Flannel (flannel): fabric description, properties, advantages and disadvantages. The composition and properties of fabrics: flannel, fleece, tulle and technical flannel what kind of fabric

Flannel (from the English “flannel”) is a cotton, woolen or semi-woolen fabric, characterized by a plain or twill weave, with a rare and fluffy fleece. Popularly called "winter cotton".

The history of this fabric begins in the 17th century in England, because it was in this country that cotton fabrics were first made by machine. In 1792, for the first time, a cotton fiber processing machine was patented, which significantly accelerated the production of cotton fabrics, including flannel. In the 18th century, the production of flannel was widespread in many cities in England, and gradually leaked to European countries and Russia.

At the end of the 18th century, production of flannel made of cotton fiber was established in central Russia, and in the middle of the 19th century, Russia won the fifth place in terms of production of all types of cotton fabric, including flannel. Cotton flannel has long been used for sewing winter footcloths, which were actively used by the Russian army. This tradition was introduced under Peter I, and was canceled only in 2007. At the end of the 19th century, the production of woolen flannel was established, which was often used for sewing men's and women's suits. Woolen flannel in those days was only light shades. In addition, wool flannel was quite a prestigious fabric and was in great demand.

Currently, flannel is very popular for making clothes, home textiles and for other purposes. The production of flannel is most developed in such countries as England, the USA and France.

Flannel is a fairly durable, soft and pleasant to the touch material. It has a light fluff on the front side, which means it has heat-resistant properties. Products made from this fabric are comfortable to wear, resistant to repeated stretching and bending. Flannel, even after repeated washing and ironing, retains good view many years. Flannel is able to absorb moisture in large quantities, but dries for a long time. This material has excellent thermal insulation, which means it is ideal for sewing. warm clothes. Flannel that is not treated with a special agent is quite wrinkled and may shrink when wet washed. The flannel burns depending on the fibers used for its manufacture. For example, flannel, which is made of cotton threads, burns with a yellow flame and forms the smell of burnt paper and gray ash, while woolen flannel does not burn, but smolders.

There are several types of flannel:

Dressing gown flannel is a type of flannel that is used for sewing women's and children's dressing gowns.

Shirt flannel is a type of flannel, which is designed for sewing men's insulated shirts.

Severe flannel is a type of flannel that is used for technical needs.

Bleached flannel is a type of flannel, the most common type used for sewing children's products, nightgowns, pajamas, bed linen, as well as for technical needs.

Flannel plain dyed, plain - this is a type of flannel, also a very common type, used mainly for technical purposes.

White earth flannel is a type of flannel that has been bleached with a printed pattern and is used for sewing children's garments, bed linen, pajamas and nightgowns.

Woolen flannel is a kind of fine wool flannel used for tailoring suits and coats.

And the latest invention is the plush flannel.

Cotton flannel is extremely easy to care for. Flannel products can be washed at the highest water temperatures, by hand or in an automatic machine. In order to keep the flannel in good condition over long time, it is necessary to add one tablespoon of glycerin to 10 liters of an aqueous solution for washing products. A flannel product that is heavily soiled is not recommended to be rubbed heavily with soap, it is best to soak in soapy water for 10 minutes and wash.
For washing products from this fabric, you can use any detergents (powders, gels, soaps). The only drawback of the fabric with prolonged use is rolling. You can iron flannel at high temperatures, but it is better to use a moderate setting. This mode will not only smooth the fabric, but also give softness. Woolen flannel requires more gentle care, as the fibers can fall off if not properly cared for and used. It is recommended to wash with detergents for woolen products. The water temperature is maximum 30-400C, it is not recommended to twist and rub woolen flannel products. Dry away from direct sunlight and heat appliances.

Cotton flannel is used for making warmer clothes. Used for bathrobes, pajamas, home dresses, shirts.

Ideal for making baby clothes such as diapers, undershirts, shirts and rompers.

Coats, jackets, dresses, suits and blankets are made from woolen flannel.

