Voile, Poplin and Cambric: 3 Major Types of Printed Cotton Fabrics Available Online

Cotton voile, cotton poplin or cotton cambric. These are some terms that you must have heard, especially if you’re a fashion design student or a fashion entrepreneur.

Just like each car has various models, every fabric has multiple types as well. It all depends upon its processing journey. Different weaves make different fabrics. Let’s learn about these three different kinds of cotton.

Cotton Voile is very popular in India. Let's learn more about it:

 

Solid Black Cotton Voile

 

VOILE CHARACTERISTICS

  • Lightweight
  • Cotton blends or 100% cotton
  • Breathable
  • Semi - sheer (Less dense – semi-transparent) (can use lining)
  • Tight weave
  • Silky-soft finish
  • Light drape
  • No stretch
  • Crisp

 

DISADVANTAGES

  1. Explicit and revealing
  2. uncomfortable when wet.
  3. Wrinkles and shrinkage

 

 

USES

Men’s shirts, Shirtdresses, Tunic, Layered skirts, Sundress, Summer scarf, Lingerie, nightgowns, bralettes, Pillowcases, bed sheets, lightweight curtains—allowing natural light in, Cotton suits for women

 

TIP: CONDUCT A QUALITY TEST

Give the fabric a light scratch with your fingernail and if the threads start to shred apart, put it back on the shelf. Voile cotton must be tightly woven.

 

TIPS AND CARE RECOMMENDATIONS

  • To make this fabric—or garment—last longer, remember to:
  • Hand-washed in cold water
  • Allowing it to air dry while hung on a hanger
  • Cover with a press cloth and iron on low heat
  • Cotton voile wrinkles more than synthetic voile, but having something natural against one’s skin is worth it.

 

As for sewing tips, voile is perfect for beginner sewers. It is slightly slippery but does not shift as much on the table as chiffon or organza. Another tip would be to pre-wash the fabric before sewing—cotton is prone to shrinkage—to get correct measurements once the fabric is dry. And, last but not least, finish all the edges to stop fraying.

 

TURQUOISE PLAIN PURE COTTON POPLIN FABRIC
Let's see what cotton poplin has to say about itself:

POPLIN CHARACTERISTICS

  • thin and breathable.
  • It absorbs moisture and dries quickly.
  • It has no odour retention.
  • Hypoallergenic, perfect for sensitive skin.
  • Depending on thickness, it can be transparent or opaque.
  • Crisp and smooth.
  • strong and wear-resistant.
  • Not clingy
  • 100% natural

 

DISADVANTAGES

  1. It doesn’t lock heat. Even though this fabric is durable, it won’t keep you warm in winter. Although poplin can be worn with a lining, it doesn’t work for winter apparel. Poplin is very popular in summer wear, but if you live in a cold climate, there are more suitable options for you.
  2. The fabric is too thin. If you’re looking for a heavyweight fabric, then poplin isn’t for you.

 

 

USES

women's dresses, blouses, men's or women’s shirts, summer pants and shorts, pyjamas, jackets, Kids' shirts and dresses, sportswear, Trenches, raincoats,

Home decor: upholstery, tablecloths, wall hangings, bedding, pillow cushions and covers, banners, patchwork and quilting, etc.

 

TIPS AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Cotton poplin can be washed in warm water and dried on low heat. Still, some poplin fabrics are better sent to the dry cleaner. Washing at home can cause such fabric to bleed.

Sewing with cotton poplin is not that tricky and can be mastered even by a beginner.

Poplin is naturally wrinkle-resistant. A light steam or low tumble dry is enough to smooth it out.

 

 

Here comes the versatile cotton cambric:

CAMBRIC CHARACTERISTICS

  • woven, lightweight, 100% cotton fabric.
  • Short, twisted linen or cotton fibres are often used in the weaving process.
  • It is common for these fibres to be unbleached or undyed.
  • When it comes to needlework and lacework, Cambric is a fantastic fabric (because it is highly dense). It is referred to as "batiste" when used in such a manner.

 

HISTORY

Originally, Cambric was a quality linen cloth that was first produced in Cambrai, France. In London, printed cambric was used for bands, sleeves, and collars by the year 1595.

Egyptian or American cotton is used to make contemporary cambric, which is then calendered to give it a glossy finish on one side.

 

WHAT MAKES IT STAND OUT?

  • Cambric is weaved differently from other fabrics because it involves twisted, short linen and cotton fibres.
  • Has a slight sheen.
  • Opaque in nature

 

 

 

USES

Shirts, Gowns, Napkins, Handkerchief

 

DISADVANTAGES

  • It is heavily dense and might not be the best choice for outdoor plans in the summer.
  • Prone to shrinkage

 

QUICK TIP--QUALITY CHECK

A good indicator of a decent quality cambric fabric is when it can retain its glossy properties for several years, even when it is aged.

 

TIPS AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Set the washing machine at sixty degrees when washing Cambric fabric.
  2. Iron at a medium temperature to remove creases.

 

COMPARISON

In terms of their weight and degree of sheerness, poplin is the heaviest and least sheer of the three. Cambric is lighter than poplin and less sheer than voile.

 

POPLIN > CAMBRIC > VOILE

 

CONCLUSION:

Poplin is crisp, smooth, and even. It can be easily pleated to create crisp lines. If you want pleats in your clothes, poplin is the best fabric to use. It is best suited for making shirts, skirts, pants, French coats, etc. Poplin is normally opaque and does not require lining. It’s a strong, durable, and weather-resistant all-season fabric.

If you want something more flowy and silky, Cambric is the way to go. It has a lightweight and soft texture. It has the most beautiful fall amongst cotton fabrics. And it is appropriate to make summer outfits for both men and women. Although it's not as durable as poplin Most varieties of cambrics are quite opaque, but some varieties of cambric can be semi-transparent as well.

Now let's come to cotton voile. DID YOU KNOW? The term voile is French for "veil," so you can imagine that it’ll be the lightest of the three and semi-sheer when backlit. As described earlier, it is the lightest and most sheer of all cotton fabrics. It is mainly suited for making summer dresses. like: tunics, layered skirts, scarves, gowns, etc. It has an amazing fall and a soft silky finish with a light drape. But cotton voile generally requires lining as well.

 

Hopefully, this was a good read for you. To know more about fabrics and the overall world of fashion stay tuned with us. Check out our Youtube channel and learn in video format!

 

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