What does flannel look like? Flannel fabric - what kind of material is it: description here

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.

Composition

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 durable and warm material which 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, it takes longer to dry than other fabrics made from natural fibers.

What does flannel look like? Photo examples

In 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 fabric made of fine wool is very popular for sewing 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 a different treatment than natural ones.
To remove dirt, soak the product for 20-30 minutes. Soaking is carried out in warm water, with the addition of 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. You can use both hand and machine wash (gentle 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.

Flannel - a fabric that pleases everyone

Flannel fabric got its name from the English verb with the meaning "to please". Naturalness, softness, pleasant fluffy pile and the ability to retain heat make this ancient material very popular even with the modern variety of textile types. Currently, the most common flannel is for children, which is one of the most used materials for the smallest. However, stern men, modest housewives, and elegant gentlemen wear this fabric with pleasure, and the demand for it remains stable.

This warm and cozy material began to be woven in England, more precisely, in Wales, back in the 17th century. Initially, woolen yarn was used for its production, later thick cotton threads were also used. The main features of the flannel fabric, regardless of its composition, are:

linen or;
high thread density without gaps (the density of old flannel samples reached 400 g / sq. Meter, now it can be up to 270 g / sq. Meter);
pleasant to the touch fluffy pile, often one-sided.

Initially, such dense fleecy materials were expensive, and were intended for wealthy people. With the advent of machine production and the decline in price, they became common in all walks of life, and the need to wear flannel underwear in the cold season became an English proverb and, over time, acquired an ironic meaning. In Russia, this fabric began to be produced in the 18th century. During the time of Peter I, it began to be widely used for army footcloths, which the Russian military abandoned only in 2007.

When answering the question what kind of fabric is called flannel, two options are possible. Since the 18th century, woolen flannel has been used for warm clothing, which was widespread in all countries, and under the influence of English fashion became synonymous with casual elegance (especially at the end of the century before last - the beginning of the last century). Woolen fabric with this name can be found on sale at the present time, but it usually contains a synthetic component.

Composition and properties of the material

Cotton pile material, which in England was called "winter cotton", was used mainly for home clothes and linen. Currently, the most common flannel is for children, which is ideal for contact with the skin of babies. Other types of flannel are also widely used, which are usually divided into:

bleached;
printed, which are obtained from bleached by applying patterns;
plain dyed, in the manufacture of which pre-painted raw materials are used.

Regardless of the variety, the material is flannel:

is very soft and pleasant to the touch;
warms well;
durable (due to its high density);
conducts air well and absorbs moisture;
does not cause allergies and skin irritation;
washes and irons well.

At the same time, this material is not without some drawbacks. Due to its high density and hygroscopicity, it dries for a long time, shrinks, quickly wrinkles, and its pile tends to roll over time. However, all this is more than compensated for by the comfort and warmth that an inexpensive and time-tested fabric gives.

What to sew from flannel?

The entire flannel assortment, which is produced by the domestic textile industry, is also classified according to the scope of application. At the same time, the following groups of textiles are divided:

harsh unbleached, which has a technical use (cleaning material, pasting over percussion elements of various musical instruments, etc.);
bleached, which is used as a children's or lining flannel, as well as for subsequent printing;
white-earth - with small prints on a white main background (flannel for children and linen);
one-colored - for warm linen, primarily bed and night, insulating linings, etc .;
dressing gown - with a variety of prints on a colored background, well suited for children's clothes, women's bathrobes, etc .;
shirt - mostly checkered, less often striped, has a lower pile and high density, often produced with the addition of synthetic fibers.

Based on the above names, flannel materials are used in a variety of ways. Light and soft baby flannel is used for diapers, baby clothes, shirts, dresses. In the cold season, bedding sets, nightgowns and pajamas made from this material are indispensable. The once widespread flannel robes are gradually falling into disuse, but warm plaid shirts are a very popular trend and are confidently penetrating into women's wardrobe. And, of course, the fans classical style appreciate suits, trousers and jackets made of this dense and elegant material.

Master class on sewing a wool flannel vest in the video

Care rules

Cotton materials are well tolerated by all modes of washing and ironing at high temperatures. However, in order for cotton products to be fleecy for as long as possible, it is advisable to follow these rules:

the first wash should be carried out in cool water, and subsequent - at temperatures up to 90 degrees;
do not use bleaching components;
do not scrub dirt, it is better to use a stain remover;
when rinsing, it is recommended to add a little glycerin to the water;
iron from the inside without overheating the iron.

