The upward sloping popularity of cotton blend fabrics is not a secret anymore. The demand for mixed cotton is becoming almost the same as pure cotton.
That’s why Team Muslin Dhaka is talking about the popular types of cotton blend fabrics today. Although our core focus in pure cotton fabrics. But ignoring mixed cotton would leave a gap in our effort to serve our audience with complete information.
The discussion is going to be quite long. So, let’s start right away.
What is Cotton Blend Fabric?
A cotton fabric that is blended with other natural or synthetic fibers to create enhanced features is called cotton blend fabric. Some say mixed cotton.
Cotton can be blended with three types of materials:
- Natural
- Semi-synthetic
- Synthetic
Natural fibers are silk, wool, hemp, bamboo, etc. They can be both plant-based and animal-based.
Semi-synthetic fibers are rayon, viscose, etc. These materials are also collected from natural plants. But they need a vast number of chemical processes to eligible for spinning.
Synthetic materials are nylon, polyester, etc. These fibers are artificially created to either work by themselves or blend with other fibers.
Cotton is a versatile fabric. But to enhance durability, breathability, sheen, and texture, other materials are infused. The infusion ratio depends on the use of the textile. Most of the time the ratio of cotton and other fibers stays 50-50, 65-35, 70-30, or 85-15.
Cotton VS Cotton Blend
Cotton and mixed cotton, both are best in their own ways.
100% cotton fabrics are completely natural. But they might have some chemical treatments. Cotton fabrics are safe for adults, children, and elderly people. They rarely contain particles that can cause irritation to skin.
Most importantly, cotton textiles are comfortable and sustainable. But organic cotton fabrics can be costly, sometimes.
On the other hand, blended cotton fabrics can be either completely natural or synthetic infused. Some cotton blends aren’t good for sensitive skin. Combining cotton with other materials can compromise the primary benefits of cotton. Such as breathability, softness, etc.
But cotton mixes are comparatively budget-friendly. The level of comfort and sustainability depends on which material is getting mixed with cotton.
Based on purposes, we use cotton or mixed cotton. While going affordable fashion we use some types of mixed cotton fabrics. Organic cotton or cotton wool blend might be used for designer dress.
19 Popular Cotton Blend Fabrics
We are naming the top cotton blends on the market. We are not focusing on specific fabrics that can be made by blending cotton and other fibers. Because it could’ve made the list larger than we can imagine.
Here are the 19 popular cotton blends for you 😀
Acrylic cotton
Other Names: Creslan cotton, Acrilan cotton, cotton Zefran, etc.
Texture and Finish: Soft and slightly fuzzy
Uses: Clothing and interior
Acrylic is a lite version of natural wool fibers. Cotton acrylic blend fabrics are known for both comfort and durability.
Because the origin of acrylic fibers is petroleum or carbon-based materials, the acrylic yarns are strong. Cotton is infused with acrylic to make textiles softer. However, you can’t expect acrylic cotton to be 100% breathable. The breathability and heat insulation rate depends on the ratio of cotton and acrylic.
50-50 cotton acrylic fabric is soft, fuzzy, and synthetic like nature. But some variants also have a 60-40 or 70-30 acrylic-cotton ratio. They feel more like cotton but with added strength.
Advantages:
- Added Strength
- Comfy texture
- Better moisture wicking
Disadvantages:
- Less breathable
Bamboo Cotton
Other Names: Only bamboo cotton or cotton bamboo
Texture and Finish: Soft and natural
Uses: Bedding, baby items, and adult clothing
Bamboo cotton is the safest cotton blend fabric. After muslin, bamboo or cotton bamboo is most used in making baby clothes and bedding items.
Both bamboo and cotton are natural fibers. Bamboo features softness, flexibility, and resistance to wrinkles. Most importantly, bamboo fibers can prevent allergens and harmful particles.
Cotton fabrics infused with bamboo yarns feel cool and soft. Bamboo cotton is a great alternative to organic muslin bedding. Because the cost of bamboo mixed fabrics is less than organic cotton.
Advantages:
- Safe for all
- Softness
- Cool and breathable
Disadvantages:
- Less durable than cotton
Charmeuse
Other Names: Satin charmeuse, polyester charmeuse, mixed charmeuse, etc.
Texture and Finish: smooth and silky
Uses: lingerie, undergarments, bedroom wear, exotic dress, etc.
Charmeuse is one of the 5 luxury silk fabrics in the fashion industry. It was created for women’s attire and undergarments.
Nowadays, you can find charmeuse fabrics made of cotton blends like polyester and cotton or cotton and rayon. The sheen of cotton blend charmeuse is given by special processing and chemical treatments.
