How is Flannelette Made?

Soft, comfortable flannel (flannetette in the UK).

Flannelette is the British term for what Americans call "flannel," a soft, napped, woven fabric made of cotton, wool or a blend of both. Adding a synthetic fiber increases durability. Flannel is popular for baby clothes, nightwear, bedding and that cozy, plaid shirt you wear in cool weather.

Weaving

Flannel is woven. Weaving is done by crossing weft threads from side to side over warp (up-and-down) threads. Flannel is typically a plain weave (weft over one warp and under the next) or a twill (weft over multiple warp threads to create a diagonal pattern). Denim is a twill that, like flannel, softens with age and wear.

Napping

The fluffy surface of flannel is created by brushing a woven cloth in one direction to lift very fine fibers from the threads, a process called napping. Other napped fabrics include velvet and satin.

Flannel Care

According to Textile and Home Furnishings, flannel should be washed in your washer's gentle cycle in cold water, dried on a low setting to avoid wrinkles and ironed (if at all) only on the wrong (napless) side. It should not be washed with other fabrics because it sheds lint. Rough washing and drying can cause pilling, those annoying little balls of fiber that have to be shaved off.

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica:Flannel
• LDS,org:Friend:Sharing Time:Warp and Weft:Ann Jamison
• Sewing.org:Napped Fabrics
• TextileGlossary.com:What is flannel - Definition and Explanation
• Handsoncrafts.org:Types of Weaves

Resources

• Textile and Home Furnishings:How to Care for Flannel Fabric
• Flannel Sheets World:Flannel Sheets