Cottons
FLANNEL cotton is plain or twill weave. On one or either side there is a slight nap.
FLANNELETTE is a soft cotton fabric with a nap on one side.
GAUZE, similar to cheesecloth, is sheer and lightly woven.
GINGHAM is a lightweight, washable fabric that is woven in checks, plaids or stripes.
MUSLIN is a plain weave cotton fabric. It comes in all different weights and is
usually natural.
ORGANDY is a crisp cotton fabric, known for being sheer.
OUTING FLANNEL is soft cotton that is napped on both sides. Often used for sleepwear.
OXFORD is shirting fabric with a lustrous, soft finish. It often has narrow stripes and is woven in plain or basket weave.
PIMA COTTON, from Egyptian cotton, is one of the finest cotton fabrics in quality.
POLISHED COTTON has a shiny appearance due to a chemical finish. It is either a satin or plain weave cotton
POPLIN is a plain weave fabric with a rib that goes across the cross grain.
SATEEN is a satin weave cotton fabric.
SEERSUCKER is a lightweight cotton fabric crinkled into lengthwise stripes.
TERRY CLOTH is a looped pile fabric that is either woven or knitted. This material is used for towels and such due to its absorbency.
VELVETEEN is an all-cotton, short pile fabric resembling velvet.

 

Silks (and silk weaves)

BROCADE is a jacquard weave with an embossed effect and contrasting surfaces.
CANTON CREPE is a soft crepe fabric with small cross grain ribs. It is similar to crepe de chine but heavier.
CHARMEUSE is a satin weave silk with a crepe back
CHIFFON is transparent soft and light silk.
CHINA SILK is a plain weave silk that most people identify as the touch of silk. This fabric comes in a variety of different weights.
DOUPIONI is reeled from double cocoons nested together. The threads are uneven and irregular. It is identifiable by both touch and sight.
GEORGETTE sheer crepe silk, is heavier than silk and has a crisper hand to it.
ORGANZA is similar to cotton organdy, but it is transparent and is also made from silk.
SILK SHANTUNG is a doupioni type of silk that comes from the Shantung Province.
of China. Is also irregular to touch.
SILK BROADCLOTH is a plain weave silk in many different weights; crisper than regular silks.
SILK LINEN has a linen look and feel to it but is made with a nubby yarn in a plain
weave. There are a variety of weights. It is different from Doupioni in that the nubby lines run both lengthwise and crosswise.

Wool

BEAVER CLOTH is a napped heavy woolen overcoating; it is pressed down to
resemble beaver fur.
BOTANY/MERINO WOOL is fine wool made from worsted wool yarn. It is soft and
luxurious, resembling cashmere
BROADCLOTH is an all woolen/worsted fabric that has a slight feel of velvet to it.
CHINCHILLA CLOTH is a heavy, almost spongy woolen fabric with a long nap that
has been rubbed into a curly, nubby finish.
FELT fabric is a compact sheet of entangled, wool, fur, sometimes cotton fibers.
The felt is made by processing a mat of fibers with moisture, heat, and pressure.
It is not a woven fabric.
FLANNEL wool is a soft, lightweight fabric with a small nap on one or both sides.
GABARDINE is a tightly woven, high sheen wool twill.
HERRINGBONE WOOL is woven in a twill that is reversed at normal spacing; this will
create a sawtooth line.
HOUNDSTOOTH CHECK has a four pointed star check in a broken twill weave.
LAMBSDOWN is a heavy knit fabric that has a thicker fleeced nap on one side.
It can be used for blankets.
LODEN FABRIC is thick, soft, waterproof and windproof wool used in outerwear.
MELTON is a heavy, thick, short napped fabric without a finish press or gloss.
TWEED is rough textured wool, originally homespun and slightly felted. This fabric
is sturdy with a mottled color.
VIRGIN WOOL is wool that has never been processed into fabric and is usually
an off white.