You can always count on cotton or rayon charmeuse when you don’t have the budget to buy silk charmeuse. Due to special processing, the satin weave of blended charmeuse, fabric becomes slippery smooth and breathable. Your bikini skin remains dry all the time using Charmeuse lingerie.
Advantages:
- Luxury fabric outlook
- Added softness
- Cheaper than pure silk
Disadvantages:
- Tough to wash and sew
Cotton Cashmere
Other Names: Only cotton cashmere
Texture and Finish: Softly textured
Uses: Winter and spring wear
Cashmere is one of the most expensive fabrics collected from the skin of a unique species of goat. Cotton cashmere is comparatively cheaper than pure cashmere.
Although it is a woolen cotton fabric, cotton cashmere has made its own name separately. The blended fabric comes with the durability of cotton and heat insulative nature of cashmere.
It’s pretty easy to differentiate the rich finish of cashmere from any woolen fibers. That’s why wearing cashmere for fashion can also be a choice.
However, the main use of cashmere is to block the airflow and retain body temperature. You can buy cotton cashmere by the yard to make your own cardigan or sweater by yourself.
Advantages:
- Very soft
- Good for winter
- Easy to sew or customize
Disadvantages:
- Delicate maintenance required
Cotton Hemp
Other Names: Cotton bast
Texture and Finish: Slightly rough texture but soft
Uses: Regular wear, bedding, upholstery, hospital items, etc.
Hemp fiber is collected from hemp, a type of marijuana tree. Although marijuana is a controversial item, hemp fabric is not. It is medically proven that hemp fabric is safe to wear for patients.
Hemp fabrics aren’t as soft as organic fibers like cotton. That’s why, producers supply cotton hemp fabrics that offer both sustainability and softness. The blend of cotton and hemp can create fantastic textiles like denim and French terry.
Because of the strong bonds in hemp fibers, cotton hemp can make good uniforms for jobsite workers. Some clinics also use this blended fabric to make patient beds and blankets.
Advantages:
- 100% biodegradable
- Sustains hundreds of washes
- More durable than pure cotton
Disadvantages:
- Softness is somehow compromised when cotton is mixed with hemp
Cotton Linen
Other Names: Lino cotton, cotton flax, etc.
Texture and Finish: Soft and slightly textured
Uses: Regular clothing, home decor, and bedding
Cotton linen feels like both pure cotton and pure linen. It’s hard to differentiate this blend from either cotton or linen.
However, cotton linen is completely organic and safe. As the fibers are naturally soft, no softening chemicals are used to make this textile. But you can see some cotton linen fabrics being calendered and smoothened for premium clothing.
Although both cotton and linen are prone to wrinkling. It is easy to iron the blended fabric to make it plain again. Easy care is a big plus of this fabric. The fabric may get softer after every wash.
Advantages:
- Breathable than some other cotton blend
- Increased durability
- Easy to care
Disadvantages:
- Wrinkling issue isn’t solved
Cotton Modal
Other Names: HWM rayon blend, mixed modal, etc.
Texture and Finish: Soft and smooth
Uses: Summer clothing, undergarments, bedding, etc.
Cotton modal fabric is another natural fiber blend. In modal fabric, you can find all the features of 100% cotton.
But the added benefits are a decent amount of stretch, resistance to pilling and wrinkling, ease of care, etc. Modal fibers originate from the beechwood cellulose. They are lightweight and durable.
Blending cotton with modal doesn’t come with too many drawbacks. The main reason behind the blend is to increase the compatibility of the textile. Nonetheless, this fabric is durable in most conditions too.
Advantages:
- Optimal breathability
- Good stretch and shape retention
- Easy to use
Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t insulate the minimal heat
Cotton Nylon
Other Names: Nylon-cotton or NyCo
Texture and Finish: Mostly smooth
Uses: Clothing, undergarments, accessories, outdoor gear, etc.
Cotton nylon is a versatile fabric. If you list the top three cotton blends, NyCo would be one of them. There are various types of cotton nylon fabrics with different kinds of weaves.
You can find 60-40, 70-30, 50-50, and some other cotton nylon textiles. The more the presence of nylon in a fabric, the firmer it becomes.
Nylon and cotton are two different types of yarns. You should know that nylon is infused in cotton-based fabrics to increase durability. And cotton is infused in nylon-based textiles to make them suitable for clothing.
Cotton nylon might not be as durable as pure nylon. But they do great as regular clothing and handy accessories.
Advantages:
- Optimal durability
- Added stretch
- Resistance to moisture
Disadvantages:
- Less breathability and softness than cotton
Cotton Rayon
Other Names: None
Texture and Finish: Smooth and slight
Uses: Clothing, bedding, home decor, etc.