Wool pile material is washed on a delicate cycle using mild detergents. When rinsing, it is advisable to add vinegar to the water. Ironing woolen flannel is carried out from the inside, using steam or a damp pad.

In cold weather, a person always wants warmth and a feeling of comfort. Of all the varieties of fabrics, flannel has undoubted advantages. Since ancient times, such material has been used for sewing underwear, and in the Petrine and Soviet period, soldier footcloths were made from it. Today there are many varieties of flannel fabrics, so you need to know about the main features of using this material.

A bit of history

For the first time, flannel fabric appeared in England in the 17th century. The first canvases had a dense structure with rep or, and fluffy villi were present on the front side. The material was very expensive and was attributed healing properties. Very often it was dyed red, and until the 20th century, the tradition of wearing flannel trousers of this color was preserved as a prophylactic against various diseases.

By the end of the 18th century, flannel began to be made according to new technology, which made it possible to significantly reduce its cost. Since that time, linen weaving has been used for making. With the entry into fashion English style wool flannel became popular. Even today, woolen suits made of this material are considered a sign of aristocracy and elegance.

Flannel was brought to Russia by Peter the Great. For a long time, soldiers used it to make footcloths as an alternative to traditional socks. Until the end of the 19th century, flannel was made from sheep's wool, the properties of which endowed the fabric with delicate villi and a loose structure. Cotton flannel appeared in the 20th century, and at the end of the century they began to make fabric with the addition of artificial and synthetic fibers.

Gallery: flannel fabric (25 photos)

Fabric Description

Flannel is made of thick threads, interconnected in a linen way. Despite the simplicity of weaving, it turns out to be durable and there are no gaps between the threads. The weight of the fabric can be quite heavy and for some varieties of fabrics is up to 400 grams per 1 meter.

A distinctive feature of flannel is the presence soft pile evenly distributed over the entire surface. The villi can be located only on the front surface or simultaneously on both sides.

Advantages and disadvantages

Translated from English, "flannel" translates as to please. Lots of people love fabric. comfortable feeling upon contact with the skin. The wide use of the material is due to the special composition and structure of the canvas. The special properties of the fabric are:

extraordinary softness due to the gentle pile;
preservation of the property of tenderness in relation to the skin even after numerous washes;
good strength;
retains heat;
ability to pass air;
lack of allergic reactions;
good hygienic properties;
the ability to maintain properties for a long time, enduring numerous washings and ironings;
low cost.

The durability and strength of the material is given by a special weaving of threads, which provides resistance to bending, stretching and abrasion.

The disadvantages of flannel are the formation of pellets over time and wiping. A high rate of hygroscopicity leads to a long drying of the fabric after washing. Spilled liquid can be quickly cleaned up with a flannel rags, since when the material comes into contact with water, it is instantly absorbed. A significant disadvantage is the shrinkage of the fabric during washing. Flannel products wrinkle quite strongly, so they need periodic ironing.

Kinds

Today there is a large assortment flannel. According to GOST standards, 100% cotton material has a density of 175 mg / m 2 s tolerance in 5 mg. Manufacturers rarely use pure wool and most often synthetic fibers are added to the composition. In some canvases, viscose can be added, the amount of which does not exceed 20%. The addition of synthetic components allows you to give the fabric a slight sheen.

Main types of flannel:

severe - unbleached material of dense structure, often used for pasting the hammers of a musical instrument;
bleached - a soft fabric used for sewing bedding and clothes for babies;
white earth - white fabric with a pattern;
plain-dyed - a plain canvas, widely used for technical needs;
negligent - a material of high strength and wear resistance, with one-sided or two-sided fleece and a variety of patterns.

Color may vary. classic fabric wool available in the following colors:

plain;
striped;
in a cell.

Today, two drawing technologies are used. In the first method, the fabric is woven from already dyed fibers, so the resulting pattern is perfectly visible from the wrong side and the front side. In the second method, the pattern is obtained by stuffing onto the fabric, while the pattern is visible from the front side. The pattern when applied to the fabric turns out to be bright, but during operation it quickly loses its original appearance.

