Woven Fabric

What is woven fabric? Fabrics are either woven or knitted, and woven fabric examples, such as silk, chiffon and taffeta, are some of the finest and most elegant fabrics in the world. Find out more about them here.

Canvas 500

Thicker poly based woven canvas. 500gsm. Durable, strong. Smooth handle, textured face. Good for deckchair slings, garden cushions

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Paris Chiffon

Silky, sheer and light. 40gsm. Soft woven poly. Semi-transparent with strong contrast print. Good natural drape. Curtains, drapes.

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Pima Lawn 100% Cotton

100% cotton. Light, airy and smooth on the skin. Super light, 75gsm. Nice drape, flows beautifully. Use for clothes, furnishings.

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Fashion Crepe

Lightweight, soft, double-faced, stretchy. 150gsm. Distinct textured crepe handle. Bold white base. Perfect for dressmaking.

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Peached Polycotton Sheeting

Strong woven polycotton blend. 130gsm. Feels like cotton. Smooth, anti-wrinkle with a subtle sheen. Use for bedding, tablecloths.

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Portobello Canvas

Semi-transparent, durable canvas. Solid structure, even texture. Off-white base tone. 250gsm. Ideal for cushions, throws, crafts.

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Princess Lace Satin

Luxurious jacquard lace. White knitted lace front, silvery satin back. Soft, slight stretch. 200gsm. Crafts, upholstery, trimmings.

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Sara Linen Blend

Dobby weave, 10% linen, 90% poly. Characteristic surface detail. Slight sheen to face. Heavy, 300gsm. Cushions, crafts, bags.

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Real Silk Satin 85gsm

100% real silk. Smooth, shiny, flowing drape. Super light, 85gsm. Natural sheen to face, luxury handle. Clothing, scarves etc.

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Silk Impression

Woven silk alternative. Shimmery poly face, semi-transparent. Soft & cool on the skin. Clothing, linings, garments. 80gsm

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Soft Velvet

Elegant, short pile. Super sharp print quality. Gorgeous drape. 280gsm. Soft print quality. Cushions, linings, interiors.

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Velvet Shimmer

Soft with reinforced woven back. Slightly stiff, holds shape well. Shimmery face. 371gsm. Ideal for upholstery, quilting, bedding.

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Vintage Fade Cotton Blend

50% cotton 50% poly. Desaturated print for vintage effect. Lightweight 140gsm, with high levels of absorbency. Slightly starched.

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Oilcloth Matte

100% half panama with crease free satin face. Slight sheen. Waterproof. 274gsm. Bike covers, rain jackets, tablecloths.

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Canvas 300

Thick poly based canvas with tight weave. Stiff, matt, opaque. 300gsm. Subtle, smooth face. Ideal for ground sheets, sails.

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Chenille

Classic chenille fabric, soft & strong. Textured caterpillar pile. 330gsm. Water absorbent, resists abrasion. Interior furnishings.

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Cotton Satin

100% natural cotton satin weave. 172gsm. Smooth face with matt finish. Reflects & absorbs the light. Crisp and cool to touch.

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Cotton Twill

100% natural cotton. 200gsm. Smooth and soft face with a matt reverse. Easy to handle. Very tight twill weave, locks in heat.

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Cotton Linen

All natural fabric. 85% cotton / 15% linen. Cool and smooth on the skin, with some stretch. Slightly stiff finish. 228gsm.

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Dorchester Linen Look

Soft 'linen look' fabric, coarse weave, large fibres. 231gsm. Off-white base tone, matt. Some transparency. Home furnishings, cushions.

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Duchess Satin

Tightly woven poly. Smooth, glossy sateen face, matt structured backing. Opaque, 140gsm. Ideal for fashion, furnishings.

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Ella Waterproof

Lightweight PU coated fabric. 65gsm. Slightly rubbery reverse. Solid & firm with minor give. Umbrellas, waterproof linings.

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Gaia Eco Recycled

Made from 100% recycled PET materials. Eco-friendly. Slightly rough texture, crepe-like sheen. Warm, pale base. 260gsm. Outdoor clothing.

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Haverstock Linen Look

'Linen look' fabric. 248gsm. Some transparency. No abrasion, holds up well to dirt. Crisp print. Finer weave than Dorchester.

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Lace Lucille

Very fine, delicate matt finish lace. 15gsm. Stiff, with a starchy handle. Very open construct, ideal for blocks of colour.

