What's the difference??
 

I was shopping for flannel. Found a lot of flannelette. What is the difference in these two types of fabric or is there a difference?
Thanks.

Was there a difference in the fiber content?

I've never heard of flannelette. Hope someone can explain for us.

I don't know the difference. I haven't heard of flannelette for quite awhile.

I just checked Wiki. Scrolled down a bit and found some info about flannelette. Apparently, it's a napped cotton with the texture of flannel. Most of the flannelette I saw at the store was in the children's fabric section.
I wonder...could it be used in place of flannel? What do you think?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flannel

I think you will find that in most cases flannelette is a thinner fabric than flannel

Over time, the two words have become pretty much synonymous to mean the same cotton flannel/flannelette fabric.

However .... in the olden days .........

Flannel ... was wool
Flannelette ... was cotton



So while defining differences .... combed cotton vs. flannel/flannelette?

My visual observation is that the combed cotton is virtually the same on both sides. Perhaps a little finer weave. Also, possibly a little softer/fuzzier on the right side. It has been much the same in the wash/day cycle re shrinkage and after several washings is still losing fluff! :D

Gosh, I haven't heard the word "flannelette" in decades! I would wonder if it's back on the market because it's cheaper than regular flannel to make.

To my way of thinking, flannel and flannelette are really the same kind of brushed cotton. Flannelette was always the cheaper, thinner, slightly more stretchy version and did not wash and wear as long. Flannel was more expensive, had a tighter weave and behaved better in quilts. Flannelette seemed to come more in plain colours and baby and child prints while flannel was a little more "grown up".

I remember Moda having some prints that were flannel on one side and cotton on the other about 10 years ago, mostly plaids if I remember correctly.