Rayon fiber is also made of wood cellulose. The real fact is viscose, modal, cupro, tencel, etc. all are special types of rayon fibers. What we call rayon now is a very simple and cheap semi-synthetic fiber.
Usually, all pure cotton fabrics cost more than synthetic fabrics. And rayon comes with a handful of features. To make cotton fabrics more budget-friendly, textile factories infuse around 10-40% rayon in pure cotton constructions.
It might decrease the features of pure cotton. Apart from that, cotton rayon can absorb more moisture than cotton. So, wearing this blend can keep your skin dry for quite some time.
Advantages:
- Comes in various weaves
- Moisture absorbent
- A fair amount of draping
Disadvantages:
- Less durable
- Less comfortable
Cotton spandex
Other Names: Cotton elastane, cotton lycra, lycra cotton, etc.
Texture and Finish: Smooth and softer
Uses: Mainly regular wear
Insulating spandex in cotton fabric makes the whole textile stretchy and durable. You can find cotton spandex fabric in various weaves and knits
Some popular uses of cotton lycra fabric are stretch denim jeans, joggers, activewear, trousers, snug-fit tops, etc.
Cotton itself can’t be stretchy. So, the possibility of getting torn always remains 100% clothing or shirting cotton fabrics. The use of elastane helps in this matter. The extra elasticity reduces the tension from cotton fiber. Some also use this feature to make snug-fit fashion wear.
One thing that most of us don’t know is cotton spandex can wick away and dry body sweats quickly. That‘s why athletes prefer this blended cotton for workouts.
Advantages:
- Durability
- Quick dry
- Smoothness
Disadvantages:
- Requires careful washing
Cotton Viscose
Other Names: Cotton rayon
Texture and Finish: Smooth and shiny
Uses: Clothing, window treatment, home decor, etc.
Viscose was the best cheap substitute for cotton. Fabrics like challis, georgette, etc. can also have viscose construction.
But nowadays, cotton and viscose are combined to give cotton more sheen and drape. Viscose is a special type of rayon, combining cotton and viscose makes a new type of fabric that can look almost like a quality silk textile.
However, using viscose doesn’t always come in handy. Cotton viscose blend fabric can be sensitive to heat. You need to be careful when washing or drying viscose fabric. The blend is not a cheap copy of silk by only look, but also by quality.
Advantages:
- More sheen than organic cotton
- Good drapery
- Moisture wicking
Disadvantages:
- Very average construction
Cotton Wool Blend
Other Names: None
Texture and Finish: Sightly fuzzy and plush
Uses: Winter wear and bedding
It is a bit tricky topic. If you say “cotton wool”, it means cotton fibers treated to make yarns like wool. But if you say “cotton-wool blend”, it’d mean exactly what are discussing today. A blend of two different fibers.
Wool is a fiber collected from the coat of the sheep & some other animals. It is a costly material. Not all can afford wool for winter. But the truth is wool is the best material to make winter wear.
So, to make wool accessible for all people, sellers are making cotton and wool blend items. Adding cotton to wool doesn’t increase the performance of the textile significantly. Still, it reduces production costs and the vast need for pure wool.
Advantages:
- Durable winter clothing
- Rich outlook
- Great comfort
Disadvantages:
- Still costly
Jute Cotton
Other Names: Cotton hessian cloth, cotton gunny cloth, etc.
Texture and Finish: Textured and less soft
Uses: Jackets, home decor, and accessories
Although cotton jute isn’t well-recognized in Europe and the United States. Some people from those places still look for hessian fabric to redecorate their interior.
Jute cotton or cotton hessian provides a fair amount of durability. If you take care of a jute mat or curtain properly, it will last for more than a decade.
You can make different types of designs in the fabric construction. These make jute fabric good for covering floors and furniture.
Infusion with cotton helps any jute textile to soften. Otherwise, raw jute fabrics are very stiff and hard to sew.
Advantages:
- Extremely durable
- Classic outlook
- Reasonably priced for an upholstery fabric
Disadvantages:
- Tends to dry a lot if not cared properly
Metallic
Other Names: Cotton metallic fabric, glitter fabric, etc.
Texture and Finish: Smooth finish with glossy outlook
Uses: Designer and bold dresses, home decor, fancy accessories, etc.
Lamé, brocade, foil, etc. offer cotton and metallic yarn blend.
However, metallic fabric in general is a different genre of fabric. There are more than 20 types of metallic fabrics available. We’re talking about only those with both cotton and metal-like yarns here.