Flannel is also used for sewing bed linen and for technical purposes.

From flannel, in addition to bed linen, bedspreads and blankets are also made.

And recently, flannel has also become widespread in furniture covers and capes on it.

And of course you can not ignore the flannel shoes.

The first acquaintance with flannel takes place literally in the first days of life, when a newborn is wrapped in a cozy and hygienic diaper made of this material. Since soft, warm and one hundred percent natural fabric ideal for children's clothing and bedding, most of the flannel fabrics produced have children's prints, which makes them even more attractive to babies. At the same time, despite the wide variety of modern textiles, adults also wear flannel with pleasure - not without reason in English language the name "flannel" is the same as the verb "to please".

Although dressing gowns made of this practical and cozy material, beloved by many generations of women, are already a thing of the past, men with any income level are not going to give up flannel shirts, and warm fleece cotton continues to be out of competition for pajamas, nightgowns, bed sets in the cold season.

History and varieties of flannel

For the first time, warm cotton textiles were obtained in England in the 17th century. Its features were a dense rep or twill weave and a fluffy one-sided pile. Initially, "winter cotton" was quite expensive, it was attributed medicinal properties, especially after dyeing red (the tradition of wearing red flannel pantaloons as medical and prophylactic underwear was preserved until the beginning of the 20th century). Soon this fabric began to be produced in many countries, including Russia. In the Petrine troops, flannel began to be used as winter footcloths, and they were kept in army use until quite recently.

At the end of the 18th century, flannel began to be made on special equipment, which significantly reduced the cost of the process, for the same purpose, linen weaving was increasingly used. On the other hand, flannel fabric was also made from wool, and along with the fashion for the English style, it became very popular. Female or men's suit pure wool flannel is still considered a sign of elegance and aristocracy, although in most cases modern suit flannel is a wool blend fabric with the addition of viscose and / or synthetics.

Flannel is a soft warm fabric familiar to each of us from childhood. Young mothers choose diapers, undershirts and bodysuits from this material for newborns. Checked flannel shirt is a youth trend of the last few seasons. What else can be sewn from this fabric, what types does it come in and how to wash flannel clothes correctly?

Description, history and methods of production

The flannel fabric has a soft fleecy surface on one side and a smooth one on the other. Such a description cannot capture the tactile sensations that you will experience when wearing a flannel shirt or pajamas. Incredibly soft and warm material will give a feeling of comfort and coziness, whatever the weather outside the window!

Flannel is made from cotton or wool. As a result, a fine ribbed fabric is formed. There is also material made ordinary. Thanks to the fleece, it acquires the ability to retain heat.

The name Flannel itself is translated from the Welsh language as “woolen fabric” and until the end of the 19th century, no other raw material was used for this fabric. Flannel was first woven in Wales in the 17th century. Used as a basis sheep wool. In damp and rainy areas, this fabric has become a real discovery.

Material types

According to the method of production, there are several varieties of flannel fabric.

Bleached. The canvas is of even white color, during the processing of which dyes were not used. Eco-friendly and inexpensive material.
Plain dyed. Made from pre-dyed yarns. It can be either plain or with a simple geometric pattern. The pattern is obtained due to the interweaving of colored threads with each other.
Stuffed. WITH front side the image is applied in the form of a pattern, with the wrong side the fabric remains white.

The division into types according to the scope is also common.

Shirt. Dense ribbed material, used for sewing men's and women's shirts.
Dressing gown. durable and dense fabric, it is used in the production of bedding, children's underwear, pajamas and bathrobes.
Technical. Severe and unpainted material for technical needs. They are used in food production as filters for juices, syrups, as cleaning material in car repair shops, pasted over hammers in pianos, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages

Flannel, like any other fabric, has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are going to sew or buy clothes, home or children's textiles from this material, you should pay attention to them.

