What is cotton fabric? A Deep Dive in to All Things Cotton

The Basics: What is cotton and where does it come from?

So, what actually is cotton fabric? Cotton fabric is the most widely used textile in the world. You will find it in everything, even if it is not necessarily mentioned by name. Denim jeans? Yep, made from cotton. Corduroy, yep, that is normally cotton too.

Where does cotton come from?

Cotton is a naturally grown fibre that comes from cotton plants. Other natural fibres you are probably familiar with are wools (sheep) or linen, which is again extracted from plants (the flax plant, which is why you will sometimes hear linen referred to as flax).

Cotton is mainly produced in India, USA, Egypt and China but can be grown in any warm climate. Due to this need for a warm climate, cotton is not naturally grown in the UK.

Which materials use cotton?

So as mentioned above, cotton is the raw material or “fibre”. This cotton fibre is then used in a variety of ways when manufacturing using a variety of weaves to create a whole host of fabrics that you will use nearly every day.

For denim, the cotton fibre is spun into a yarn. At this stage another raw material like elastane could be added and the cotton can be dyed. If you add say 5% elastance, to 95% cotton, that is your denim’s fabric composition.

The weave used for denim is a twill weave, which helps make it hardwearing and durable.

Cotton T-Shirt Material

The same cotton fibre can then be used to make a fabric, which is completely different to denim. For example, think of your classic plain white cotton t-shirt.

Using the same cotton fibre, grown from the same cotton plant, you can create a soft, lightweight single jersey using a weft knit as opposed to a twill weave.

How can a cotton be organic?

As cotton is grown naturally in a cotton plant, the way that plant is grown will contribute to whether it is considered organic. If artificial fertilisers or pesticides are used to help grow the plant, it will not be considered organic.

This goes further with the manufacturing process also having to adhere to organic guidelines. You can find more about those organic guidelines here . Check out for products with the label GOTs Organic if you are shopping specifically for organic materials.

Which cotton fabrics are best for dressmaking?

When dressmaking, certain textiles are better for certain items of clothing. The way the cotton fibre is weaved and manufactured will mean they have different weights, different levels of stretch and different levels of durability.

We will go through some now.

Cotton Poplin: What is cotton poplin fabric? When to use cotton poplin material for?

Cotton poplin is made using a plain weave. A plain weave refers to a horizontal yarn (weft), which goes over and under the vertical yarn (warp). This creates a slight textured / ribbed effect on the fabric surface. Commonly used for classic shirts, dresses and blouses due to its durability and breathability.

Cotton Lawn: What is cotton lawn fabric? What is commonly made from cotton lawn?

Cotton lawn often referred to as voile fabric, dotted Swiss, and even clipped cotton is an ideal lightweight fabric for blouses, dresses, baby clothes and bed dressings.

Whilst cotton lawn is very similar to voile, the difference is very subtle. Voile is normally a bit more see-through than cotton lawn and also a bit smoother to the touch.

Cotton Lawn is made using a plain weave. The cotton fibres are woven incredibly close, which leads to a smooth, silk like feel.

What is cotton jersey? Why is cotton jersey often used for sweatshirting?

Cotton jersey is an incredibly popular dress jersey material, suitable for sweatshirts, dresses and more. Characterised by being soft, snuggly and cosy with a little bit of stretch. Think of your classic jumper / hoodie material and you will be thinking of cotton jersey.

It is a knitted fabric made with a single cotton yarn. The single cotton yarn creates symmetrical loops. That yarn can often be mixed with another fibre such as elastane to give the material extra stretch and flexibility.