Cotton Fabric has been on the market for a long time and is one of the most popular fabrics ever. It’s a durable, soft, and absorbent fabric for clothing.
There are quite a few different types of cotton out there and it can be difficult to know which type is best for you.
To help make it easier, we’ve put together this guide with all you need to know about the different types of cotton out there so you can find out which cotton is right for you.
The history of cotton
Cotton is a plant that belongs to the family of plants known as Gossypium and it grows best in warm climates.
The first evidence of cotton fabric is from around 3,500 BC and we can see records of King Tut’s linens which were made from cotton.
Cotton has been used by many civilizations and continues to be popular today. Cotton was first used by the Egyptians and the Olmecs.
Later, cotton was mainly produced in India, Africa, and America. Today, many areas of India are still considered to be the world’s largest producer of cotton.
The growth of cotton
The cotton plant grows long and thin and doesn’t need too much water or nutrients to grow. It can grow pretty much anywhere — even in a dry land.
The fibers that we use to make clothing come from various parts of the leaves on the cotton plant.
The cotton plant is an allotetraploid type of plant (meaning it has four sets of chromosomes) and one of the most economically important plants cultivated today.
Cotton plants are often found growing on fertile ground with plenty of sunlight.
Cotton plants are also found to grow well on sandy soil that has good drainage because they need plenty of water to thrive.
The environment for cotton growth is humid and warm. Cotton can grow up to 6ft tall, which makes harvesting difficult on larger scales.
This type of cotton is produced in Eastern India, China, Pakistan, and Mexico.
Upland cotton is more long-staple than lowland cotton which makes it softer and better for textile production.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural fiber that is cultivated all around the world. However, not all cotton is created equal: there are many forms of cotton, but by far the most frequent sort used for clothing is referred to as “Pima Cotton.”
Pima cotton comes from one specific region in Arizona and California in the United States, thus these two states.
Also, there are a variety of different types of cotton and they can be used for a variety of purposes which include clothing material, textiles, and more.
There are two major types of cotton, one is called long-staple cotton. The other one is called short-staple.
Extra long-staple cotton is more expensive because the fibers are longer and have a higher tensile strength which makes it strong. It can also produce finer fabric textures.
Short-staple cotton, however, produces coarser textures to the fabric it produces so it’s easier to process into cloths or garments
How cotton is made into t sihrts?
Cotton is made into t shirts by using different techniques that differ based on the country the t-shirt was manufactured in.
Usually, garment manufacturers use 2 different types of finishing techniques: shrinkage finishing and shrink to size finishing.
Shrinkage finishing is a technique used to make fabric shrink to size, which means they’ll maintain the same length and width after washing.
This effect is achieved by shrinking the fabric in tubs or tumble dryers before it’s cut into specific shapes. Imagine you have a different sized pair of pants that are too big for you.
To fit them, you would need to shrink them down by washing them with hot water and drying them on low heat until the waist matches your desired fit.
You can then wear those pants without any alterations or having anything sewn up – perfect!
A shrink to size finishing method is a way to make garments, in this case, the same size after being washed.
The French refer to this as “lavage-séchage,” or dry cleaning, and Italians call it “stiro al lavavetri,” which translates roughly into ironing at a laundromat.
This technique requires shrinking a garment by washing with hot water and drying on low heat before being cut for specific sizes.
cotton weight
Cotton weight is the measure of the thickness or fineness of the cotton yarn.
The weight is often designated with a number and an abbreviation: 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and so on.
If the numbers are followed by a letter, this indicates how many ends can be spun from one pound (454g) of cotton: L is 2; M is 3; N is 4; O is 5.
The last number in the sequence following the abbreviation indicates the final count for both warp and weft yarn count – for example, 95-2 means that for every 94 yards needed to make up 1 pound of fabric, there will be 1 yard of fabric leftover.
Lightweight Cotton Fabric
Broderie Anglaise
Broderie Anglaise features small, dense stitches which are used to create an intricately woven fabric.
