Jersey Bows: The Origin and Uses of Jersey Fabric and Cotton
How is Jersey Fabric Made?
Jersey is a common type of fabric that’s used to make lots of clothing and accessories such as Jersey Bows, jersey t-shirts, and even jersey sheets. Jersey fabric is a soft and stretchy fabric that made from silk, cotton, sheep’s wool, bamboo or synthetic materials. Jersey fabric is known for its softness and its ability to stretch. It is commonly used to make t-shirts, clingy clothes, and athletic wear. Jersey is normally machine washable but its advisable to read the label before buying.
Characteristics of Jersey
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It has Elasticity
The degree of softness depends on the fibers your material is made of, as well as on the finish. Jersey fabric is usually lightweight but it can also come in various degrees of heaviness. Because of its stretchy nature, it is ideal for making tight-fitting clothing, sportswear etc.
It is Soft
The jersey fabric has a softness that is gentle and feels good on the skin. This doesn’t mean it can give in to wear and tear easily as it is also resistant to wear and tear. Which leads to the next characteristic
It is Durable
The very nature of this fabric makes it resistant to creases. It lasts long and it easily recovers its original shape after stretching. This makes it quite resistant to wrinkling. Light, fine and, translucent jersey materials may have a tendency to curl at the edges, while heavier clothes are more stable. The thinner the fabric is, the easier the drape is.
It is Versatile
Is already mentioned above, jersey fabric can be made from a variety of materials both organic and synthetic. This makes it quite versatile in nature. You can get it in different textures, colors, eights and price ranges.
Cotton Fabric
Cotton is another type of fabric that is quite common and very versatile in types and in use. Cotton is usually soft and fluffy but also comes in different firms like denim, flannel, muslin etc.
Some of the characteristics of cotton fabric are:
- It is soft
- It is strong and durable
- It absorbs water well up to many times its weight
- It has good color retention
- It has good moisture absorption
- It is comfortable to wear
- It is an eco-friendly fabric
- It is breathable
- It can be blended with other fibers for more qualities
Advantages of Cotton
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It Helps with Moisture Control:
Because cotton is breathable it helps absorb moisture such as sweat from the skin which is great because in the summer people be sweating. The International Forum for Cotton Promotion states that cotton can take up to one-fifth of its weight in water before feeling damp.
It Provides Insulation:
Cotton is a good fabric to wear both in the summer and winter is it provide insulation from both the heat and the cold. The cotton fibers in clothing hold the fabric away from the skin, further allowing for more air to be trapped between the skin and fabric which helps with insulation and comfort.
It is Hypoallergenic:
When something is hypoallergenic it means it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction and irritate the skin. This is a good advantage of cotton and why it is used a lot to make clothes and accessories for babies and children. It is also used to make bandages and other medical products and clothing.
It is Weatherproof:
Cotton is mainly water resistant is it does not take in water too quickly. Because of this, it’s also used a lot to make water-resistant clothing. Cotton can be made into a tight, dense fabric with a weather-repellent finish to make weather resistant clothing, yet the cotton fabric retains its comfort and breathability.
It is Comfortable:
Cotton has a soft texture and is stretchable and this makes it wrap around the body in a comfortable way. Because of its softness and comfort, it is often used in underwear and undershirts.
It is Durable:
Cotton has a high tensile strength, making it strong, durable and less likely to rip or tear. It is 30 percent stronger when wet, withstanding many washing cycles in hot water. This means that it is machine washable also.
Different Types of Cotton
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There exists a lot of types of cotton. And there keeps being more and more types being made because the versatile nature of cotton allows for many possibilities.
| Cotton Batiste | Charmeuse | English net | Jaconet | Mull |
| Bengaline cotton | Chenille | Flannel | Jersey (Cotton) | Muslin |
| Batiste | Jeans | Fleece | Khakhi | Nankeen |
| Bedford cotton | Crepe | Flannel cotton | Lawn | Organdie |
| Bi-polished cotton | Damask | Flanellette | Lint | Organic cotton |
| Broadcloth | Double cloth | French terry | Linen cotton mix | Oxford cloth |
| Calico | Diaper cloth | Fustian | Lisle | Percale |
| Cambric | Dimity | Gauze | Liquid cotton | |
| Canvas | Drill | Gabardine | Madras cotton | |
| Challis | Duck cloth | Gingham | Moire | |
| Chambray / Chambric | Egyptian cotton | Irish poplin | Moleskin |
If you are venturing out to make your own clothing or accessories, you can play with many of these types of cottons to find out what you like best, what works best for different pieces of clothing, what takes on different colors better, and just plain experimenting for the fun of it!