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Lima Cotton Twill

85% cotton, 15% poly. Smooth and soft face with a matt reverse. Easy to handle. Very tight twill weave locks in heat. 200gsm.

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Lima Cotton Lawn

70% cotton, 30% poly coating. Hardwearing, breathable. Slight brushed surface, ivory base tone. Lighter than poplin. 105gsm.

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Lima Cotton Poplin

81% cotton 19% poly. Semi opaque poplin weave fabric. 160gsm. Intense colours, bright lustrous face. Very fine brushed surface.

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Lucent Satin

Lightweight double faced sateen. 120gsm. High lustre, shimmery. Semi transparent, taut. Clothes, scarves, bedding, lingerie.

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Mayfair Herringbone Weave

Durable poly-blend. Distinctive herringbone weave, textured. Feels like cotton, 269gsm. Cream base tone. Use for furnishings.

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Monroe Satin

Smooth sateen faced twill with a slight shine and fluid drape. 160gsm. Durable, taut, good for bags, garments, bedding, quilts.

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Mulmul Soft Muslin

Soft, cotton-like touch with added durability from poly fibres. Lightweight, 55gsm. Open set net-like weave similar to cheesecloth.

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Nautica Peached Splash Proof

Lightweight poly, peached face. Tough, taut, zero stretch. 172gsm. Bright white base. Splash proof. Beach, yachting friendly.

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Neoprene

Knitted poly face backed onto spongy, thick Neoprene. 1000gsm, opaque. Water absorbent, thermal insulator. Good for wetsuits.

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Linden Waterproof

Tough, & sturdy. 120gsm. Non-fray, crisp to touch, subtle sheen. Waterproof, windproof. Make raincoats, windbreakers, awnings

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Organza

Transparent, sheer, light yet firm fabric. Refined net quality. Very light, 23gsm. Embellishments, curtains, interfacing.

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Panama Flo

Lightweight poly-blend. 150gsm. Half panama, durable weave. Solid with a slight spring. Soft, matt, opaque. Water resistant.

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Poly Georgette

Twisted poly yarns, classic crepe face. Transparent. Floaty, stunning drape. 65gsm. Punchy, bold colours. Soft furnishings, curtains.

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Ripstop

Classic Ripstop, strengthened square grid structure. Semi-transparent, waterproof. 65gsm. Kites, parachutes, yacht sails, flags.

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Silk Sensation

Silk alternative. Solid, plain closed weave. Shiny face, matt reverse. 90gsm. Slight stretch. Nice drape. Bedding, furnishings.

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Suede Vision

Non-woven poly, faux suede face, synthetic rubber back. 180gsm. Non-fray, smooth handle. Fire rated for home furnishings.

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Taffeta

Classic taffeta. Smooth, crisp surface with lustrous sheen. Good strength and slightly stiff. 90gsm. Shimmery finish.

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Towelling

Split microfibre Terry towelling. Woven pile, water absorbent. Thick, matt, fluffy face. 320gsm. Perfect for towels, bathrobes.

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Trafalgar Twill

Woven, cotton twill look. Matt finish and soft feel. Very fine brushed surface. Stiff firm handle, 274gsm. Upholstery, furnishings.

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Poly Twill

Very strong and durable. 200gsm. 2/2 poly blend twill weave. Smooth, structured, slightly textured. Upholstery, home interiors.

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Voille de Ville

Stiff, non-fray, splash-proof woven poly. 120gsm. Delicate net texture with shiny face. Ideal for furnishings, curtains, flags.

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Volando Voile

Sheer finish, very fine open weave. Super lightweight, 52gsm. Shiny, semi transparent with natural, flowing drape. Great for curtains.

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Organic Cotton Poplin

100% organic cotton poplin weave 110gsm. Untreated with authentic slubbing effect. Crisp, no stretch. Ideal for making shirts

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Crepe de Chine

Classic crepe face, beautiful drape, lightweight, 85gsm, elegant and strong, excellent print and colour reproduction, taut.

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Silk Twill

100% real silk. Beautiful twill weave. Lightweight, durable, strong colour and print detail. Soft with a lovely drape. 54gsm.

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Bamboo Soft

Washed for soft handle. Wash fast inks and strong, deep colours. Great for garments as well as bedding and more.