The advantages include the following properties:

pleasant tactile sensations when touched;
with each new wash, the flannel product becomes softer;
fabric warms quickly and retains heat well;
high strength, resistance to tearing and tensile deformation;
the ability to quickly absorb moisture;
breathability;
natural fabric does not cause skin allergic reactions.

If you are allergic to wool, choose cotton flannel.

Warm material also has disadvantages:

a tendency to form pellets on the fleecy side of the canvas;
many types of flannel are very wrinkled;
after washing in hot water a product made of woolen or semi-woolen fabric may decrease in size;
fabric takes a long time to dry.

How to wash and iron flannel products?

Cotton fabric can be washed both by hand and in washing machine in hot water.
Wool and wool blend fabrics must not be washed at temperatures above 30°C.
Do not twist when spinning.
Dry not in the sun, but in the shade.
Iron on wool or silk setting.

On flannel products on the fleecy side, pellets appear over time. If you do not have a special machine to remove them, use the usual wide adhesive tape. Glue the strip to the surface of the material, smooth and rip off with a light movement. Process the entire product in this way. The spools will be much smaller.

What can be sewn from flannel?

Bleached cotton flannel or printed fabric is most often used for sewing diapers and baby clothes. This material does not cause allergies, is pleasant for the baby's skin, retains heat. A separate advantage over other types of fabric is that there is no contact of the dye with the child's skin.

Bed linen is best made from plain weave flannel. With all the heat-saving properties, this material has a smooth surface, which is better suited for pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers than ribbed fabric. From this material you can sew pajamas, home or bathrobe, towels, napkins for cleaning the house.

Thick wool blend or cotton flannel, made with twill weave, is traditionally used for sewing men's and women's shirts. The classic version is a checkered shirt. For the first time the model came into fashion back in the 90s, but remains popular today.

Warm coats, jackets, suits for both men and women are obtained from coarse woolen fabric. Trouser sets in the style of Marlene Dietrich look especially stylish. Also, woolen and half-woolen flannel is used for the production of blankets, bedspreads, rugs.

Soak wool flannel in warm water before cutting out pieces for sewing clothes or linen. After 20 minutes, wring out without twisting and dry flat on a flat surface. Cotton material must be washed in hot water before use. Slices must be processed on an overlock or a zigzag stitch.

What is flannel

Flannel is a durable fabric, on the front side of which there is a noticeable pile or fleece. Appearing in the 18th century in England, a material with a dense linen weave did not lose popularity with the appearance of other fabrics.

Compound

Initially, flannel was woven from woolen threads. Later, manufacturers changed the composition, adding first cotton, and more recently synthetic threads.

Depending on the composition, 3 types of material are distinguished:

from wool (woolen);
wool and cotton (semi-woolen);
cotton (cotton).

Fabric characteristic

The flannel fabric is very pleasant to the touch: it is soft and delicate. Despite the tenderness, it is a durable and warm material that retains the heat of the human body well. The structure of the fabric allows air to pass through and absorbs moisture very well, so the flannel provides useful dry heat.

Important! Due to the increased hygroscopicity, drying takes longer than other fabrics made from natural fibers.

What does flannel look like? Photo examples

By appearance and dyeing technology, flannel fabrics are divided into 3 types.

plain dyed

In the production of this variety, the threads are first dyed and then woven. Thus, it is possible to make the color particularly durable.

printed

This is the name of woven fabrics, on which a pattern is applied in a special way (stuffing).

Reference! The value of the printed look is that the pattern is available only on the front side of the material. The underside, which comes into contact with the skin, does not contain chemical dyes.

Bleached

White flannel is obtained by exposing the fibers to special bleaches. All materials with a pattern are made from bleached linen.

Use of flannel

Practical, warm, soft and unpretentious in care, the material has found wide application.

Things for newborns

Delicate and at the same time durable fabric has become indispensable in the production of things for newborns. Everything that the baby needs in the first months of life is sewn from flannel:

diapers;
bonnets;
undershirts;
sliders.

