Choosing the right fabric in home textile production directly determines the product’s lifespan, comfort, and visual quality. Although there are dozens of different fabric types on the market, the most commonly preferred knitted fabrics in home textiles are: single jersey, interlock, rib, French terry, and fleece, either two-thread or three-thread. Each fabric has a different area of use, a different GSM range, and different care requirements.
Why Are Knitted Fabrics Preferred in Home Textiles?
Compared to woven fabrics, knitted fabrics are attracting increasing attention among home textile manufacturers every year thanks to their flexibility, softness, and easy-care advantages. Especially in the production of bedspreads, bathrobes, bedding sets, and homewear, the share of knitted fabrics has increased noticeably over the last five years.
The main reasons why knitted fabrics have become so widespread in home textiles are:
Breathability: Thanks to their knit structure, they provide air circulation, which is especially important in bedding products.
Flexibility: One-way or four-way stretch provides comfort in homewear and bathrobes.
Low Maintenance Cost: They can be washed at low temperatures and dry quickly.
Ease of Dyeing: The knitted structure enables even and vivid color retention.
Which Knitted Fabrics Are Most Commonly Used?
1. Single Jersey: The Essential Fabric of Lightweight Home Textiles
Single jersey is produced on single-bed circular knitting machines. It has a smooth and flat front surface, while the back consists of small V-shaped loops. It is among the most commonly produced fabric types in our factory, and its GSM range generally varies between 140 and 200 g/m².
Areas of use in home textiles:
Sheets and bedspreads — 160–180 GSM
Pillowcases
Baby products — organic cotton versions
Light bathrobe linings
Point to consider: Single jersey tends to curl in one direction. In quality production, this tendency is minimized through compaction, also known as sanforizing. According to customer feedback we receive, curling at sheet edges is the most common complaint in untreated single jersey. Therefore, when purchasing, it is essential to ask whether sanforizing has been applied.
2. Interlock Fabric: Smooth on Both Sides and Long-Lasting
Interlock fabric is produced on double-bed machines and has the same smooth appearance on both sides. Compared to single jersey, it is denser and heavier; its GSM value generally ranges between 200 and 280 g/m².
Areas of use in home textiles:
Thick sheets and pique covers
Baby blanket backings
Mattress pads and protective covers
High-quality homewear, such as robes and pajamas
Why is it preferred? The greatest advantage of interlock fabric is its significantly higher washing resistance compared to single jersey. In our factory tests, after 50 washes at 60°C, the deformation rate in interlock fabrics remains below 3%. This durability makes interlock ideal for hotel textiles and home products expected to last a long time.
3. Rib Fabric: The Champion of Flexibility
Rib fabric is a double-faced knitted fabric known for its vertical ribbed structure and high stretch capability. Rib fabric, which stretches noticeably both lengthwise and widthwise, is indispensable for products that need to fit closely to the body.
Areas of use in home textiles:
Cuffs and collars of towels and bathrobes
Edge bands for duvets and blankets
Baby garment cuffs
Elastic collar and cuff applications
Important technical detail: The stretch ratio of rib fabric varies depending on the amount of elastane, or Lycra, it contains. Pure cotton rib stretches by 30–40%, while rib fabric with 5% elastane can stretch up to 80%. Using rib with elastane for collar and cuff applications helps the product retain its shape for a long time.
4. French Terry: The Foundation of Homewear and Thick Garments
French terry is produced with a ground yarn and a back yarn. It has a clean and flat appearance on the front, while the back is thicker and more voluminous due to the filling yarn. Its GSM range is generally between 220 and 320 g/m².
Areas of use in home textiles:
Thick robes and pajamas
Blanket edges and coverings
Inner surfaces of home slippers and footwear
Decorative pillowcases
Why is it important? French terry forms the foundation of winter-season home textiles thanks to its voluminous appearance and heat retention. The 280 GSM French terry we produce in our factory receives a 4/5 score in color fastness tests after dyeing; this value corresponds to the upper-middle quality range in the industry.
5. Three-Thread Fleece: For Maximum Warmth
Three-thread fleece is the thickest and heaviest knitted fabric type produced with ground, filling, and binding yarns together. Starting from 260 GSM, this fabric can reach up to 450 GSM in intensive winter applications.
Areas of use in home textiles:
Winter blankets and pique covers
Fleece mattress underlays
Winter bathrobes and thick robes
Baby swaddles and blankets
Brushed vs. unbrushed use: The brushing process softens the inner surface of the fabric and creates a fleece effect. In winter blanket production, 380 GSM three-thread fleece with double-sided brushing is among the products most preferred by our customers.
Which Fabric Should I Choose for Home Textile Production?
| Product | Recommended Fabric | Recommended GSM |
|---|---|---|
| Summer sheet | 100% cotton single jersey | 160–180 |
| Winter sheet | Interlock | 220–240 |
| Bathrobe collar / cuff | Rib | 200–240 |
| Homewear / robe | French terry | 240–280 |
| Winter blanket | Brushed three-thread fleece | 320–380 |
| Baby products | Organic cotton single jersey | 160–200 |
What Should I Consider When Choosing Home Textile Fabric?
Raw material quality is decisive. If there is a price difference between two fabrics with the same GSM value, the reason is almost always yarn quality. Ring yarn provides a smoother and more durable surface compared to open-end yarn; this difference becomes especially clear after dyeing.
Sanforizing is essential. In frequently washed products such as sheets and bedding sets, fabrics without sanforizing may shrink by 5–8% after the first wash. As Baykar Kumaş, we apply sanforizing as standard to all our single jersey and interlock products.
Check certifications. The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certificate guarantees that the fabric does not contain harmful chemicals. For baby and sensitive-skin products, this certificate should be considered a minimum requirement.
Conclusion
Success in home textile production depends on choosing the right fabric according to the product, usage conditions, and target customer. Each fabric has its own niche: single jersey with its lightness, interlock with its durability, rib with its flexibility, French terry with its comfort, and three-thread fleece with its warmth. For wholesale fabric orders or sample requests, you can visit our contact page and schedule an appointment to see our factory in Bağcılar, Istanbul in person.