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Midnight Dream Cotton Sateen

A 100% natural cotton sateen, which is smooth and soft. Great for tailored garments.

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Summer Breeze Woven Viscose

Summer Breeze Woven Viscose is robust, comfortable and incredibly versatile. Customise with your designs.

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Organic Cotton Canvas

A 100% organic, natural fabric with a rustic, half panama canvas weave.

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Organic Cotton Drill

100% organic, made from 100% natural cotton. Sandstone base colour with cotton husks.

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ChiChi Furnishing Velour

A woven fabric, with a soft touch velour short pile. Perfect for upholstery thanks to its textured scrim backing.

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Silk Georgette

Ruben Recycled Plain Weave

100% recycled plain weave fabric. Woven using 100% recycled yarn, rustic and soft.

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What is woven fabric?

Most fabrics are made by either knitting or weaving yarns. When considering what is woven fabric one must understand the basic structure of the weave. Woven fabrics are made up of a weft; which is the yarn, or fibre, going across the width of the fabric, and a warp; which is the yarn going down the length of the loom.

The woven material is made by the inter-weaving sets of these 2 yarns at right angles to one another. The result is a firm, solid fabric construction that maintains the straight nature of the yarn.

Popular types of woven fabric include:

Chiffon – sheer, lightweight fabric woven from twisted yarns
Chenille – looks different in one direction compared to another
Satin – glossy and highly shiny face with a dull back
Twill – produces diagonal lines on the face of the fabric
Crepe – lightweight with a flowy drape which has a crinkled or granular surface
Denim – traditionally a yarn dyed, warp faced cotton twill fabric
Georgette – sheer and lightweight, woven in a plain weave
Lawn – fine, lightweight and crisp, traditionally made from cotton or linen
Mulmul – fine cotton or synthetic fabric, slightly heavier than muslin
Poplin – medium weight with a fine weft rib
Velvet – dense cut pile which is very soft and luxurious
Taffeta – smooth, crisp and transparent
Silk – luxuriously smooth, elegant and strong

How is it manufactured?

Woven fabric UK and internationally made is constructed of a weft and a warp. They are made on either a hand weaving loom or on a power weaving loom.

There are 3 types of woven fabric:

Plain weave fabric – here, the warp and the weft are aligned, so that they create a simple and characteristic criss-cross pattern. This is a strong and durable weave which is used for furnishings, interiors and fashion.
Satin weave fabric – a complex arrangement of warp and weft yarns which allows longer float threads across either the weft or the warp. This long float of threads means that when the light hits it, it is reflected, creating a smooth, shiny surface which is known as satin.
Twill weave fabric – here, the crossings of weft and warp are counterbalanced to create a charming diagonal pattern on the face of the fabric. This is a strong weave which drapes well and is most commonly used for making jeans and jackets as well as interiors such as curtains.

Purposes of woven fabric

Woven fabrics are often used in sewing, for making items such as clothing and furnishings as well as items including woven fabric labels, hospital gowns, surgical tape, banners, tents, umbrellas and lots more. This is a versatile and highly useful fabric which has a wide range of purposes and end uses.

Properties

Woven fabrics are treated differently to knitted fabrics. As the yarns are woven together, the edges can unravel or fray relatively easily. They therefore need to be finished with a zigzag stitch for a simpler finish or a serger for a more professional finish.

Fabrics made from weaving are generally tauter and have a crisper handle than knitted fabrics. This makes them perfect for making pleats.

Some other properties include:

Tiny criss-cross pattern
Taut
Symmetrical
Same weave fabrics may vary by yarn size, twist, fibre, count, design or finish
Strong
Can be classified as domestic or industrial
Characterised by the thickness of the yarn
Can be easily cut into different shapes
Woven materials with more fabric count keeps shape well
Low fabric count materials are less durable and prone to snag or stretch

Advantages of woven fabric

Woven fabrics are widely available; you can purchase a huge range of woven fabric online, in a variety of weaves and finishes. Because there are 3 different types of woven fabric, there is a huge variety of uses for this kind of material, including clothing, soft furnishings and industrial.

Clothing made from woven fabrics are made to be sturdy. They cannot be stretched and don’t overly shrink, so woven materials have a great deal of longevity. Many heavy-duty fabrics are made from weaves, thanks to their strength and durability.

Woven fabrics offer a crisp and distinguished look and can add structure to an outfit making it appear more luxurious and high-end.