Calico
Fiber: Cotton
Weave: Plain - usually a low count.
Characteristics: Rather coarse and light in weight. Pattern is printed on one. It is not always colorfast. Sized for crispness but washes out and requires starch each time. Designs are often geometric or floral. Inexpensive. Similar to percale. Very little on the market to-day, but the designs are still in use on other fabrics and sold as "calico print".
Uses: Housedresses, aprons, patchwork quilts.

Canvas see Duck

Canvas
Fiber: Linen, cotton.
Weave: Plain.
Characteristics: Mostly rugged, heavy material made from plied yarns. Has body and strength. It is usually manufactured in the gray state but some is dyed for different uses. Almost the same as duck in heavier weights. Has an even weave.
Uses: Hair canvas is an interfacing material in various weights.

Challis
Fiber: Wool-also made in cotton, hair Fiber, rayon, and a silk warp and worsted filling.
Weave: Plain
Characteristics: Soft, very lightweight. May be dyed or printed with a delicate floral pattern, paisleys, or geometric patterns and faint designs. Often washable.
Uses: Women's and children's dresses and blouses, kimonos, neckties, and sportswear.

Chambray
Fiber: Cotton
Weave: Plain weave or dobby designs on a plain-weave ground.
Characteristics: Made with a dyed warp and a white or unbleached filling. Has a white selvedge. Some woven with alternating white and colored warp. "Faded" look. Smooth, strong, closely woven, soft. Wears very well, easy to sew, and launders well. wrinkles easily
Uses: Children's wear, dresses, shirts and blouses, aprons, all kinds of sportswear.

Chamoisette
Fiber: Cotton, also rayon and nylon.
Weave: Knitted, double knit construction.
Characteristics: A fine, firmly knit fabric. Has a very short soft nap. Wears well. Nylon chamoisette is more often called "glove silk".
Uses: Gloves.

Charmeuse
Fiber: rayon, cotton and manufactured Fibers
Weave: Satin
Characteristics: supreme luster and drapability. has a dull back.
Uses: Pajamas, dresses, and evening gowns.

Cheesecloth
Fiber: Cotton
Weave: Plain
Characteristics: Loosely woven, thin, light in weight, open in construction, and soft. It is also called gauze weave. When woven in 36" widths it is called tobacco cloth. When an applied finish is added, it is called buckram, or crinoline.
Uses: In the gray cloth, it is used for covering tobacco plants, tea bags and wiping cloths.

Chenille Fabric
Fiber: Cotton and any of the main textile Fibers.
Weave: Mostly plain weave.
Characteristics: Warp yarn of any major textile Fiber. Filling of chenille yarns (has a pile protruding all around at right angles). The word is French for caterpillar and fabric looks hairy.

Chiffon
Fiber: Silk, rayon, cotton, synthetics
Weave: Plain
Characteristics: Lightweight, sheer, transparent. Made with very fine, tightly twisted yarns. The tightly twisted yarns could be either in the filling or the warp or both. It is very strong, despite filmy look. Wears very well. It is very difficult to handle when sewing and it is best to baste the pieces over tissue to make it easier. It has slightly bumpy look. It is best suited to shirring, draping, gathering, tucking, etc., because it is so limp. If made in a straight sheath style, it should be underlined with very firm fabric. e.g. faille taffeta.
Uses: evening wear, blouses, scarves.

China Silk
Fiber: Silk.
Weave:
Characteristics: Very soft and extremely lightweight but fairly strong. Irregularities of threads caused by the extreme lightness and softness are characteristic of the fabric.
Uses: Mostly for linings and underlinings, and could be used for blouses.

Chino
Fiber: Cotton
Weave: Twill
Characteristics: Combined two-ply warp and filling. Has a sheen that remains. Washes and wears extremely well with a minimum of care.
Uses: Army uniforms, summer suits and dresses, sportswear.

Chintz
Fiber: Cotton
Weave: Plain
Characteristics: Has bright gay figures, large flower designs, birds and other designs. Also comes in plain colors. Named from the Indian word "Chint" meaning "broad, gaudily printed fabric".
Uses: Draperies, slipcovers, dresses, sportswear.

Corduroy
Fiber: Cotton, rayon, and other textile Fibers.
Weave: Filling Pile with both plain and twill back.
Characteristics: In the velvet family of fabrics. Has narrow medium and wide wales, also thick n'thin or checkerboard patterns. Wales have different widths and depths. Has to be cut all one way with pile running up. Most of it is washable and wears very well.
Uses: jackets, skirts, suits, slacks, men's trousers, jackets, bedspreads, and upholstery.

Cotton
Fiber:
Weave:
Characteristics: It is one of the world's major textile Fibers. There are four main types of cotton: American Upland, Egyptian, Sea Island and Asiatic. Cotton, in general, is very elastic. It can withstand high temperatures, has high washability and dyes well.
Uses: Clothing, households.

Crepe
Fiber: cotton, wool, silk, man-made synthetics.
Weave: Mostly plain, but various weaves.
Characteristics: Has a crinkled, puckered surface or soft mossy finishÑpebbled, rough feel and appearance. Yarns have a high twist in the filing, or the warp or both. Comes in different weights and degrees of sheerness. If it is fine, it drapes well. Has very good wearing qualities. Has a very slimming effect.
Uses: Depending on weight, it is used for dresses of all types, including long dinner dresses, suits, and coats.

Crepe de Chine (See Crepe) Silk warp and crepe twist silk filling 25 x 22. More ends than picks per inch. Has a soft hand and considerable lustre. Made of raw silk or rayon. It is easy to manipulate and handle. Very long wearing. Most of it launders well. It is fairly sheer. Could be piece dyed or printed. Has a slight rippled texture. Heavy crepe de chine is called "Canton crepe" which is slightly ribbed and now mostly made in rayon.

Crepe - Back Satin (See Satin and Crepe) Satin weave on the face and a crepe effect on the back obtained with twisted crepe yarns in the filling. It is a soft fabricÑreversible. Very interesting effects can be obtained in a garment by using both sides, in different parts Uses: Dresses, blouses, linings, evening wear.

Crepe - Satin (See Crepe-Back Satin)

Crinoline
Fiber:
Weave: Plain
Characteristics: It is a very loosely woven Fiber with high rigidity. It is smooth, stiff, and has excellent strength. It's comes in a variety of shades from white to black.
Uses: Stiffening, making interlining for hat shapes.