These stitches are created by using a needle with one thread loosely wrapped around it to create loops.
Cheese Cloth
Cheesecloth is a porous, loosely woven fabric that is highly absorbent and excellent for filtering solids from liquids.
Cheese cloth’s natural porosity allows water to pass through while trapping particles of dirt and other pollutants that might be suspended in the liquid.
Crinkle Cotton
Crinkle cotton is characterized by an extra twist in the yarn which creates a crinkled, wavy texture.
The fabric has a soft drape and can be identified by its characteristic sheen. It tends to wrinkle easily so it’s best to keep this t-shirt for casual wear or at home.
Gingham
Gingham is a type of fabric that is made from cotton. It is characterized by its distinctive checked pattern that is made up of two different colors.
Madras Cotton
Madras cotton is a type of cotton that was originally from the Indian subcontinent. The fiber is often used to make lightweight, airy fabrics.
Lawn Cotton
Lawn cotton is a variety of cotton that is planted for the fiber it produces. It is a type of cotton that is planted in rows and is harvested with a machine.
Muslin
Muslin cotton is a type of woven and unbleached cotton, which is typically used as a base for patterns and trimmings.
Muslin cotton is often white or off-white in color and is sometimes known as Indian Jap cloth.
Poly-Cotton
Poly-cotton is a blend of cotton and polyester. It is a synthetic fiber that is made from a combination of polyester and cotton.
Seersucker
Seersucker is a type of cotton fabric that is typically striped or checkered. It is made of lightweight cotton, which makes it perfect for the summertime.
Shirting Cotton
Shirting cotton is a lightweight variety of cotton used exclusively for dress shirts. Shirting cotton is softer than Poplin, but not as soft as broadcloth which makes it perfect for casual wear or suits.
Silk Cotton
Silk cotton is a natural fiber that is made from the cocoons of the silkworm. The cocoons are boiled to remove the sericin, and then the fibers are spun into yarns or threads.
Voile
Voile cotton is a type of cotton that is lightweight and sheer. It is perfect for making dresses, blouses, and skirts.
Medium Weight Cotton Fabric
Jersey
Jersey is a type of cotton that is made of long-staple fibers. The fibers are twisted together to make a yarn, and the yarn is then used to make a cloth.
Jersey is a very soft fabric, and it is often used to make sweatshirts and underwear.
Brushed Cotton
Brushed cotton is a type of cotton fabric that is made from a blend of different types of cotton. It is made to be thicker and softer than other types of cotton, and it is usually used for clothing and bedding.
Calico
Calico is a cotton fabric that has small repeating patterns of three colors. Typically, if the color includes black or dark blue it will appear more like a checked pattern.
Quilting Cotton
Quilt cotton is a type of thread or yarn that is used in the making of quilts. Quilting cotton consists of 30% polyester and 70% cotton, which gives it its smooth finish.
Cotton Velvet
Cotton velvet is a type of fabric that is very light and soft. It is usually made from a blend of cotton and polyester.
Cotton velvet is most often used as dress fabric because it drapes well on the body. It can also be used for curtains, drapes, pillows.
Chino
Chino is a type of woven cotton fabric that is made from two or more threads. It is typically dyed before weaving, which means it will not fade.
Chino can be either very fine with a soft hand like batiste, or fairly coarse like denim.
Chintz
Chintz is a type of cotton fabric that is printed with a floral design. The fabric is often used to make curtains, pillows, and upholstery.
Moleskin
Moleskin is a type of cotton fabric that is made from two or more threads. It is typically dyed before weaving, which means it will not fade. Moleskin can be either very fine with a soft hand like batiste, or fairly coarse like denim.
Sateen or Satin
Satin is a type of woven fabric that is made from two or more threads. It is typically dyed before weaving, which means it will not fade. Satin can be either very fine with a soft hand like batiste.
Ticking
Ticking cotton is a type of raw cotton. It is sometimes called long-staple cotton as well. Ticking cotton is the type of raw cotton that has high length and good spinning properties.
