Glossary of Textile Manufacturing - M

M

Macramé

Macrame or macramé is a form of textile-making using knotting rather than weaving or knitting. Its primary knots are the square knot and forms of hitching (full hitch and double half hitches).

Mercerized cotton

Mercerization is a treatment for cotton fabric and thread mostly employed to give cotton a lustrous appearance.

Merino

Merino is the Spanish name for a breed of sheep, and hence applied to a woolen fabric.

Mesh

A mesh is similar to fabric or a web in that it has many connected or weaved pieces. In clothing, a mesh is often defined as fabric that has a large number of closely spaced holes, such as is common practice for modern sports jerseys.

Metallic fiber (fibre)

Metallic fibers are fibers used in textiles which are either composed of metal, or fibers of other materials with a metal coating.

Their uses include decoration and the reduction of static electricity.

Microfibre (fiber)

Fibres with strands thinner than one denier. Fabrics made with microfibres are exceptionally soft and hold their shape well.

Millinery

Millinery is women's hats and other articles sold by a milliner, or the profession or business of designing, making, or selling hats for women.

Mocado

Mockado is a woollen pile fabric made in imitation of silk velvet.

Modal

Modal is a cellulose fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees.

Mohair

Mohair is a silk-like fabric made from the hair of the Angora goat. It is durable, light and warm, although some people find it uncomfortably itchy.

Mungo

Fibrous woollen material generated from waste fabric, particularly tightly woven cloths and rags. See also: shoddy.

Muslin

Muslin is a type of finely woven cotton fabric, introduced to Europe from the Middle East in the 17th century. It was named for the city where it was first made, Mosul in what is now Iraq.