When it comes to choosing the right fabric for clothing, fabrics like jersey play a vital role in providing the ideal comfort, practicality, and style. From casual clothing to high-performance athletic apparel, jersey material is a valid option for manufacturing companies and clothing brands.
But what is jersey fabric, what are its characteristics, how is it made, and what is it used for? All these questions are answered in this blog. This discourse can be of great significance for many clothing brands, activewear enthusiasts, and manufacturers.
Jersey Fabric Explained
Jersey is a fine-knit fabric used in clothing for its stretchiness and softness. It is made from cotton material, cotton blends, and synthetic materials. The front of the jersey is smooth, whereas the backside of the fabric has loops. It usually is a light- to medium-weight fabric used for household items and apparel products.
History of Jersey Fabric?
The invention of knitting machines by the end of the 16th century revolutionized the fabric production practices. The credit for this revolutionary act goes to William Lee, an Anglican clergyman from Calverton, Nottinghamshire, who observed the local hand knitters and designed the stocking frame knitting machine, which modernized knitwear production.
Since jersey is a knitted fabric, the innovation helped in speeding up the process of making this fabric. Today, new and advanced knitting machines combined with excellent craftsmanship create various fabrics, including the jersey.
Jersey stitch is a basic and commonly incorporated technique, which is also called garter stitch or plain knit. It is famous for knitting materials and giving them properties like flexibility, versatility, and decency.
Why Is It Called Jersey?
The fishermen of Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, used to wear stretchy, soft, and heavy knitted fabric in the late 19th century. This fabric was named after the Jersey Island. The name was not quickly adopted. It took time and became permanent and prominent in the fashion and outerwear industry.
Is jersey fabric stretchy
Jersey fabric is naturally stretchy due to different reasons:
- Its knit structure gives it a natural flexibility.
- It has two-way and four-way stretch
- The use of spandex or elastane blends makes it very stretchy.
What Is Jersey Fabric Made Of?
Jersey material was originally made from wool. However, the advanced and sophisticated production methods inspired the use of cotton and synthetic materials. This advancement resulted in lower cost and more durable fabric.
Organic and Synthetic Fabrics Used in Making of Jersey
- Cotton is used in jersey t-shirts, baby apparel, and dresses.
- Cotton blends are the mixture of cotton with spandex, rayon, and polyester. It adds stretch, durability, and wrinkle resistance.
- Wool is the organic material and the original fabric to create jersey. It is warm and heavy.
- Polyester is a common sportswear material used to make jersey products. It is lightweight, durable, and dries quickly.
- Spandex or elastane adds flexibility and durability. It is used to make yoga pants, leggings, and stretchy clothing that hugs the body.
- Rayon or viscose offers a soft feel and drapey look. Dresses and tops are made using rayon fabric.
Types of Jersey Fabric
There are two types of jersey material that depend on the knit style:
Standard Jersey
Standard jersey is also called plain knit or single knit jersey. This jersey type is created using one needle set, which results in a smoother front side and a piled backside.
Double-Knit Jersey
Double-knit jersey is also called interlock jersey. This type consists of two pieces of a single knit jersey knitted together. The resulting fabric is smooth on both sides.
What Is Jersey Fabric Used For
Jersey is a versatile fabric that is used in various clothing products and other applications.
- T-shirts: Many tees, like jerseys, are made using a knit material.
- Tank Tops: Jersey tank tops are similar to t-shirts but without any sleeves.
- Underwear: Jersey underwear is stretchy, moisture absorbent, and comfortable.
- Sportswear: Athletic uniforms and many sportswear products are made of jersey. They offer absorbency, flexibility, durability, breathability, and comfort.
- Bedsheets: Bedsheets made from jersey fabric are soft, comfortable, and absorbent.
Jersey Fabric Characteristics
The properties of jersey make it a popular and widely used material. Here is the list of its promising characteristics.
- The softness of jersey enhances the comfort of jersey products.
- The stretch property of jersey is an outcome of its knit structure. It makes the movement easier and more comfortable.
- The breathability makes cotton jerseys perfect for daily wear.
- The jersey fabric absorbs moisture to keep the body dry, making it a good fabric for sportswear.
How to Care for Jersey Fabric
Jersey fabric is easy to care for. All you need to do is observe the fibers. For example, prewash the cotton jersey fabric before sewing since it shrinks. Wash your jersey using cold water and tumble dry it. Quickly remove the clothes or jersey products from the dryer if you don’t want to iron them.
Where to Get Jersey Fabric?
Jersey is a remarkable material for sportswear and activewear, which is why it would be best to approach sportswear manufacturers that specialize in producing sports apparel. They are resourceful and expert at making products using jersey and other high-quality materials. Moreover, clothing brands that sell activewear products also have jersey-made clothes. They can be your go-to option in case you want readymade jersey clothes.
Conclusion
Jersey is an iconic knit fabric that was originally created using wool. Later, other fabric blends and cotton became the source of its production. Its origin goes back to the 16th century when the knitting machines were introduced. Today, the advanced machines and skilled set of hands create the best jersey fabric and products. It features promising characteristics that are used to make clothing products beneficial and practical.
The two types of jersey fabric, including standard and double-knit jersey, are widely used in creating soft, smooth, and durable products such as t-shirts, leggings, yoga pants, bedsheets and more. Moreover, it is easy to care for jersey if you know the construction and fabric blends. Lastly, find the sports clothing manufacturers or activewear brands if you want to get jersey material or products made with this fabric.
