Flannelette and flannel

Tags: #Tale #Flannel #Cotton #Wool

The names of such materials with pile as flannel and flannel evoke the same associations: homely warmth, comfort. This may be why they are often confused. But, Despite the similarity of the two fleecy materials, they are different fabrics.

What is a bike

Fleece is a soft fabric made from natural fibers, which has a noticeable pile on the front and back sides. At first it was made from woolen threads, so the products were quite expensive. Then manufacturers switched from wool to other natural fibers - cotton. Currently, mainly cotton baize is produced.

What is flannel

Flannel is a fabric that is also soft to the touch and fleecy. The composition of the material can be different: wool, half-woolen, cotton. In addition to natural fibers, additives - artificial threads - are also used in production today.

Reference! Externally, fabrics can be distinguished from each other by the location of the pile: on a bike - on the front and back sides, on flannel only on the front side.

Features of popular fabrics with pile

Let's take a closer look at fleecy fabrics to learn about the features of each of them.

Characteristics of the bike

The main advantage of the bike is the combination of pleasant softness and sufficient strength, which is ensured by the interweaving of the threads. The natural fibers used and the method of weaving them endowed the yarn with a number of valuable properties.

Advantages of the bike:

Hypoallergenic, safe for use for infants and people with weakened bodies. Flannelette fabric has this quality due to the use of environmentally friendly natural fibers.
Hairiness increases thermal insulation properties, products retain body heat well.
At the same time, the bike allows air to pass through, and the body in clothes made of such material breathes.
The bike is very practical to use: things made from it retain their appearance even after prolonged use. The fabric with double-sided pile is wear-resistant, durable, and does not require special care.

Flaws:

The disadvantages of the material include its low elasticity.
Seamstresses experience some inconvenience when working with flannelette fabric: the cut of the material easily crumbles and requires urgent processing.

Characteristics of flannel

Flannel fabrics have not lost popularity for almost 200 years. This is due to the diversity of their types and quality. This material is considered seasonal: it is warm, so flannel products are in demand during the cold season.

Advantages:

environmental friendliness of the material;
ability to absorb moisture well;
High hygroscopicity is associated with such an important property for winter clothing as the creation of “dry heat”;
the strength and practicality of the canvas, easy care of things made from this material.

Reference! The fabric is well preserved when washed, and each time after treatment with soapy water and rinsing, the fabric becomes even softer.

Flannel also has some disadvantages:

due to its good absorbency, flannel fabric dries longer than other cotton materials;
Changes may occur to the canvas during use. It shrinks and changes in size, and the pile gradually becomes smaller and can be collected in pellets.

What are soft fabrics with pile used for?

The scope of application of the bike is extensive.

Thin cotton fabric

Products for children: diapers, suits for babies, rompers, vests, etc.
Clothes for the home: dressing gowns, house jackets, suits, pajama sets, underwear, nightgowns.
Home textiles: bed linen sets, light blankets.
Sportswear.
Goods for the army: foot wraps.

Thick wool fabric

Outerwear.
Blankets, rugs.
Shoe insoles, insulation for the inner surface of shoes.

Flannel also has a wide range of uses.

White earth fabric is used to make bedding, sleepwear, and children's suits.
The shirt and robe varieties are used for sewing home clothes (robes, shirts, pajamas, suits, etc.).
Plain-dyed flannel is used not only for making household items and textiles. Outerwear (suits, coats) and blankets are also made from it.

Reference! In addition to the textile industry, thick, harsh flannel is used in the production of musical instruments (glued onto hammers, thanks to which the instruments make sounds).

Comparative characteristics of fabrics

Having found out what features each fabric has, let’s summarize and compare the canvases.

Similarities between tissues

Flannelette and flannel are very similar: both materials are soft, strong, durable. Therefore, the use of fabrics for home clothing and textiles coincides.

Difference between fabrics

Being different materials, flannel and flannel have obvious differences, except for the already mentioned arrangement of the pile and different hygroscopicity.