For most, acquaintance with flannel occurs in infancy, when the baby is wrapped in a diaper or put on shirts and caps made of this material. Flannel is more suitable for informal clothing and today is widely used for sewing the following products:

clothing for everyday and home wear;
for suits, half-woolen fabric with additives of synthetics and viscose is used;
sportswear made of woolen flannel for certain types of games, such as croquet;
shirt flannel is widely used for sewing men's and women's shirts;
bathrobes, pajamas, clothes for children are made from cotton material;
linens;
clothes and diapers for newborns.

Cotton flannel is produced by manufacturers with a wide variety of patterns and patterns, so it is often used for sewing children's products, pajamas and clothes for the home. The choice of this material for children's products is due to the fact that it does not cause irritation and creates pleasant sensations upon contact with the skin. As a fabric for diapers and baby clothes, it is recommended to choose printed flannel. On such material, the paint is present only on one front side, but is absent from the inside, so the coloring pigment does not come into contact with the baby's skin.

Men love to wear flannel shirts. Such clothes can be made from fabric of traditional shades in the form of gray, beige, cream, and can have a very bright color. Popular in the 90s, checkered flannel shirts are still in fashion today.

Laundry and ironing

When washing a flannel product for the first time, it is necessary to study its label, which indicates the composition and care features. Often viscose or synthetics are added to cotton, requiring certain temperatures for washing and ironing. Cotton flannel tolerates various machine wash cycles, but to better preserve the villi, it is recommended to pre-soak things. To increase the softness of the product, it is recommended to soak in water with glycerin at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. funds for 10 liters of water. For ironing, moderate heating temperatures of the iron should be selected.

It is recommended to wash woolen material in warm water and use only soft preparations. Such a fabric is washed at a temperature of 30-40 C. When rinsing, you can add a small amount of vinegar. It is forbidden dry such products on the battery or placed in a place exposed to direct sunlight. Ironing is done only through wet gauze or a thin cloth. Flannel products can be processed with a steamer.

Flannel bedding should be turned inside out immediately before washing. If there are zippers or buttons on the products, it is recommended to fasten them. It is recommended to use cool water for the first wash and 60-90 C for subsequent washings.

Products from any kind of flannel should not be exposed to chlorine bleaches, as this leads to the destruction of the structure of the fibers. It is impossible to rub the surface of the material during washing, otherwise the wiping or rolling of the fleecy layer will occur.

Manufacturers and cost

Flannel fabrics on the Russian textile market are presented in a huge assortment. The most popular are fabrics produced in the Ivanovo region and goods from China. The manufacturer offers customers all varieties of modern flannel - children's, bleached, smooth-haired and many others. The colors of the fabric are also very diverse - plain, checkered, with geometric shapes, flowers and all sorts of patterns.

width;
density.

It is these two parameters that determine the price of the flannel fabric. Roll width can be different - 75, 90, 150 cm. The cheapest is a bleached fabric, the cost of which starts from 30 rubles. The most expensive will be the purchase of negligent material, the price of which is kept in the region of 100 rubles.

Despite the huge variety of textiles in modern stores, many still choose to wear flannel products, which is largely due to the special properties of the material, the ability to create a comfortable feeling when in contact with the skin and a long service life while maintaining appearance.

Attention, only TODAY!

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 tailoring 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 in large numbers however it takes a long time to dry. This material has excellent thermal insulation, which means it is ideal for sewing warm clothes. Flannel that is not processed special means, quite strongly wrinkled and may shrink when wet washing. 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 most high temperatures water, manually or in an automatic machine. In order to keep the flannel in good condition for a longer 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. Wash recommended detergents for wool 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.

Flannel is a soft fleece fabric, wool or wool mixture. Some modern views flannels contain additives. Depending on the raw materials used, the production technology, the material has a different purpose: from clothing for adults to diapers.

Flannel or bouffant? Maybe a tale?

Suits and coats are sewn from smoothly dyed woolen flannel.

soft tissue with a rare pile for sewing clothes have been used for a long time. They called her flannel. History shows that flannel was invented in England more than two centuries ago. It was made from wool. The fabric was considered healing. Jonathan Swift describes the treatment of diseased joints by rubbing with cognac and wrapping in flannel. The British especially liked to be treated with red-dyed flannel. Allegedly, even red trousers were made from it. What was treated in this way - history is silent.

More than a hundred years ago, this material began to be made in Russia. The doctors who treated the royal family also recalled, as documents testify, about healing properties flannel.

