Muslin

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Muslin is a type of finely-woven cotton fabric, introduced to Europe from the Middle East in the 17th century. The first recorded use in England was in 1670. It was named for the city where it was first introduced to them, Mosul in what is now Iraq, but the fabric originated from Dhaka in what is now Bangladesh. [1]

Muslin is most typically a closely woven unbleached or white cloth, produced from corded cotton yarn. "Sheeting" is the name for wide muslin. It is often used to make dresses or curtains but may also be used to complement foam for bench padding. In clothing, muslin breathes well, and is a good choice for hot, dry climates.

The word "muslin" is also used colloquially. In the United Kingdom, many sheer cotton fabrics are called muslin, while in the United States, muslin sometimes refers to a firm cloth for everyday use. In British slang, muslin used to refer to women or femininity, while in nautical slang, muslin can refer to a vessel's sails.

Muslin can also be used as a cheap greenscreen, either precolored or painted with latex paint (diluted with water).

Muslin can also be used as a filter in a funnel when decanting fine wine or port to prevent sediment from entering the decanter.

When sewing clothing, a test or fitting garment may be made of inexpensive muslin fabric before cutting the intended expensive fashion fabric, thereby avoiding a costly mistake. The muslin garment is often called a muslin and the process is called making a muslin. With the availability of inexpensive synthetic fabrics, which closely resemble the hand (drape and feel) of expensive natural fabrics, a test or fitting garment that is made of synthetics may still be referred to as a muslin, because the word has become the generic term for a test or fitting garment.

[edit] Theater

Muslin is often the cloth of choice for theater sets. It is helpful in masking the background of sets and helping to establish the mood or feel of different scenes. It can be painted to look like countless different settings and if it is treated properly it can become semi-translucent.