“Crinkle cotton,” you say. “What is that?” Well, it’s a fabric with an interesting and intriguing texture created by a process called shrink-to-fit. This means the fabric will be cut or torn in such a way so as to create crinkles when washed or dried. It can also be produced through other processes like diamond pleating, calendaring, and more!
Crinkle cotton is an unlikely fabric. The term sounds like a contradiction in terms – cotton, the most popular natural fiber textile on earth, being crinkled? But this is what happens when you stretch and then release the fabric after it has been washed. This process causes tiny fibers to break away from other threads and form loose tufts that produce a distinctive textured pattern of fine ridges or waves on both sides of the cloth.
The crinkle cotton is either woven to create a beautiful and natural texture, or it’s created by rolling the fabric in a bag. The how-to guide on storage will help maintain that effect for longer periods of time.
I was looking for an article on how to care for your crinkle cotton shirts. Turns out it’s actually quite easy and doesn’t require a lot of work! The wrinkles in your clothes will come back when you wash them. Air drying can often be recommended as well – some manufacturers recommend twisting or a three-step process of rolling, twisting and tying before drying to maintain that look you love so much.
Gauze is a delicate fabric that can be made with this texture. When dealing with such an item, it’s especially important to make sure the product you’re using is of high quality. This holds true whether someone buys gauze off the bolt by yard or as part of their finished clothing ensemble that they purchase from either fair trade vendors or boutique stores. Fair trade fabrics are available if they’re something you seek out yourself before placing an order with your manufacturers.
The range of colors for fabric is vast, with a wide variety that ranges from white and pastel pink to deep shades in Indian patterns. You’ll find white, pastel shades in pink, yellow and blue. Deeper colors with a pattern can be found as well; including Indian patterns and other ethnic designs. Embroidered or sequined fabric is also available for the discerning tailor to choose from – they’re perfect for customization work on shirts, pants/skirts etc
Crinkle cotton can be used for many things, including use in travel clothes and period costumes for museums. The fabric can also be used to good effect in Capris, sleepwear, unstructured shirts or gathered skirts.
