Fabrics & care

Texture, construction and care-label questions.

• What should I check in a bouclé garment?Look at the looped or textured surface, lining and likely points of friction.
• How does cable knitting affect an outfit?Raised cables add texture and can make a knit appear more substantial.
• Why should I follow a garment’s care label?The label addresses the finished item, including its fibers, dyes, trims and construction.
• What should I examine when shopping for cashmere knitwear?Consider the knit, seams, feel, care requirements and seller information as well as composition.
• What should I check with chiffon clothing?Check opacity, lining, seams and the underlayers you intend to wear.
• How should I handle a snag in a garment?Avoid pulling or cutting it before you understand the construction.
• What does wale mean in corduroy?Wales are the raised ribs in corduroy.
• What should I expect from cotton poplin?Poplin is a woven construction often used for a relatively smooth shirt fabric, but its weight and finish vary.
• What does crepe mean in a clothing description?Crepe refers to a textured fabric appearance or construction and can involve different fibers.
• How much can elastane content tell me about stretch?It indicates a stretch-related component, but knit or weave, yarn and finishing also affect how a garment stretches and recovers.
• Can I predict shrinkage from the fabric label?Not precisely.
• When is a fabric swatch worth requesting?A swatch is useful when color, texture or opacity is decisive and the seller offers one.
• What is the difference between a fiber and a weave?A fiber is a material used to make yarn; a weave describes how yarns are interlaced.
• How do jersey and woven tops differ?Jersey is a knit construction, while woven fabrics interlace yarns differently.
• What should I do when knitwear starts to pill?Follow the care label and identify a gentle method suitable for the specific fabric.
• Should I fold or hang knitwear?Choose storage that supports the garment without stretching it, following the maker’s advice.
• How do I compare pure linen and linen blends?Look at the other fibers, the fabric’s weight and the behavior you want.
• How do I compare lining materials?Consider how the lining feels, slides over other layers and affects care.
• How should I evaluate a lyocell clothing listing?Treat the fiber name as one part of the description, then examine fabric weight, construction, finish and care needs.
• How do I choose a merino layer?Choose according to weight, construction, fit and the setting where you will wear it.
• How do I care for clothing with several materials?Follow the finished garment’s label, which may reflect the most sensitive component.
• How do I decide whether a polyester garment suits me?Judge the specific fabric’s texture, weight, construction and care rather than accepting or rejecting it from the fiber name alone.
• Why can rib-knit clothing look small laid flat?The rib structure can contract when relaxed and expand in wear.
• Is satin the same as silk?No.
• How do I choose between steaming and ironing?Use the care label and the finish you want.
• What should I look for in twill trousers?Twill describes a weave with a diagonal pattern, but trousers using it can vary in weight, finish and stretch.
• Why does velvet look different across photos?Its pile catches light differently with direction and movement, so color and sheen can shift across views.
• What should I check in a viscose garment?Check construction, opacity, lining and the garment’s specific care instructions.
• What should I check before washing dark clothing?Follow the care label and any instructions about separate washing or color transfer.
• What does a wool-blend label tell me?It tells you that wool is mixed with other fibers, whose proportions should be listed.