have a twill weave construction, which is woven on an angle. Heavy weight cotton fabrics, such as denim, are also a twill weave. However, the weft, which is the crosswise thread, is white and the warp, which is the lengthwise or vertical thread, is blue.
American Pima and Sea Island Cotton
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Fine knitted goods and sheer woven fabrics are made with American Pima Cotton. It is a fine and strong cotton, generally grown in Arizona with a brownish tone in color. It also has a long staple, which is the term used for fiber length. Sea Island cotton is grown in Central America and Mexico. It has a silk-like staple, is very white and is the finest of all cottons. It is used in expensive dress goods as well as men's shirts.
Cotton Types: Egyptian, China and Indian
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Egyptian cotton has a very long staple, which is the term used for fiber length. This lustrous, fine fiber and high quality cotton is used for fine fabrics as well as thread. Blankets are often made with a mix of China cotton and wool. This cotton type has a harsh and wiry feel. It generally also has a very short staple. Blanket filling, which is added for extra warmth to blankets, often is Indian cotton. It generally has a short staple and has a harsh feel.
United States Cotton
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Cotton is grown in several states throughout the United States such as Arizona, Mississippi, California and Arkansas as well as other parts of the world. According to the "National Cotton Council of America," "Texas...is the leading cotton-producing state."
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References
- Photo Credit caribbean cotton image by poGosha from Fotolia.com
