broadcloth- Light to medium weight cotton fabric. Can also be cotton/polyester blend. Woven in somewhat tight weaving, the premium being the tighest woven. Used in clothing and home decor.
brocade- Woven fabric with a raised pattern. Usually silk. Sometimes has a silver or gold thread.
buckram- Stiff cotton or linen fabric once used to stabilize other fabrics and millinery items, such as head coverings.
calico- Originally a cotton fabric from India. Today, any cotton fabric esp. with small floral print.
damask- Woven fabric with a pattern on both sides. Once used for clothing, today its use is mostly in housewares such as tablecloths.
gingham- Light weight plain woven cotton fabric, usually with natural or white checks and another color checks.
homespun- Coarse handwoven fabric, or a fabric similar to this. Usually made of a natural fiber, such as cotton.
linen- Fabric woven from flax. A natural fiber fabric. Lighter weight than cotton.
muslin- Light weight cotton fabric with a simple weave. Natural color is unbleached. White muslin has been bleached. Has a nubby texture.
osnaburg- Coarse heavy cotton or linen, once popular for shirts. Has a nubby texture.
seersucker- Woven fabric, usually 100% cotton, with flat and raised areas. Often has stripe or checkered patterns. Not to be confused with a non-woven, modern fabric called plisse, which is chemically treated to form flat and raised areas.
ticking- Heavy weight cotton fabric, similar to denim. Tightly woven with vertical stripes. Used in upholstery, pillows, and clothing.
velvet- Closely-woven fabric of silk, cotton, or nylon.Usually has a thick short pile or nap on one side.
velveteen- Cotton fabric with a nap, or pile. Looks like velvet.
wool- Fabric made from the hair of a sheep, or goat. Worsted wools are made from long-staple wool. They have a smooth texture and drape well for clothing. Woolens are not twisted as tightly, the most common being tweed. Both types are water-repellant and excellent insulators.
