Lawn cloth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lawn cloth, Lawn is a plain weave cloth, produced from cotton. Lawn is designed using fine, high count yarns, which results in a silky feel. The fabric is made using either combed or carded yarns. When lawn is made using combed yarns, with a soft feel and slight luster, it is known as "nainsook." The term Lawn is also used in the textile industry to refer to a type of starched crisp-finish given to a cloth product. The finish can be applied to a variety of fabrics, from print cloth to fine plain cloth.
[edit] Characteristics
Lawn is a lightweight, sheer cloth, crispier than voile but not as crisp as organdy. Lawn is known for its semi-transparency, which can range from gauzy or sheer to an almost opaque effect, known as lining or utility lawn. The finish used on lawn ranges from soft to semi-crisp to crisp, but the fabric is never completely stiff. Lawn can be white, or may be dyed or printed.
[edit] History
The term "lawn" is derived from "Laon," a city in France which was a large manufacturer of linen lawn.
[edit] Uses
Lawn cloth is commonly used to produce dresses, blouses, nightwear, underwear, lingerie, curtains, collar cuffs, shirting, infant wear and handkerchiefs.