Considered the most versatile of fabrics, cotton is made from the soft fiber that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant. The fiber is spun into thread that’s used to make the soft, breathable fabric we know as cotton. Cotton is the most widely used, natural-fiber textile found in clothing today. Most cotton is a plain weave, which means the fabric has a flat, even texture. Cotton “breathes” or allows air to pass through it; it is absorbent and it wicks sweat away from the body.

Cotton is washable, generally colorfast and can be thrown in the dryer. It will fade with repeated washing and is vulnerable to the sun. Any machine-washable fabric containing cotton should be prewashed and shrunk before sewing. Clipping the corners of the fabric through the selvage helps keep the fabric from fraying.