What is Burlap used for?

Burlap is often used to make sacks and bags to ship goods like coffee beans; these can be described as gunny sacks. It is breathable and thus resists condensation and associated spoilage of the contents. Burlap is also durable enough to withstand rough handling in transit; these properties have also led to its use for temporary protection as wet covering to prevent rapid moisture loss in setting of cement and concrete by the construction industry. Burlap is also commonly used for making sandbags, empty burlap sacks that, when filled with sand, are used for flood mitigation when building temporary embankments against floodwaters or field fortifications.

Due to its coarse texture, burlap is not commonly used in modern apparel. However, this roughness gave it a use in a religious context for mortification of the flesh, where individuals may wear an abrasive shirt called a cilice or “hairshirt” and in the wearing of “sackcloth” on Ash Wednesday.

Owing to its durability, open weave, naturally non-shiny refraction, and fuzzy texture, Ghillie suits for 3D camouflage are often made of burlap. Burlap was also a popular material for camouflage scrim on combat helmets of World War II. Until the advent of the plastic “leafy” multi-color net system following the Vietnam War, burlap scrim was also woven onto shrimp and fish netting to create large-scale military camouflage netting.

Burlap is also used by fine artists as an alternative to canvas as a stretched painting surface.

What is Poly Cotton?

Poly cotton can be used to make a variety of everyday items, from upholstery and bedding to sports wear and denim. Poly cotton is particularly used for items expected to get a lot of wear. Sheets and sofa covers, as well as track suits, T-shirts and hoodies, are often made in poly cotton blends, as these items require both comfort and durability.

Poly cotton is known for its durability, as it can easily be thrown in the washing machine and retains its shape better than items made of pure cotton. Poly cotton blends are also known for their comfort. Poly cotton should have a higher percentage of cotton than polyester fabrics in the weave. The cotton allows the fabric to breathe and retain the softness of the natural fibers, while maintaining the structure enforced by the polyester.
While cotton fabric has been used for hundreds of years and championed for its texture and breathability, there are some drawbacks to using pure cotton fabric that can be corrected in a poly cotton blend. Polyester on its own is not the most beloved fabric, due to its synthetic feel and tendency to look cheap, but a poly cotton blend can take the best of both fabrics to create a durable and wearable textile.

Poly Cotton fabric is a made combining strands of Cotton and Polyester. This blend is usually quite comfortable by combining the natural effects of Cotton for softness and moisture absorption with the no-iron crispness of polyester. Usually which ever fiber content is listed first will be the dominant fiber meaning in a Cotton poly mixture it would be 51% cotton and 49% polyester.

A standard everyday Poly cotton mix is 65% Polyester 35% Cotton, normally the contruction of standard bedsheets, bedlinen

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  I wanted to take the time to tell you how pleased I am with my recent purchase. It was easy and your customer service was pleasant andhelpful. My fabric arrived very quickly and was packaged well. The quality of the fabric is superior and price was out of this world-affordable and fair and beats all your competitors' prices. Also, you have rare and unique fabrics, which is awesome! I will highly recommend you to anyone and will most certainly be back again. You've won a loyal customer. 

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One Steal A Month!

At The Fabric Exchange, we value our customers. We also value a good deal.

That's why each month we pre-select a custom fabric and mark it down up to 90% off of its retail value.
For the month of October we have chosen the Mirror Organza fabric to mark down. This fabric is sheer, light weight, and known for its versatility. It's perfect for creating stylish accessories, using as a decorative finish, and in light of the upcoming holiday, perfect for creating your Halloween Costume. 


Act quickly, it's going fast.