What is French Terry?

French terry , also known as summer sweat or, in technical jargon, lining fabric, is a versatile fabric with unique properties. It's a knit-to-purl base fabric with an additional, usually thicker lining thread integrated on the wrong side. But what makes French terry fabric so special?

French terry has a fine, smooth top side and a voluminous, unbrushed underside with the characteristic looped look. If the underside is brushed, it is called sweatshirt fabric , which is often thicker and warmer. French terry fabric is a middle ground between single jersey and sweatshirt fabric and is often used for leisurewear, streetwear , tracksuits, hoodies, and children's clothing. Interestingly, the looped look of the wrong side is sometimes used as the front side, for example, for sports or promotional towels, similar to terry cloth.

What makes French Terry a special fabric?

On the front, French terry fabric resembles a regular, simply knitted single jersey. The difference lies in the back: Here, you'll find loosely bound thread loops formed by an additional, thicker yarn – the so-called lining yarn. This yarn gives the fabric extra body and a soft feel. It also ensures that moisture is more easily absorbed by the skin. Would you like to learn more about environmentally friendly textiles ? Here you'll find everything you need to know about sustainable fabrics.

In contrast, sweatshirt fabric has the wrong side brushed, creating a fluffy surface and making the fabric appear thicker. These differences make French terry a flexible, supple, and breathable choice for clothing.

Which materials are suitable for French Terry?

In principle, any fiber type can be used as the raw material, including cotton , viscose , polyester , or blends of different fibers. The material can be customized depending on the intended use.

Advantages and disadvantages of French Terry

• Advantages: Flexible, soft, and breathable. Warming, but not too thick—ideal for transitional wear. Easier to work with than lightweight jersey.
• Disadvantages: Edges tend to curl, making cutting difficult. Thread loops fray and pill along the edges.

For a neat finish, the fabric edges should be finished, ideally with an overlock sewing machine. A jersey needle with a rounded tip also prevents the threads from being damaged.

French Terry fabric at House of U

At House of U, you can order high-quality French terry fabric from the sustainable U-Circular collection and have it printed to your specifications. With the online design generator, you can easily and individually design your fabric. For a better idea, we offer fabric swatches, a fabric book, or our Eco Fabric Kit for testing the fabrics in advance. Discover sustainable material alternatives that are perfect for your projects.

Discover the versatility of French Terry and bring your creative projects to life!