Fabric Glossary: Terms Starting with J

Jacquard

Is an intricate type of weaving used to create texture in a fabric, knit or carpet. Jacquard fabrics include brocade, damask, shirting, matelassé and tapestries. They can be made from any fiber like silk, cotton, rayon, wool and manmade synthetics. The inventor of the Jacquard loom machine was Joseph J. M. Jacquard in the years 1801-1804. The head motion at the top of the loom holds and operates a set of punched cards. The punched holes would represent the design or motif. The punched cards in connection with rods and cords regulate the raising of the stationary warp thread mechanisms. The punched cards to control a sequence of operations is considered an important step in the history of computing hardware.

Jersey

Is a plain stitched knitted cloth. The fabric can be made from any fiber but was originally made from wool. Jersey can be knitted into any weight. It can be a single knit jersey with one flat side and one piled side, which is most often used for T-shirts. It can also be a double-knit jersey which is two single knit jerseys knitted together with two flat sides. Some fabrics are called jersey woven and are not knitted. Woven Stretch Silk Jersey is a woven fabric from silk and spandex fibers that has a similar look to knitted jersey fabrics.

Jobber

In the fabric industry, a jobber is a company that purchases excess finished fabrics from a mill or converter which are called overruns. Overruns are leftovers from large manufacturing and are also seconds which include fabric with flaws. These fabrics are sold to smaller designers and fabric retailers at a discount. Keep in mind that these fabrics cannot be reordered.

Jute

A coarse brown, natural plant fiber from the stalk of the Corchorus plant which is woven into burlap fabric, and other items such as rope and twine. Jute is valued for its strength, biodegradability, and affordability.