Metallic yarns can be either synthetic or synthetic-metal combo. Some types of tops are made of metallic cotton blend for a bold statement. This fabric costs more than regular cotton textiles. You can also find this material in expensive home decor items.
Advantages:
- Luxury finish
- Durable
Disadvantages:
- Heavier than cotton sheer fabrics
Organza
Other Names: Cotton organza, synthetic-blend organdy, etc.
Texture and Finish: Smooth and crisp
Uses: Fancy clothing and home decor
Organza fabric is actually the synthetic version of organdy fabric. Both fabrics have almost the same qualities. Except the materials.
Cotton organza fabric has cotton blended with silk or other synthetic materials. The synthetic fibers in organza resemble the sheen and smoothness of pure silk. Blend organza can come in various colors and prints. However, the textile is 30-65% sheen most of the time.
Blended organza fabric is popular in both Asia and Western countries. The price of this fabric is reasonable. So, someone who can’t afford chiffon can use this fabric to make flattering dresses.
Advantages:
- Breathable
- Safer than synthetic organza
- Cost-efficient than silk organza
Disadvantages:
- Prone to wrinkling
Poly Cotton
Other Names: Polycotton and polyester cotton
Texture and Finish: Smooth and soft
Uses: Clothing, bedding, upholstery, accessories, etc.
Now, we’re talking about the best and most popular cotton blend fabric in the world. It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t used polycotton in their whole life.
Like many other blends, it was also invented to make the price of cotton fabrics reasonable. The best part is you can make any type of cotton fabric using polyester-cotton construction.
The use of this fabric is versatile. So as the market. Although the price is pretty fair, it varies depending on the fiber ratio. For example, 60-40 cotton-poly is cheaper than 70-30.
Polycotton feels more comfortable however. It looks like cotton and polyester are filling the flaws of each other in the blended textiles.
Advantages:
- Durable than pure cotton
- Resists wrinkling
- Able to have various prints and dyes
Disadvantages:
- Not good for sensitive skins
Ramie Cotton
Other Names: China grass-cotton blend, cotton-grass linen, etc.
Texture and Finish: Smooth and sheen (sometimes)
Uses: Lightweight clothing, crafting, furnishing, etc.
Ramie fiber was invented in China. At first, it was used as a substitute for rich Chinese silk fabrics. Because of its environment-friendly nature and easy creation, it is in industrial production.
However, the popularity of ramie cotton is also the same as 100% ramie these days. Blending with cotton makes ramie textiles several times stronger than linen fabric. Cotton shares its softness and finish with ramie to make textiles more comfortable to wear.
An advantage of ramie fabric is you can use it for mockup dressmaking. Or you can try colored cotton ramie to decorate your walls and furniture. The silk-like outlook is tough to differentiate from silk.
Advantages:
- Shrinkage rate less than 3%
- Resists temperature
- 100% sustainable
Disadvantages:
- Less comfortable than average cotton fabrics
Recycled Cotton
Other Names: Reclaimed cotton and regenerated cotton
Texture and Finish: Depends on the recycling process
Uses: Clothing, upholstery, bedding, home decor, accessories, etc.
Recycled cotton fabrics are eco-friendly. They come from previous cotton fabrics that are either unusable or dumped.
Due to the immense demand for cotton fibers, companies reuse cotton factory wastes and post-consumer cotton wastes to make recycled yarns. The wastes are broken into various lengths of fibers. Then they are infused with other materials for strength. Because when the fabric is broken into fibers, the strength declines a lot.
The regenerated fabrics then become cheap materials for clothing or upholstery.
But fibers that don’t get mixed with other materials make very cheap cotton. You can use them for average work. But can’t wear them at all.
Advantages:
- Saves the environment
- Cheap
- Multiple uses
Disadvantages:
- Features are much less than regular cotton fabrics
Silk cotton
Other Names: None
Texture and Finish: Very smooth and soft
Uses: Fashion, home decor, upholstery, crafting, etc.
Cotton silk or silk cotton combines two of the most famous natural fibers. You find features of both silk and cotton in this blend. As both materials are soft, the fabric remains breathable no matter what the blend ratio is.
Cotton silk textiles are good for all-season uses. They mainly come with different woven construction. No official records of having silk cotton being woven.
The fabric can also make exclusive designer items. It’s better to use this blend rather than pure silk for efficiency. It saves both money and effort for maintenance. Muslin silk is an example of this blend.
Advantages:
- Very rich feel on the skin
- Versatile use
- A good substitute for luxury sheen fabrics
Disadvantages:
- Can be cheaper than silk, but costlier than cotton
Why Should You Buy Cotton Blend?
