Waffle

A lightweight highly absorbent fabric 

Many people find materials with a three-dimensional effect, such as the texture of waffle fabric, more interesting than plain fabrics in a flat weave. However, waffle cotton was primarily designed for its functional properties. The way the cloth is woven or knitted allows it to absorb relatively large amounts of water for its weight. This is why waffle fabric is almost always made of cotton, as the fibers can naturally absorb up to around 25 percent of their own weight in water. Combined with the typical weave of waffle fabric, this creates a cloth that can absorb a lot of water.

For this reason, waffle fabric has become increasingly popular over the years for bathroom products. It is one of the most commonly used materials for making bathrobes. Especially for warm, humid environments such as the sauna or the bathroom in summer, waffle cotton is ideal. The material is lighter in weight than terry cloth, which is traditionally used for towels and bathrobes, but it absorbs much more moisture than materials such as fleece or satin. Moreover, since waffle fabric is almost always made of cotton, it is highly breathable.

However, waffle fabric is no longer used only for bathroom products and baby items. As a clothing material, waffle cotton is ideal because it is light and airy but provides sufficient protection against the elements. The high absorbency, good breathability, and quick-drying nature of the cloth make waffle cotton a perfect fabric for summer clothing. Summer dresses, shirts, blouses, tunics, pajamas, and even polo shirts, are all very comfortable when made of waffle cotton. Additionally, as a soft fabric, it is perfect for baby items, such as cloths, bedding, and of course, baby clothes.

Different types of waffle fabrics

Waffle fabric is made by weaving or knitting together two layers of cloth, creating raised "frames" that have a low-lying center. It is where these frames are interwoven that the waffle pattern the fabric is known for is created. The great advantage of this is that clothing made of this material, unlike that woven in a flat weave, does not lie flat against the skin. This allows for more air circulation, which means that the fabric dries faster and feels fresher in warm summer weather. When the cloth is knitted, it is essentially a knit fabric and we refer to it as waffle jersey.

The waffle pattern of the fabric can vary depending on the weave or knit. The most common variant is a coarser waffle texture that is visible from a distance. However, it is also possible to weave or knit a finer pattern in the cloth, creating a more even look when seen from a distance. In this case, the material resembles piqué, which is typically used to make polo shirts. Piqué, due to its weave, is actually a waffle fabric, albeit a little stiffer than normal waffle cotton. The waffle fabrics in this part of our shop are softer and more supple.

Because the fashion industry has also discovered the benefits of waffle fabric as a clothing material, the range of colours available today is greater than ever. You can find waffle cotton in dozens of different colours in our collection. Pastel shades, for example, are popular for baby items, while trendy summer clothing usually demands brighter colours. You can count on Quality Textiles for all of these waffle fabrics. Additionally, we have a lot of waffle cotton in darker, neutral colours. This means you can make clothing with a more formal appearance from these comfortable fabrics.

Making Clothing from Waffle Fabric

Because waffle fabric is almost always made of cotton, it is important to wash it before cutting out pattern pieces or sewing it. Cotton fibers can shrink when fabrics are washed for the first time. This is a characteristic of all natural fibers; you also need to be aware of this when working with wool and linen, for example. Normally, you can safely machine wash waffle fabric at 40 degrees, but be sure to check the composition of the cloth. We also sell waffle fabrics with a small amount of polyester fibers, and these should not be washed in water that is too hot. Allow the material to air dry.

Cutting out pattern pieces from waffle fabric is not difficult. As long as you use a sharp pair of scissors or rotary cutter, the cloth will hardly fray. Waffle cotton is available in different thicknesses, but usually a universal needle with a thickness of around 80 is perfectly suitable for sewing fabric pieces together. Be sure to put the right side of the fabric on the outside of the clothing. Additionally, we recommend sewing waffle fabric with relatively short stitches. Usually a stitch length of 2.5 millimetres is the best option. With very fine fabric, it may be necessary to use shorter stitches.

Buying Waffle Fabric Online

Although waffle fabric has traditionally had the reputation of being a lighter alternative to terry cloth, today it can be used as almost any type of textile. Especially if you can choose from as many different types of waffle cotton as are stocked in the Quality Textiles webshop. Does terry cloth better suit your sewing project? We can also supply you with that. Some of our absorbent fabrics are even made of organic cotton. Additionally, we have a wide assortment of handy haberdashery items.