Children's things are also sewn from other fabrics, but diapers are made primarily from this material, which absorbs moisture well and allows the skin to breathe without creating a greenhouse effect.

Advantages of printed flannel used for sewing children's clothes:

Environmental friendliness. The canvas made from natural fibers does not cause allergic reactions.
Softness. The material is suitable for delicate baby skin, does not cause irritation.
Wear resistance and durability. The diaper withstands systematic washing without losing its quality.

Reference! Washing in soapy water does not deteriorate the flannel fabric, but makes it softer.

The use of flannel fabric in tailoring underwear

Not only kids get pleasure from delicate things. The fabric is traditionally used for making underwear. Shirts, pajamas made of flannel are especially in demand during the cold season.

Varieties of flannel

Flannel fabric is interesting for its diversity. This makes it possible to use it for sewing various things: from home textiles to outerwear or warm blankets.

The cloth made of fine wool is very popular when tailoring men's and women's suits.

Advantages of woolen flannel fabrics:

The density of the material allows you to keep the shape of the suits well during use.
The softness of the material makes it possible to diversify styles: you can lay soft folds, make draperies, which gives women's clothing elegance.

Plain plain-dyed fabrics of different colors, as well as materials with a pattern (cell) are popular with stylists and fashion designers, clothes made from them always remain in fashion.

A particularly delicate and soft variety is a white-earth canvas. The name indicates its difference from other types: the main color of the material is white. On a snow-white surface, a drawing is applied, usually medium-sized: flowers, children's toys, sometimes supplementing it with large inscriptions.

The main purpose of the white-earth species is home textiles. To children's things (diapers, clothes), bed linen, clothes for sleep, white-earth linens give additional comfort.

Features of caring for flannel products

The flannel is practical and easy to use. It is easy to take care of things from this material. Compliance with some rules for the care of flannel items will allow you to maintain their quality for a long time.

How to wash flannel items

Before washing, pay attention to the composition of the fabric: synthetic fibers require different handling than natural ones.
To remove dirt, soak the product for 20-30 minutes. Soaking is carried out in warm water, with the addition detergent.

Advice! The addition of glycerin to the water (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water) helps to extend the life of flannel items.

When washing, you can use both warm and hot water, flannel responds well to interaction with it.

Features of washing flannel diapers

Things for newborns require special care: the health of the baby depends on it.

Diapers are washed separately, not combined with the main wash, which includes things from other family members. Can be used both manually and machine wash(sparing mode).
The most suitable laundry detergent is laundry soap. It will clean all impurities and will not harm the child. Laundry soap It is made only from natural substances, therefore it is hypoallergenic.
When choosing a synthetic detergent, you can only use substances designed specifically for washing children's clothes.
After washing, the diapers must be thoroughly rinsed to remove any detergent residue.

What not to do with flannel fabric

When caring for flannel, certain restrictions must be observed.

Do not use force when wringing and twisting things: this can destroy the structure of the fibers.
Woolen flannel should not be washed in water temperatures above 40°C.
Not recommended for hand wash rubbing the fabric: from this, spools appear on the fleecy surface, giving things a sloppy look.
It is undesirable to use strong stain removers, they can change the color and disrupt the structure of the canvas.
You should not set a very high temperature when ironing, especially if the product is made of woolen flannel.

Appearing in the 18th century, flannel still feels confident today, remains relevant, fashionable and modern.

With the advent of cold weather, there is a desire to surround yourself with warm, soft and cozy things. All these properties are endowed with flannel. This fabric consists exclusively of cotton, has a small fleece on one side of the fabric.

Characteristics and composition

Flannel fabric is a dense fabric that is made from thick cotton threads intertwined in a linen way. On the front side, a small fleece is made by special machines.

The main difference between the fabric is a soft and delicate pile, evenly spaced. It can be on one or two sides of the matter.

Flannel first appeared in England in the 18th century. And only a century later they learned about it on the territory of Russia. At that time, fabric was very expensive. Only wealthy and noble people wore costumes from it. Initially, flannel was made exclusively in light shades, which gave the material a special luxury and chic.

