What is calico fabric?

What is the origin of calico?

The word "calico" originated from the city of Calicut (now known as Kozhikode) in southwestern India, which was a major center for cotton trade during the medieval period. The fabric was initially made from hand-spun and hand-woven cotton fibers, giving it a rustic and slightly coarse texture. However, with advancements in textile manufacturing, calico fabric is now produced using modern machinery, resulting in a smoother and more refined finish.

What is cotton calico fabric?

Cotton calico fabric is a type of plain-woven cotton fabric that is typically unbleached and undyed. It is known for its natural, off-white color and its lightweight and breathable nature. Calico fabric has been used for centuries in various applications, including clothing, home furnishings, and crafts.

One of the distinctive features of calico fabric is its natural color. Unlike other cotton fabrics that are bleached or dyed, calico remains unbleached and undyed, resulting in an off-white or cream-colored appearance. This natural color gives calico a timeless and versatile appeal, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

What is calico print fabric?

Different printing techniques have been used to print on calico fabric. Screen printing and block printing were used in the earlier days but nowadays it is printed with digital printers. Try digital printing of your designs with House of U!

You can upload your design in our design tool and have your design printed on any fabric within our collection.

What is calico fabric used for?

Due to its lightweight and breathable nature, calico fabric is commonly used in clothing production. It is particularly popular for making summer dresses, blouses, skirts, and shirts due to its ability to keep the wearer cool and comfortable in hot weather. Additionally, calico fabric is often used as lining material for garments to provide structure and support.

In addition to clothing, calico fabric is also widely used as calico upholstery fabric in home furnishings. Its natural color makes it an ideal choice for curtains, drapes, and upholstery, as it can easily complement various interior design styles. Calico fabric is also commonly used for making bed sheets, pillowcases, and quilts due to its soft and comfortable texture.

Furthermore, calico fabric is a popular choice for craft projects like quilting or patchwork. It’s plain and unbleached appearance provides a blank canvas for various creative endeavors. It can be easily dyed, painted, or printed on to create unique designs and patterns. Calico fabric is often used for making stuffed toys, bags, accessories, and other handmade items.

Calico fabric characteristics

Calico fabric is characterized by its plain weave structure (1.), where the weft threads pass over and under the warp threads in a simple crisscross pattern. This weaving technique creates a balanced and durable fabric that is resistant to tearing. The fabric is typically made from combed or carded cotton fibers, which are carefully selected to ensure uniformity and strength.

1. Plain weave structure

Benefits of calico fabric

Calico fabric offers several benefits:

• It’s lightweight and breathable, making it comfortable to wear in warm weather.
• It is durable and can withstand regular wear and tear, making it suitable for everyday use.
• Calico fabric is also relatively easy to care for, as it can be machine washed and dried.
• Calico fabric is very versatile and can be used for a wide range of projects; including quilting, clothing and crafts.
• Additionally, this fabric is also easy to sew and manipulate, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced sewers.

Disadvantages of calico fabric

Of course, the fabric has also some disadvantages. The fabrics tends to wrinkle easily, requiring frequent ironing to maintain a smooth appearance. Secondly, it may shrink when washed, therefore careful laundering is necessary. Also the coarse texture of calico fabric may not be as soft or comfortable against the skin compared to other fabrics like Tencel.

Overall, calico fabric is recognized for its timeless charm, versatility, and durability, making it a popular choice for various sewing and crafting projects.

What does calico fabric look like?

Calico fabric has a slightly coarse texture and a plain, even weave. It’s known for its distinctive appearance, characterized by small, repetitive patterns or prints. These patterns are often floral, geometric or abstract in nature (usually keepsake calico fabric).

Printing on fabric at House of U

Do you want your own design printed on fabric by the yard? This is very easy at House of U. You can upload your design in our design tool and have this printed on any fabric within our collection.

Do you still find it difficult to choose and would you rather see and feel our fabrics first? Then order the fabric swatches you want. Or you can order our complete fabric book or the Eco Fabric Kit, which contains all our sustainable fabrics.

If you still can't quite figure it out, or if you still have questions, we will be happy to help you personally. Do not hesitate to contact us.