Encyclopedia Archive

Cady

Cady has a nice balance of stretch and structure. Most often applied to cotton, this finish holds its shape well but is quite smooth with a hint of stretch. It has a very minimal sheen, almost to the point of being matte.

Calendering

A process for finishing fabrics in which such special effects as high luster, glazing, embossing, and moiré are produced.

Calico

A tightly woven cotton type fabric with an all-over print, usually a small floral pattern on a contrasting background color. Common end-uses include dresses, aprons, and quilts.

Cambric

Soft, white, closely woven cotton fabric calendered to achieve a high glaze. Used mainly for pocket linings, underwear, aprons, shirts, and handkerchiefs. Originally made in Cambrai, France, of linen and used for church embroidery and table linen.

Candlewick Fabric

Unbleached muslin bed sheeting, sometimes called Kraft muslin, used as a base fabric on which a chenille effect is formed by application of candlewick (heavy-yarn appearance of the true chenille yarn.

Canvas

Cotton, linen, or synthetic fabric made with a basic plain weave in heavy and firm weight yarns for industrial or heavy-duty purposes. Also referred to as “duck”, although the term “canvas” usually relates to the heavier, coarser constructions.

Capillary Action

A process by which liquids are drawn through the fabric and into pores found between fibers and yarns.

Carbon

A term used to describe fibers containing at least 98% of carbon obtained by controlled pyrolysis of appropriate fibers.

Carded

A process which eliminates fibers too short for inclusion in the spun yarn. The process also removes dirt and foreign matter still remaining in the fiber mass and arranges the fibers into a very thin layer.

Cashmere

A luxury fiber obtained from the soft fleecy undergrowth of the Kashmir goat of Tibet, Mongolia, China, Iran, Iraq, and India. Most commonly used in sweaters, shawls, suits, coats, and dresses.