Can some one explain the differences please? ( cotton fabrics)
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 198
Kona Cotton: http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/kona_cotton/
note the weight
Homespun:
http://www.jubileehomespun.com/Fabri...y_the_Yard.htm
Muslin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslin
Calico:
http://www.stitchnsave.com/Calico.asp
Jois
note the weight
Homespun:
http://www.jubileehomespun.com/Fabri...y_the_Yard.htm
Muslin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslin
Calico:
http://www.stitchnsave.com/Calico.asp
Jois
#14
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
I didn't see a definitation of calico.
For me calico is an abandonded term. Back in the 70's and 80's it was used to describe a fabric with small floral or geometric prints rather than the bolder designs. I still think of it as being a design reproduced from an earlier time. Homespun is a woven fabric usualy associated with either solids or plaids or strips. Threads are dyed first and then woven rather than printed 9on the fabric. It is available in varying weights. Quilters prefer the more tightly woven types as they do not fray. Also they are associated with more primitative type designs. Printed homespun uses the same base cloth but is dyed and printed with designs.
There have been several descriptions of muslin. It is like the unprinted cotton fabric and comes in unbleached or natural color or bleached white. Although there have been colors of soft pastels which were great to work with as it gave an old fashioned look. There is another fabric that often is confused with muslin. It is called Ecology Cloth. Is great for quilts and looks a little like unbleached muslin but doesn't have the brown flecks in it.
the brown flecks in muslin comes from the cotton in which all the seed residue was not removed.
For me calico is an abandonded term. Back in the 70's and 80's it was used to describe a fabric with small floral or geometric prints rather than the bolder designs. I still think of it as being a design reproduced from an earlier time. Homespun is a woven fabric usualy associated with either solids or plaids or strips. Threads are dyed first and then woven rather than printed 9on the fabric. It is available in varying weights. Quilters prefer the more tightly woven types as they do not fray. Also they are associated with more primitative type designs. Printed homespun uses the same base cloth but is dyed and printed with designs.
There have been several descriptions of muslin. It is like the unprinted cotton fabric and comes in unbleached or natural color or bleached white. Although there have been colors of soft pastels which were great to work with as it gave an old fashioned look. There is another fabric that often is confused with muslin. It is called Ecology Cloth. Is great for quilts and looks a little like unbleached muslin but doesn't have the brown flecks in it.
the brown flecks in muslin comes from the cotton in which all the seed residue was not removed.
#17
Google Goddess
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Central Indiana (USA)
Posts: 30,181
thanks for the links
Originally Posted by Jois
Kona Cotton: http://www.robertkaufman.com/fabrics/kona_cotton/
note the weight
Homespun:
http://www.jubileehomespun.com/Fabri...y_the_Yard.htm
Muslin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslin
Calico:
http://www.stitchnsave.com/Calico.asp
Jois
note the weight
Homespun:
http://www.jubileehomespun.com/Fabri...y_the_Yard.htm
Muslin:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslin
Calico:
http://www.stitchnsave.com/Calico.asp
Jois
#18
One of the reasons Kona cotton is premium, is that it uses long staple cotton fibers- it gives the fabric a smoother feel, just the same as a premium 200 thread count sheet feels much different than a cheaper 200 thread count sheet- even if they are both made of 100% cotton. It wear better too.
Calico reminds me of Little House on the Prairie. If any of you remember the 70"s that is the little flowered fabric in small prints that all looked alike and came in ugly colors.
I have seen even in Joann's solid quilting cotton called "Calico". I think it's a generic term at this point.
Calico reminds me of Little House on the Prairie. If any of you remember the 70"s that is the little flowered fabric in small prints that all looked alike and came in ugly colors.
I have seen even in Joann's solid quilting cotton called "Calico". I think it's a generic term at this point.
#19
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Zealand in the South Pacific
Posts: 1,115
Thankyou Jois for the links, I am not that computer savy yet I am going to study what you have put up. Where I live calico is not printed and it is used for curtain backing and also in a better quality for quilting and craft. The seeded one is my particular old fashiond favourite but you can get several different widiths from 90cm up to 2.50m and many different qualities from cheap (spit peas through) to the craft quality which has a much bigger thread count.
Thankyou all very much I understand a lot better now.
Gal
Thankyou all very much I understand a lot better now.
Gal
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