It is not always easy to find your way through all the categories of fabric types, nor even within the same family (knits, wools, cotton fabrics...).

In this article, I suggest we talk about cotton fabrics and more specifically about a type of cotton fabric that I particularly appreciate, which is cotton lawn. Indeed, cotton lawns are pretty fabrics made of 100% superior quality cotton. They are excellent choices for many sewing projects; especially clothing. They are durable, made of natural fibers, and available on the market in a wide variety of styles and colors. The most famous are the well-known Liberty fabrics.

How to define a type of fabric?

To understand the differences between all fabrics, we need to focus on two major criteria: the weave and the composition. A third criterion is added, which is the feel; it is somewhat the behavior of the fabric when we work with it and wear it.

The weave is the method of interlacing warp and weft threads. There are three main weaves: plain, twill, and satin.

In the case of cotton lawn, the weave is plain; that is, the warp and weft threads cross each other in a tight grid at every thread.

The composition : while in cotton fabrics you can find many blends with linen, polyester, polyamide threads... to create cotton lawn, only cotton is used. 

The feel: cotton lawn, due to its tight weave, is a fluid, silky, and extremely soft-to-the-touch cotton fabric. 

Let's look at this in more detail...

What is a cotton lawn fabric? 

The cotton lawn is therefore a plain weave fabric made of 100% cotton

Cotton lawn is woven very tightly, with many threads which gives it a smooth, silky, and very soft feel. It is very pleasant to wear against the skin and due to its composition, it is perfect during the hottest months.

It was first produced in the French city of Laon, from which its current name is derived. The term "lawn" in English means lawn; so if we translate it back it is "lawn cotton" 😊. Cotton lawn was introduced to the UK in the 16th century, initially traditionally produced in linen, then in the 20th century in 100% cotton.

The most well-known were created by Liberty of London, who made their "Tana Lawn" fabrics famous in the 1920s by using fine long-fiber cotton from Africa. Their name "Tana Lawn" was given after Lake Tana located in Ethiopia.

Today, more and more brands offer cotton lawn fabrics, at c'est du joly we have decided to offer you those from the English brand Dashwood Studio, which feature original patterns in beautiful widths of 140 to 150cm and at a price slightly lower than Liberty for a quality that is quite comparable. It is also an opportunity to find fabrics that stand out from the ordinary and that you won't see sold everywhere. 

Characteristics of cotton lawn

One of the characteristics of cotton lawn is its availability in beautiful and shimmering prints that offer sewers many possibilities for creative and original designs.  

Being made of 100% cotton also gives it interesting characteristics:

• it is breathable
• it is absorbent
• it is not insulating
• it is easy to care for
• it can be sterilized
• easy to sew (not slippery) and therefore accessible to beginners

Due to its tight weave, 

• it is silky, fluid, and pleasant on the skin
• can be suitable for light drapes
• it is soft
• it is wrinkle-resistant
• it has a bit more natural elasticity than a classic poplin

Many people confuse cotton lawn with cotton voile; although they look similar, they are quite different in the thread count used. This is much higher in cotton lawn fabric. The tight weave, the number of high-quality cotton threads used, as well as the printing of the patterns explain the prices charged for this high-quality product. 

Uses of cotton lawn fabric?

One of the great advantages of this type of fabric is that it is accessible even to beginner sewing levels. 

Many garments can be made with cotton lawn:

• dresses,
• skirts,
• button-down shirts,
• blouses 
• ...

Of course, ease of use depends a lot on the pattern you have chosen, as some patterns can be more delicate (especially for large matching patterns), but in general, cotton lawn is incredibly versatile and easy to work with. 

I really like using my cotton lawn scraps to make original facings on my blouses and even on pants. It's the chic detail that changes everything!

Working with cotton lawn 

As we saw above, cotton lawn is affordable for beginner sewing levels because it is a sturdy and non-slippery fabric.

As with most cotton fabrics, it is recommended to prewash them before cutting, as this prevents shrinkage once your sewing project is finished.

As with any fabric, choose a needle size for your project based on the weight and type of thread of the material. In the case of cotton lawn, a standard size 80 needle is ideal; for very fine cotton lawn, you can possibly go down to a size 70. 

There you go, I hope this article has taught you a bit more about cotton lawn, this magnificent and high-quality fabric.

Feel free to visit our shop and our lovely cotton lawn fabrics with very original patterns. 

To your needles!