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Glossary

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Canvas

Canvas is a woven cotton basket-weave or 2/2 “Panama”.  The square weave is visible (an equal number of warp and weft yarns).  Canvas is slightly stronger than Cretonne.

Calendering

A mechanical finishing technique where the fabric is passed through heated rollers which turn in opposite directions, calendering adds tautness to the fabric.  This operation adds shine to patterns and lustre to the material. 

Chambray

Similar to batiste, chambray originates from the town of Cambrai (Northern France).  This plain-weave fabric uses coloured warp yarns (originally indigo) and white weft yarns. Formerly used to designate a light, linen fabric, the term is used to describe the contrasting colours characteristic of chambray fabric.

Crepe

From the Latin “crispus”, meaning curly or wavy, becoming “cresp” and then “crepe”, this material is obtained by twisting and heating the fibres to change their shape.  Originally made of wool or silk, today we can find cotton or polyester crepes.

Cretonne

Cretonne is a plain-weave fabric made of hemp, linen or cotton.  Relatively strong, it uses a plain-weave, that is to say an equal number of warp and weft yarns.  The name may come from the village of Courtonnel or Creton in Normandy.

Cheesecloth / Etamine

Etamine (or cheesecloth) is a supple, fine, loosely-woven fabric made with silk, wool, horsehair or cotton, originally used for sifting or straining.  Etamine is also used to describe the material used for light and transparent woollen shawls or throws.  

Changeable taffeta / shot silk

Shot silk is a silk taffeta with transverse ribs.  Two colours of yarn are used which alternate every other time.

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