I think that our non-English speaking members do a fabulous job, but the rest of us must make life hard for them with some of the language we use. This is because around the English speaking world we have either different words for the same thing or the same words for different things!
Here are some definitions. Would you like to share what they mean where you are? (Please feel free to add more definitions of your own.)The easiest way to do that is to copy them and paste into your reply and then add your words.
A loosely woven cotton fabric - almost sheer.
An unbleached and often not fully processed fairly cheap cotton fabric.
Cotton, wool, or synthetic fibre wadded into sheets, used for interlining quilts.
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46919I stay here, I lost the words and barely understand.
1 comment
46919Well, Sue here in Australia this is what I'd call those fabrics.
MUSLIN - for a loosely woven cotton fabric - almost sheer.
CALICO - for an unbleached and often not fully processed fairly cheap cotton fabric.
BATTING OR WADDING for the stuff used for quilts.
Obviously us antipodeans are very close to our English/British friends! After all we were mostly colonised by them!!!!!! Love Chris
1. Muslin
2. Calico
3. Batting
Us Assies have too many weird names and slang to mention here!!!
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2 comments
by spendlove
28 Feb 2016
Thanks Chris - especially for the pictures. We are in agreement, although I'm not sure about your picture 2. Our calico is so closely woven you can't really see the threads.
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11506What is the worlds equivalent to flannel--I am not sure how to define it.
7103Any more for any more? Or is that just an English expression?
1 comment
by theduchess
27 Feb 2016
My all time favorites are:
Isle...small body of land
I'll ...I will
aisle---as in church aisle
confusing enough in English let alone in other languages
140717I am with rescuer and my USA cuties on the answers. To me calico is a printed cotton fabric. I had to smile when I read this as I had to look up 'chuffed' to see what you meant in a post a few days ago. Hugs, Barba
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6279I even get confused in these terms between US definitions and those of you in Europe and Australia.
I was doing some bibs this morning that were just barely more tightly woven than bandage gauze and they were labeled on the packaging Muslin. I think sometimes it's name it as you wish. lol
I am in agreement with the titles you have bestowed on the rest of the terms. (my U.S. sisters)
Calico here is used to describe 100% cotton used often in quilting.
Batting is what goes between a quilt top and bottom. And interlining is for colors, coats, dress pants, and curtains.
Georgia, USA
158716I read your first paragraph and I thought you were going to say :-
UK = trousers + USA = Pants lol
sorry just a giggle from London xx
8 comments
by spendlove
27 Feb 2016
Pants was a common word used to mean rubbish when my daughter was a teenager.
20276Right then, here in England:
A loosely woven cotton fabric - almost sheer is muslin.
An unbleached and often not fully processed fairly cheap cotton fabric is calico.
Cotton, wool, or synthetic fibre wadded into sheets, used for interlining quilts is wadding.
1 comment
by sewdoctor
27 Feb 2016
A loosely woven cotton fabric I would have said batiste
An unbleached and often not fully processed fairly cheap cotton would be muslin to me
Cotton, wool, or synthetic fibre wadded into sheets, used for interlining quilts is Batting
140717I know some words can be a problem for translating like when we use sew instead of so or due instead of do (not to be confused with dew) or we mix up there, their, and they're. It really does compound the problem when we add in the words that mean very different things to those of us that speak English as a first language.
When I think of gauze, I think of a very loosely woven cotton used for bandaging the injured. Although it is a fabric just as you explain, it looks nothing like the bandaging. The fabric gauze is crinkled or wrinkled and often used for peasant blouses. It is sheer enough to see through in sunlight.
We have muslin but we also have white (bleached) muslin. Both can be used beautifully in quilts but they are often used to create or test fashion designs. Some muslin can be quite nice. I use the white to test designs meant for cotton fabrics. It is very soft cotton and can be used many ways.
Here, in my area, we do not use "interlining" or "wadded" the way you do. Wadded (like another explained) means your quilt didn't have stitches or ties close enough together to prevent wadding (into a messy ball). We don't use the term interlining. Instead we use (what I once thought was similar to your interlining) "interfacing" for very thin pieces meant to be like stabilizer. We also have curtain lining which is thick and plastic like fabric meant to keep light out of a room. Batting, which I am sure is equal to your interlining, is used between the top and bottom of a quilt -- the middle (fluffy part) of the quilt sandwich.
I am certain there are more words we use that confuse and confound the readers.
4 comments
by spendlove
26 Feb 2016
To me, interlining is anything that goes between layers, it would be called interfacing if it was between facing and main fabric in a garment. But then, that might just be me, not an English thing!
by spendlove
26 Feb 2016
BTW we do have gauze which is used for wound dressing. That is even more loosely woven than muslin and couldn't be used for anything else.
by rescuer
26 Feb 2016
When you first talked about loosely woven gauze -- I pictured the medical gauze and wondered...
I do find the differences much like reading an enchanting good book -- marvelous!
57675I agree that we must make it hard on our non-English speaking friends. I love to learn so it will be fun to see what people come up with.
169064Gauze, muslin, batting, and yes, fiber. Alabama. USA.
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66910Sue-Hopefully this is what you were after.
1. A loosely woven cotton fabric - almost sheer.
Oregon, USA- gauze
2. An unbleached and often not fully processed fairly cheap cotton fabric.
Oregon, USA -Muslin
3. Cotton, wool, or synthetic fibre wadded into sheets, used for interlining quilts.
Oregon, USA- batting- though we say fiber for fibre, and then layered for the layers making up the quilt "sandwich" as "wadded" means to bundle into a ball, like wadding up your dirty clothes and throwing them into the dirty clothes basket or hamper.
Looking forward to others words others throughout the world will add to your list.
6 comments
by basketkase
27 Feb 2016
Calico at our house is a multi colored cat.......sorry guys, couldn't help it...........
by sewtired
27 Feb 2016
Love it Basketkase! "The gingham dog and the calico cat" was part of my childhood. There's another word for you.
To me gingham is a checkered, lightweight, usually cotton or blend fabric.
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