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.

We get flannelette al the time in Australia

What an interesting discussion! I remember flannelette - when I was a little girl Mom always bought flannelette for use in summer things because it was thinner and flannel for winter because it was thicker and warmer.

There is flannel that's fuzzy on both sides of the fabric and some that is fuzzy on only one side. Is this the difference between flannel and flannelette?

There certainly is a difference. Flannelette is much thinner than flannel. I made my DGK PJ but my DGD found them way too hot. Also there is a vast difference in cost. I remember asking not long after I started quilting what the difference was and got the answer about $28.00 a meter.

So what is the legal description of "flannel". Its cotton (or other fabric) brushed with a nap. In my experience over the years, flannelette is a bit thinner than quilters's flannel. And to go on, suiting flannel is a bunch heavier than quilting flannel.

OMG, fabric prices are horrible in Australia I guess. This gal is not paying $28 per yard (.914 of a meter) for much of anything. Maybe once in a lifetime -------------some good silk. But not for cotton!

flannel can be cotton thru and thur, so can flannelette. Cotton is the fiber content. Flannel is the weave or finish

And I see it the same way, Shelbie

Flannel?
 

Flannelette has the nap (fuzzy) on one side, the right side. Flannel has nap on both sides. (brushed nap).

Phyllis
84 yrs in Oregon
72 yrs quilting

Flannelette was often used in layettes for babies. I didn't realize anyone still made it.

I have noticed that you can find flannel, that is printed on one side and not on the backside. The back seems to have a stiffness to it, without the fuzziness. Then I've seen flannel that is the same on both sides...very, very soft and cuddly with nap on both sides. It's much softer than the above mentioned flannel. Could this be the difference?