Dahl's dictionary contains short description flannel - a thin baize, like a soft fleecy fabric. In another dictionary, the word "bomazee" is given as a synonym for the word "flannel". Thus, flannel, flannel, baize are practically the same materials, and the words denoting them are essentially synonyms.

How and from what is flannel made?

Today flannel is mostly made from cotton. Carded yarn with an average thickness is laid in the warp, voluminous hardware yarn is used in the wefts. Sometimes up to 20% viscose is added. There are cotton materials with synthetic additives. Flannel is also made from wool and wool mixture. Types of weaving use different. According to textbooks, in the production of flannel, rep, twill weaving with double-sided sparse fleece is used, through which the pattern of threads is visible. The relative density of warp threads is 42-60%, weft - 53-60%. The surface density of the fabric is 178-258 g / m 2. If viscose additives are present in the fabric, it acquires a special shine.

Bumazeya differs from flannel in that it has only a twill weave and a fleece on one side:

or facial;
or reverse.

The surface density of the bumazee is 162-255 g/m 2 .

There is information in the literature about the use of linen type of weaving in the production of flannel. Perhaps this is how they simplify the name of rep weaving, which, in fact, is a finely patterned derivative of linen weaving. As a result, the fabric is softer, stronger, less prone to stretching than linen fabrics.

Types and properties of flannel

Shirt flannel has a printed pattern in the form of stripes, checks.

These materials, due to the presence of pile, increased density, belong to the so-called winter fabrics. There are several types of flannel.

Severe flannel is a dense material that has not been bleached. It is used for technical needs, for example, to cover the hammers of a grand piano, piano.
The bleached look is used for sewing diapers, bedding, and baby clothes.
White-earth flannel has a small, delicate pattern on a white surface. They sew clothes for children from it.
Plain dyed flannel is a very large group of plain dyed fabrics. It is used in a variety of areas: for clothing, bedding, home textiles. They sew and from smoothly dyed woolen flannel.
Shirt flannel has a printed pattern in the form of stripes, checks. The popularity of the material is undulating. It was in great demand abroad in the 20s of the last century among fans of the beat direction, which was headed by writer Jack Kerouac. In our country in those years, for obvious reasons, no one knew about this. The second peak in the popularity of flannel shirts came in the 90s of the last century, thanks to Kurt Cobain and the Nirvana group. We already had other times. This wave has reached our open spaces. Now Men's shirts from flannel are in demand among supporters of an informal style of clothing.
Robe flannel can have different patterns. From it sew home clothes for women and children.

Advantages and disadvantages of flannel

The material has been consistently popular for several centuries. This is not surprising. The combination of the positive qualities of flannel makes it indispensable in many cases.

The material is very soft, pleasant to the touch.
Flannel retains heat well. It is no coincidence that, according to the traditional classification, it is referred to as winter fabrics.
The material is strong and durable. Flannel diapers withstand more than one generation of children and grandchildren.
Flannel has amazing hygroscopicity. There is a method for confirming that the tested fabric belongs to flannels. Water is poured onto the tiles on the floor. Apply a cloth to the puddle. If the water is all absorbed and the tile remains dry, then the material is flannel. Surprisingly, after testing with manual twisting of wet flannel, water is not squeezed out of it.
Flannel fabrics are easy and simple to care for. The exception is woolen flannels. You need to be more careful with them. All other fabrics of this group are subject to machine washing, ironing.
Natural flannels do not irritate the skin, do not cause allergic reactions.

Flannels certainly have drawbacks. Absolutely ideal in all respects there are no materials and cannot be.

Pile with prolonged use can wear out. The fabric will remain strong, pleasant, but will no longer be so fleecy.
The high hygroscopicity of flannel leads to prolonged drying. Water molecules settle firmly between the villi, not as quickly as consumers would like, and evaporate from there.
Natural flannel may shrink after washing. Woolen fabrics require a particularly careful approach when cleaning and washing.

Flannel is an amazingly comfortable fabric. The fleecy surface of cozy matter warms, relaxes, gives pleasure. The confidence of our ancestors in the healing properties of flannel becomes clear. Buying flannel items, you provide pleasant emotions to future owners and users.

Popular TV presenter Olga Nikishicheva tells how to sew a woolen flannel vest with your own hands: