By Fabulous Fabrics – Your Home for High-Quality Fabrics
Are you browsing fabrics online or checking the ticket in store somewhere and finding yourself puzzled by those cryptic fabric composition abbreviations on the labels? Understanding fabric types is crucial for selecting the right material for your sewing projects, whether you're making a summer dress, a cosy jumper, or crafting a special home décor piece. To help, we’ve compiled an A-Z guide to fabric compositions and their abbreviated codes to simplify your fabric shopping experience.
A - Z of Fabric Compositions:
Acetate (CA)
A semi-synthetic fibre made from wood pulp, acetate is known for its luxurious feel and beautiful sheen. It is commonly used for linings, evening wear, and drapery fabrics.
Acrylic (AC)
A soft, warm synthetic fibre, often used as a substitute for wool in fabrics for jumpers, scarves, and blankets.
Bamboo (BA)
A sustainable fibre that’s breathable and moisture-wicking. It’s perfect for comfortable and eco-friendly garments and often used for knit fabrics. Browse our bamboo fabric collection at Fabulous Fabrics.
Cotton (CO)
One of the most popular natural fibres, cotton is soft, breathable, and durable. It’s perfect for all sewing projects, from quilts to everyday wear. Check out our wide range of cotton Fabrics in print and plain available at Fabulous Fabrics.
Cupro (CU)
Cupro is a luxurious fibre made from cotton linter, known for its silky texture and drape. Perfect for high-end fashion. Discover cupro fabrics in our store.
Elastane (EA)
Better known by its brand name as spandex, elastane adds stretch to fabrics, making it ideal for sportswear and fitted garments.
Hemp (HE)
A strong and eco-friendly natural fibre, hemp is often blended with cotton or linen for breathable, durable fabrics.
Linen (LI)
A cool, breathable fibre, linen is ideal for warm-weather clothing and home textiles. Our linen fabrics are perfect for creating effortlessly stylish pieces. Visit Fabulous Fabrics to browse our huge range of printed and plain linen fabrics online.
Lurex (LX)
A type of metallic yarn, Lurex is made by combining synthetic and metal-coated fibres to create a glittering effect. Lurex is used to add sparkle to fabrics, making it perfect for evening wear and accessories.
Lyocell (LY)
A sustainable fabric made from wood pulp, lyocell is soft, breathable, and often blended with other fabrics. It’s a great choice for casual and activewear. Shop lyocell fabrics at Fabulous Fabrics.
Metal (ME)
Metal fibres are often woven into fabrics to create a metallic sheen or added texture. Metallic yarns are typically used in evening wear, bridal, accessories, and specialty fabrics.
Modal (CMD)
Modal is known for its softness and drape, making it perfect for loungewear and intimate apparel. Modal is a type of Rayon.
Nylon (PA)
A type of Polyamide, Nylon is a strong, durable synthetic fibre. Nylon is resistant to wear and tear, making it perfect for outerwear and sportswear.
Other Fibres (OF)
This category encompasses various materials that don't fit into the more common fibre classifications. Generally you will only see a very small % of the fabrics composition labelled as OF.
Polyester (PES)
Polyester is a versatile synthetic fibre, durable and resistant to wrinkles. It’s often blended with other fibres to enhance strength however can also be used for creating luxurious fabrics in its own right (like our beautiful Italian Bellatella crepe satin) or beautiful lining fabrics. Find polyester fabrics in our online fabric shop.
Polyurethane (PU)
Polyurethane is used to create waterproof fabrics and faux leather. It’s a great option for outerwear and accessories.
Ramie (RA)
Ramie is a natural fibre with a similar feel to linen. It’s durable, breathable, and a perfect choice for summer garments. We love Ramie at Fabulous Fabrics and are adding to our Ramie range in the online store all the time. Explore our ramie fabrics collection today.
Rayon (CV)
Rayon is a broad term that refers to a semi-synthetic fibre made from regenerated cellulose, typically sourced from wood pulp. It’s produced using different processes, and viscose is one of those processes. Viscose and rayon are closely related, as viscose is actually a type of rayon, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Both Tencel (CLY) and Lyocell (LY) are also derived from wood pulp but are produced using a more eco-friendly process. However, they are technically not classified under rayon.
Silk (SE)
Silk is renowned for its luxurious softness and smooth texture, perfect for special occasion garments, bridal & eveningwear. We have a huge range of silks from georgette to satin, crepe de chine, lining, dupion etc all coming soon to the online fabric store. Shop our premium silk fabrics at Fabulous Fabrics Online.
Tencel (CLY)
Tencel, a brand name for lyocell, is a sustainable, biodegradable fibre made from wood pulp. It’s soft, breathable, and perfect for comfortable yet eco-friendly clothing.
Viscose (CV)
A type of Rayon, viscose is a semi-synthetic fibre that’s soft, breathable, and has a lovely drape. Check out our collection of viscose fabrics for elegant sewing projects.
Wool (WO)
Warm, durable, and naturally wrinkle-resistant, wool is ideal for outerwear and knitwear.
Why Shop at Fabulous Fabrics?
At Fabulous Fabrics, we offer a wide variety of high-quality fabrics for all your home sewing projects. From natural fibres like cotton, linen, and ramie to luxurious materials like silk and wool, we have the perfect fabric for every project. Knowing your fabric composition ensures that you select materials suited to your needs, whether it's for comfort, durability, or sustainability.
Understanding fabric compositions will also help you care for your garments correctly, as each type has different washing and ironing needs. Next time you shop for fabrics you'll feel confident knowing exactly what those abbreviations mean!