The main two reasons to cotton blend fabrics are affordability and added benefits. But the total number of reasons to buy mixed cotton textiles depends on which type of fabric you are buying. That’s why we told the specific benefits and drawbacks of each fabric under their details above.
However, we’re repeating the common pros and cons in case you missed some.
Benefits
- Comes cheaper than 100% cotton. Exception: Cotton silk, Cotton wool, etc.
- More durable than cotton because of the synthetic fibers
- Resistant to wrinkling
- Easy care mostly
- Less prone to wear and tear
- New types of textures
- Capable of getting different prints and dyes
Setbacks
- Less softness due to synthetic fibers
- Few cases not safe for sensitive skins or babies
- Breathability might be compromised
- Comfort is not the top priority during blending most of the times
So, it’s up to you whether to choose cotton blend fabrics or not. You can always check the details of an exact blend and decide quickly.
Choosing the Right Mixed Cotton Fabric
Let’s help you find the type of cotton blend.
Clothing
Polycotton, Linen cotton, cotton spandex, cotton viscose, and silk cotton are good for making shirts, tops, and pajamas.
But the best materials for undergarments and flattering lingerie are nylon and charmeuse.
Wool and cashmere blend fabrics are good for making upper wear like jacket, blazer, sweater, and cardigan.
All those fabrics are soft and breathable to keep wearers cozy and dry. The amount of cotton is higher than the secondary materials in blends.
Bedding
Bamboo, linen, polyester fabric, and rayon blends can make durable bedding items. Duvet covers, comforters, and bedsheets with mixed cotton are very common.
Although these textiles might not be the softest. They still are soft enough for an adult to rest.
Accessories
Cotton nylon, Polyester cotton, and jute fabric blend are the top three textiles to make long-lasting accessories. Pure cotton bags or pouches can’t always be durable like them.
You can also find several outdoor and adventure gear made of cotton-synthetic blend to survive in rough conditions.
Interior Use
Rayon, mixed silk fabric, viscose, and other blends that enhance the texture or outlook are well-suited for home decor items.
Luxury Replica
Luxury fabrics are at least 10 to 30 times more expensive than general fabrics. Despite so, you can replicate the look and feel of luxurious fabrics in reasonable spending.
For that, you can use metallic, wool, silk, and organza blends. You can find them less pricey than genuine luxury fabrics.
How to Care for Cotton Blend Fabrics?
- Read the label of the fabric or item to know the materials first.
- If the existence of cotton is 60% or above, never think of using hard or semi-hard detergents.
- Low and medium are two safest modes in washing machines
- If the blend has silk or wool, don’t machine wash
- You should take time and wash slowly fabrics that have viscose or rayon
- Cotton blends with elasten nature shouldn’t be rubbed or twisted hard when wet.
FAQ
Is cotton blend fabric good for winter?
Some cotton blend fabrics decrease breathability and increase heat insulation. They are good for winter. For example, cotton cashmere, cotton wool, and tightly woven poly cotton. The warmth of the fabric depends on the percentage of the insulative or synthetic fiber.
Is cotton blend fabric soft or hard?
Cotton blend fabrics that have more than 65% cotton are soft. But some cotton blends are deliberately hard for the sake of the construction. One such example is organza.
What kind of cotton are tank tops/tees made from?
Cotton spandex, cotton linen, cotton poly, silk cotton, etc. are good for making tops and tshirts. Both texture and softness in these fabrics are enough for making regular or snug outfits.
Why are cotton blends popular in clothing?
A majority of cotton blends for clothing are affordable. Also, cotton polyester blend or linen cotton is good for regular use. They don’t wrinkle or fray so easily. You can’t see cotton blends bobbling, wearing, or tearing so often.
Is cotton blend fabric stretchy?
Mainly, cotton spandex is a stretchy fabric. But you can also find nylon cotton and modal blends with added stretch.
Summary
Apart from the 19 cotton blend fabrics, there are some other blends you might find. But they are not as popular as the ones we mentioned earlier. Some of the cotton blends are cotton tencel fabric, sisal cotton, and olefin fabric.
Let us remind you again. Each type of cotton blend can have 5-10 subsets of fabrics at least. An ideal example is cotton spandex. You can make denim, oxford, canvas, etc. using this blend.
So, we hope you will be able to find what type of blend you need. You can read Story of Cotton to know more.
Shariful Alam Pavel, A fashion lover, passionate marketer. Love to share wisdom based on real life experience to enrich knowledge.
Founder of Muslin Dhaka, a brand, speaks the truth about royal muslin and fashion. Explore the digital fashion universe with organic cotton muslin and much more!
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