Damask
Damask is a type of cotton fabric. Damask weave produces a distinctive pattern on one side which, according to folklore, was first produced when the more expensive cloth from India began to run short.
Heavy Weight Types of Cotton
Toweling
Toweling is a fabric type. The name may also refer to the textile industry that manufactures towels, or hand towels, which are generally larger and thicker than a washcloth.
Canvas
Canvas is a heavy cotton cloth used for making paintings, sculptures, and other artworks. It is also used for making tents, sails, and backpacks.
Corduroy
Corduroy is a type of cotton and wool fabric that has the appearance of a cord or ribbing.
It was originally made by joining two sets of the ribbed fabric, with one set having the ribs running vertically and the other set having them running horizontally.
Egyptian cotton
Egyptian cotton creates fibers that are far longer than other cotton fabrics. These fibers are smaller in diameter and longer in length than other kinds of cotton. The density of the threads allows Egyptian cotton bed sheets to be: Larger, heavier, and more durable than those made from different types of cotton.
Demin
Demin is a type of cotton and wool fabric that has the appearance of a cord or ribbing.
It was originally made by joining two sets of the ribbed fabric, with one set having the ribs running vertically and the other set having them running horizontally.
Common Ingredients for Cotton T Shirts
100% Cotton
100% Cotton is more comfortable to wear than cotton-blend clothing because it is not only softer, kinder to the skin, and more breathable, but it’s also heavier.
They have a distinctive smoothness and finer flow. In addition, they are far more permeable than polyester blended fabric.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is better for one’s skin and for the environment. Organic cotton requires no pesticides, herbicides, or other synthetic chemicals to grow.
In addition, organic cotton is better for the water and soil resources in the area because it does not contain toxic chemicals.
Also, it is so expensive than other cotton fabrics.
Combed Cotton
Cotton that has been combed is a particularly soft form of cotton produced by treating the cotton fibers before they are spun into yarn.
Combed cotton is typically somewhat more expensive than ordinary cotton, as a rule. The extremely soft, durable material is great for making bed linens and clothing that will be worn against the skin.
Pure Cotton
It is important to understand that the term “pure cotton” does not necessarily imply that the cloth is only composed of cotton. It simply implies that the quantity of cotton used in the manufacturing process was uncooked.
Blends Or Cotton Mix
50/50 – Also known as cotton/poly, a 50/50 blend is half cotton, half polyester.
Tri-Blend – Typically made from cotton, polyester, and rayon.
It’s the process of mixing two or more types of fibers into one cloth. Blends are used to improve the fabric’s feel, performance, and durability.
Cotton and spandex, for example, can produce a light, comfortable, and stretchy garment when blended together.
The Process of Choosing the Fabrics in MGOO
You can designate one type for your project, or allow our sales team to suggest several types for you. They are professional and normally can tell the fabrics from your pics.
They will recommend the common types or special types which can perfectly match your idea. It’s so easy to work with them.
In Conclusion
Cotton is well-known. It has a long history, with more than 100 million (480-pound bales) produced all over the world.
For a long time, mankind has used cotton fibers to create fabric. I recall reading that from ancient times, man utilized clothes made of cotton fibers. Cotton clothing was in use throughout the Indus Valley civilization, which was established 3300 years ago.
Cotton is the most popular (durable fabric, of course) fabric for clothing. Millions of people choose it out of necessity (because it is inexpensive), many do so because they like it (as a summer-friendly cloth), Many do so for its beauty (think crepe, damask), many for its comfort (your comfy terry towels and sheeting), Many do so as an eco-friendly option (because cotton is made from a plant) and many as a fashion statement (your denim jeans).
Whatever your reason, you will encounter cotton numerous times throughout your clothing business.
In this article, there are no more than 30 types of cotton fabrics. There are even hundreds of others.
No matter how, they can be divided into lightweight fabric, medium weight fabric, and heavyweight fabric. Generally, when it comes to tees casual shirts, you can apply light weight cotton.
When it comes to hoodies, for example, you can apply medium weight or heavy weight fabric.
