Flannel

a light, loosely woven woolen fabric used for undergarments, bed coverings, infants' clothing, and for men's light coats and women's gowns. Flannel was first produced in Wales, the name flannel being derived from a Welsh word signifying woolen. For hundreds of years no other textile was manufactured in Wales, but so much commercial importance was attached to the production of flannel that annual fairs were held to display and sell flannel alone. At the present day such a variety of fabrics is included under the term flannel that the word can scarcely be said to have a specific meaning. In general, the term conveys the idea of a light weight, comparatively coarse fabric of lusterless surface. It may be woolen, cotton, or a mixture. The name flannel is used in connection with other terms to designate a variety of fabrics, the more important of which follow:

1. Domestic flannel is the original flannel. It is of wool, plain or twilled, usually finished with a short nap. It possesses considerable elasticity and is used for underwear, petticoats, boys' shirts and blouses, lining and interlining for heavy overcoats, and for a variety of domestic purposes.

2. Baby flannel is of wool, wool and cotton, wool and linen, wool and silk. It is very light weight, fine, soft, smooth finish, bleached, or unbleached. As the name implies, its chief use is for infants' clothing.

3. Opera flannel is a light weight, fine, soft flannel, with an extra smooth finish, and dyed in fancy colors. It is used for infants' cloaks, women's sacques and house gowns, and for fancy work.

4. Flannel Sheeting is a very wide white flannel used for bed sheets. The difference between this fabric and wool blankets is one of weight and length of nap.

5. Dress flannel is an all wool textile made in a variety of weights, colors, and styles of finish. It is used for women's suits and dresses.

6. French flannel is a specially fine, soft, twilled variety, dyed in plain colors or printed like calico. It is used for waists, wrappers, dressing sacques, etc. 7. Navy twilled flannel is a fairly heavy, twilled, all wool flannel dyed navy blue. It is used largely for men's and boys' winter shirts. 8. Clothing flannel is a fine, nicely finished, all wool grade of men's suiting. The uniform of members of the Grand Army of the Republic is made from this flannel. 9. Frieze flannel is a heavy, strong, coarse material, usually a mixture of cotton and wool. It is dyed to present a mixed appearance of blue and grayish white or red and grayish white. It is used for men's shirts and sometimes for underskirts and children's clothing. 10. Mackinaw flannel is an extra heavy, bulky fabric used for suits, shirts, and underwear by Northern miners and lumbermen. Mackinaw blankets are distributed among the Indians of the Northwest. Mackinaw, colored plain red or navy blue, is a satisfactory material for children's coats. 11. Shaker flannel is a white flannel made with cotton warp and woolen weft. It is used as a substitute for all wool flannel and for many domestic purposes.

See Outing Cloth; Canton Flannel