Cotton fabric is a natural material of plant origin. It has been known to mankind since the 19th century.
It was used to make clothing and textiles. And today, many countries grow cotton on an industrial scale in order to then export or produce cotton fabric.
And this is not surprising, because despite the enormous popularity of modern artificial fabrics, cotton always remains popular due to its positive qualities. For example, everyone knows that Traditional clothes for newborns are made from this eco-friendly and soft material.
About cotton
As you know, the properties and characteristics of a material largely depend on the raw materials from which it is made.
Fiber for production is obtained from cotton growing in the southern regions of the USA, China, Uzbekistan, India, Egypt and other countries. They are 95% cellulose. The international name for cotton fabric is “cotton”.
Physical and chemical properties
Cotton fiber is resistant to alkalis, phenol and acetone. Some acids, for example, hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, can easily destroy cotton fabric. The material is not afraid of high temperatures, is quite difficult to tear, and is wear-resistant.
Important: Method for checking naturalness.
Light an inconspicuous edge of the material. The natural product burns with white smoke and emits a paper smell. If the smoke is dark, with a chemical smell, then this is not a cotton fabric or it contains a large percentage of artificial fibers.
Advantages and disadvantages of cotton
Positive characteristics of cotton fabric:
The physical and chemical properties of cotton discussed above allow the material to be washed repeatedly using a wide range of different detergents. Cotton clothing lasts a long time without losing its appearance. The material easily absorbs water and sweat, allowing the skin to breathe, and does not cause allergic reactions. It is easy to care for: wash, bleach, dry, dye.
Negative characteristics:
One hundred percent natural cotton is expensive, it wrinkles very much and is difficult to iron. It shrinks easily when washed in hot water, and also takes quite a long time to dry. If the cotton fabric is of poor quality, it easily pills when worn and quickly takes on an unsightly appearance.
Taking into account all the advantages and disadvantages of the material, we decided to talk about the nuances of caring for it.
Care secrets:
- It is better to dry cotton clothes in a well-stretched form, shaking them off vigorously before doing so;
- It is easier to iron cotton products when slightly damp;
- White and multi-colored cotton clothes should be washed separately so that they do not fade;
- Before washing, you can wrap a colored item made of this material in a white cloth and soak it in hot water.This way you will understand whether it fades when washed and whether it is allowed to be washed with other clothes;
- Cotton items should be washed at a temperature of 40–60 degrees. In hot water (especially during the first wash), the fabric “shrinks” and fades;
- Cotton bed linen will smooth out under its own weight if it is folded neatly into a pile.
Production technology
The fiber is made from cotton through its special processing. Cotton fiber resembles a piece of cotton wool. The longer it is, the better the quality of the material produced from it (long-staple cotton). But the plant can also have short fibers. Therefore, medium-staple and short-staple cotton are also distinguished. Cotton products also vary in thickness, hairiness and other qualities.
The quality of the resulting material largely depends on the type of fiber weave in it. This way, during manufacturing, different densities, softness and other characteristics are obtained. There are many types of weaves: twill, satin, plain, finely patterned, etc. Using special surface treatment, brushed cotton fabric is obtained. Based on appearance and coloring, the following cotton products are distinguished: plain-dyed, bleached, gray, melange, variegated, and printed.
But it is very rare to find pure cotton fabric. Usually, artificial fibers (acetate, lycra, viscose, polyester) are also added to the composition of the material to reduce its cost and give additional useful qualities in addition to natural ones. These additives give the material resistance to deformation, shine, allow it to wrinkle less and make it more elastic.
At the same time, the percentage of cotton can be different and sometimes it is difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish it.Currently, there is a huge variety of cotton fabrics on the market: satin, chintz, cambric, poplin, velvet, calico, velveteen, flannel, flannel, jacquard and others. This list is constantly updated. Manufacturers, wanting to create ideal fabric, invent more and more new cotton fabrics.
What is sewn from cotton?
Cotton is the most popular material for the modern textile industry. It is widely used for sewing clothes, curtains, home textiles, and for making other things. It is traditionally used to make clothes for adults and children. In summer, natural cotton items are simply irreplaceable: they are pleasant to the body, absorb sweat well, the skin breathes in them, they are light and wear-resistant.
Brushed cotton fabric, a warm and fluffy material, is used for the production of insulated clothing, thermal underwear, and tracksuits. Outerwear can also be made from cotton fabrics (jackets, raincoats, coats, sportswear and workwear).
As many have seen, it is pleasant to sleep on cotton bed linen, it does not electrify, and its price is optimal. Cotton is used to make home textiles (tablecloths, curtains, towels, napkins, etc.). It is even used to make bags, shoes, carpets...
Cotton clothes will help you out in the summer heat and cold; you will be comfortable in them at home; they are absolutely safe for small children. Blouses, dresses, shirts, trousers and skirts made from natural cotton fabric today are fashionable, stylish, comfortable and environmentally friendly!
You might find this video about cotton helpful:
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