Types of Woven Fabrics & Their Uses

Woven fabrics are fabrics that are produced by weaving. Apart from weaving, fabrics can also be made by knitting, bonding, tufting, or felting. Conventional fabrics are either knitted or woven. For this article, we’ll be shifting our focus to woven fabrics. Read on to learn more about the types of woven fabrics, history, and what they are used for.

What is Woven Fabric?

Woven fabrics are textiles made by a process where two or more sets of yarn or threads interlace at right angles using a loom machine. Simply put, woven fabric is any textile formed by weaving. 

Weaving is the most common method of producing textiles. It involves interlacing two or more yarns or threads placed horizontally and vertically into one another. The yarn placed horizontally is called the weft yarn, while the vertically placed yarn is called a warp yarn. 

Unless the yarn used is elastic, woven fabrics have the tendency to fray at the edges, and this is prevented by employing a method called selvage. This ensures the weft yarn wraps around the warp yarn, making the fabric more durable. Simple weaving is done on a Shuttle Loom, while complex weaving is done on a Jacquard Loom.

Types of Woven Fabrics

Fiber and yarn used for weaving woven materials are not only obtained from silk and cotton. Mixed fibers and synthetic fibers, which are made by spinning chemicals and petroleum products into fibers or threads, are also available.

Woven fabrics are produced with distinct widths and may be snug or elastic depending on the end use. The difference in the production of fabrics ensures each has a specific property, making it distinct and easier to decide which is more suitable for a specific purpose. Below are some popular types of woven fabrics.

1. Aida

This cotton fabric has a natural mesh and is made using a cross-stitch embroidery method. It is an open and even-weave fabric that makes cross-stitching easy without embroidery hoops and is naturally stiff. Aida fabric is made with varying spaces and holes inserted between the weft and warp.

The fabric comes in different traditional colors like white, ecru, black, brown, tan, grey, and it is also in brighter colors. Since the fabric tends to fray, it often needs hemming with suggested hand-washing methods to protect its appearance.

2. Aertex 

This woven fabric is named after a British clothing company founded in 1888. They were the first manufacturers of this type of fabric. Aertex is not tightly woven, lightweight, and is mostly used to make underwear and shirts, although the fabric is also ideal for making breathable costumes, gym clothes, swimming suits, and sportswear. 

The fabric is made from cotton fiber and manufactured with tiny holes to maximize comfort and its suitability for any weather – especially the hot, humid ones that feel suffocating. 

4. Cambric Fabric

Compared to other types of woven fabrics, Cambric fabric is woven in a slightly different manner. The fabric is made by tightly weaving raw unprocessed fiber that is neither bleached nor dyed, giving it a glossy smooth appearance. It is a lightweight, plainly woven fabric made from 100% cotton or linen.

The fabric was first manufactured in France by a native weaver known by the name Jean Baptiste Chambray. The tightly woven fiber ensures the fabric is stiff and smooth. Cambric fabric is perfect for making tops, dresses, gowns, shirts, embroidery, and lace works.

5. Casement Fabric

Casement fabric is made of varying fibers that are lightweight and sheer. They could be synthetic or natural. It is woven with thick, closely packed warp and is chiefly used for curtains, table linen, and draperies. The structure of weaving for Casement fiber is either plain or figured, and it comes in white, cream, and ivory colors.

10. Muslin Fabric

Muslin is made from original cotton and is simply and plain woven without frill or fuss. The fabric was first manufactured in Mosul, Iraq, and derives its name from the same place. It was extremely popular in East India and was made from cotton grown beside the river. 

By the eighteenth century, its fame had spread to France and subsequently the rest of the West. Muslin fabric is extremely thin, fragile, and translucent. They are used for making sarees, lining for quilts, background for sets, cooking, and even used as muslin gauze.

Are There Non-woven Fabrics?

The simple answer to this is yes. Some textile processes do not involve interlacing weft or warp yarn or threads. Non-woven fabrics are bonded mechanically, chemically, or thermally entangling fibers through wet or dry felting.

They are not woven or knitted and do not require turning fibers into yarn or threads. Most times, non-woven fabrics give distinct features such as resilience, strength, or sterility. Non-woven fabrics are used in carpet backing, packaging products, cosmetic wipes, baby diapers, tea bag paper, and face cloths.

History of The Types of Woven Fabrics

The Latin word ‘texere’ literally means to ‘weave,’ and that is where the word textile originates from. It is believed weaving goes way back to the Neolithic period, around 9000 – 4000 BC. Weaving was a skill the Neolithic people practiced with fervor as it greatly connected families. Others say it all began around 3400 BC with the development of spinning and weaving in Ancient Egypt. 

Regardless, the art was perfected over the years and transformed from a means of women contributing to household expenses to a highly specialized process that requires considerable skill. The Middle Ages witnessed a consistent supply chain of dyers, weavers, spinners, and tailors who wanted to be part of the lucrative boom the textile and weaving industry was enjoying across Europe. 

Silk was processed in China, and the spinning wheel, believed to originate from India, was imported into Europe. This replaced hand spinning and made weaving easier and more efficient. The Industrial Revolution introduced many machines, bleaches, and dyes into the textile industry, which in turn made the industry enjoy substantial growth and advancement.

Types of Woven Fabrics – In Conclusion

Woven fabrics are undoubtedly versatile and have managed to thrive and adapt to changes over centuries. The variety of woven fabrics makes them a preferred choice as they can be used for more than one purpose.

While some weaves are light and easy to wear, some woven fabrics, like denim, are strong and can handle a lot of wear and tear. Although it is nearly impossible to list all the different types of woven fabrics, it is important to choose the right fabric suitable for its end-use.