Fabric Glossary: Terms Starting with A

Abraded Yarn

A continuous filament man-made yarn with outer surfaces that have been roughened or broken. The roughening process gives the yarn an appearance similar to a spun yarn.

Abrasion Resistance

The resistance of a fabric to show signs of surface wear due to frictional forces from rubbing. Abrasion resistance is dependent upon the type of fiber used to make the fabric.

Acetate

Used to make plastic or textile fibers. Textile fibers consisting of cellulose acetate have been used to make acetate silk.

Acrylic

A synthetic fiber made from a petrochemical base, primarily polyacrylonitrile. Acrylic is often blended with other fibers and is used as a substitute for wool in sweaters, blankets, and outerwear.

Action Stretch

Fabrics with stretch and recovery in both the warp and weft directions. Also referred to as a 4-way stretch.

Alpaca Cloth

A very soft and lightweight fabric with a silky hand made of fiber obtained from the Alpaca. For durability, a cotton warp is mixed with an Alpaca weft. Alpaca resembles mohair and is often imitated with wool and rayon blends.

Alpaca Wool

Similar to sheep wool; however, Alpaca wool is finer and smoother. Suri Alpacas have longer and silkier fibers than the Huacaya Alpacas and are therefore more desirable. Good quality Alpaca fibers are approximately 18 to 25 microns in diameter. By comparison, silk has a fiber size of 10 to 13 microns with wool fibers being among the weakest natural fibers, and silk being the strongest of all natural fibers when comparing tensile strength.

Alençon Lace or Point d’Alençon

A modified Venetian style needle lace originally from the town of Alençon in France with the Alençon style being established around 1675 during the reign of Louis XIV.

Angora

Hair or fibers taken from the Angora rabbit that are approximately 12 to 16 microns in diameter. There is much confusion as to whether Angora is classified as a wool due to the term Angora being used to describe two different animal species. Angora rabbit fibers are not classified as wool; however, the fibers from the Angora goat, also referred to as mohair, are classified as wool. Angora rabbit fibers are usually blended with wool from other animals to give the fiber some stretch characteristics. Angora is very soft and very warm and has a fluffy appearance. Angora is most commonly used for sweaters.

Animal Fibers

A term used to identify natural fibers taken from animals. Examples include alpaca, angora, cashmere, camel hair, cow hair, fur, goat hair, guanaco, hog hair, huarizo, llama, misti, mohair, Persian cashmere, rabbit hair, silk, suri, vicuna, wool, worsted, worsted top.

Antique Taffeta

A crisp taffeta made of uneven or slubbed yarns.

Appenzell

Fine Swiss handmade embroidery originally brought to Switzerland by France during the late 18th century as a cost-saving method for France to utilize cheaper Swiss labor.

Appliqué

A decoration or design that is made separately and added to the article being made, usually by being sewn on.

Art Silk

An abbreviation for artificial silk made of synthetic fibers designed to imitate the look and feel of natural silk. Always check the fiber content before purchasing as the term "Art" is often omitted in advertising with many of these fabrics having nothing to do with natural silk fibers.

Artificial Wool

Name given to any textile-like material that resembles natural wool. The most common synthetic fiber example is Acrylic.

Astrakhan Cloth

A thick woven or knitted fabric with lots of loops resembling the pelt of the Astrakhan lamb known as karakul.