The composition of the flannel fabric is represented by several options. The cloth can be woolen, semi-woolen, cotton. Its density is 175+250 g/m2, but deviations are possible. Woolen fibers are rarely used in the manufacture of fabrics, usually cotton is combined with a small amount of synthetics. This composition gives the material the following characteristics:

strength;
softness;
wear resistance;
thermal conductivity.

The width of the fabric produced by manufacturers is 80 cm; 90 cm; 150 cm; 220 cm. As a rule, 80-90 cm are used for diapers, the rest for both bed and dress production.

The description of flannel fabric is not limited to these properties. Even despite the increased density, it is a “breathable” material that has high vapor permeability and has many advantages.

Varieties

Flannel is divided into the following types:

Stuffed. A pattern is applied to the surface of the canvas. It is used for sewing baby diapers and clothes for newborns. Typically, the pattern is applied to one side of the fabric so that the dyes do not come into contact with the baby's skin in order to reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions.
Plain dyed. The fabric has a solid color on both sides.
Bleached. At the initial stage of preparation for painting, the fabric is bleached. In this form, it is also used in the clothing industry when sewing bed linen, baby diapers, and footcloths.

The fabric is subjected to bleaching for the reason that cotton, the plant from which cotton is produced, is not only white, but also of other shades. To get an even color when stained, it is pre-bleached.

There are such concepts as white-earth and ground flannel. The first is a bleached fabric on which a pattern is embossed.

The second type of material is when a drawing is applied to some background (not white).

Material Application

Not only bed and underwear, diapers and bathrobes are sewn from flannel, but also shirts and suits. For such garments, woolen and half-woolen and cotton fabrics are used.

Women's, men's and children's coats are made from plain-dyed woolen flannel. In the wardrobe of many men there are also trousers made of this natural fabric. Soft and delicate material will bring warmth and comfort to the house, if you use flannel bedspreads and blankets in the interior.

Product Care

Caring for things is not difficult at all, but you should still know some rules and features:

You can wash cotton flannel even in hot water in manual or automatic mode. Before washing, the product is turned inside out, fastened with buttons and zippers. The first time before use, things are washed in cool water. All subsequent times, its temperature should be 60-90̊ C. It is recommended to use soft powders or liquid ones, for colored laundry.
Even white products cannot be washed in chlorine-containing products, they destroy the structure of the fabric. To remove stubborn dirt, special stain removers must be used.
When hand washing, flannel items should not be rubbed. Such actions lead to the erasure of the upper fleecy layer.
Products are dried natural way away from heating appliances, avoiding direct sunlight on them.
You can iron with little high temperature- mode "Cotton" or "Wool" depending on the composition.
Add a spoonful of glycerin to the water to keep the softness of the products after washing.

Woolen flannel is more demanding in care. It can be washed in water at 30-40̊ C. If the temperature is higher, upon contact with hot water, the fabric with wool in the composition may shrink after washing, greatly decreasing in size.

Advantages and disadvantages

Given the properties of the fabric, flannel has many advantages:

The material is very soft and pleasant in contact with the body. It has an amazing feature - with each wash it becomes softer and more tender.
Products warm well and retain body heat, while the fabric passes air and does not create a greenhouse effect.
The canvas is resistant to bending, abrasion and stretching, therefore it has a long service life.
It is endowed with hygroscopicity - the ability to absorb moisture.
Given that the flannel contains cotton, it is hypoallergenic. However, woolen and semi-woolen fabrics can cause allergic reactions.

You should know that this material has its drawbacks:

during prolonged use, pellets may form on the surface of the web;
cotton flannel wrinkles a lot, but is easily smoothed out;
when washed in hot water, the fabric may shrink;
wet products take a long time to dry.

Flannel is a high-quality and soft natural fabric, endowed with many positive properties. It is characterized by a wide range of applications and ease of care, making flannel products one of the favorite things of many housewives.