Muslin
Muslin is a lightweight cotton fabric woven in a plain weave, made in grades ranging from fine and sheer to coarse and unbleached.
Plain weave: A weave in which each weft thread passes alternately over and under successive warp threads. Muslin’s simple interlacing gives it a balanced, uncomplicated surface.
Toile: A test garment, usually made from inexpensive fabric, used to check fit and construction before final sewing. Muslin is commonly used to make garment prototypes before cutting costly fabric.
Mosul: A city in northern Iraq with a long history as a regional center of trade and craft production. European traders associated the name muslin with Mosul, though the fabric’s celebrated production centered elsewhere.
Cambric: A finely woven, plain-weave fabric traditionally made from linen or cotton and finished smooth. Cambric is often finer and more closely finished than ordinary muslin.
Cotton: A soft natural fiber that grows around the seeds of plants in the genus Gossypium. Cotton is the characteristic fiber used to make muslin.
Cheesecloth: A loosely woven cotton cloth used for straining, wrapping, and other culinary tasks. Both are lightweight cotton cloths, but cheesecloth is generally more open and gauzy.
Dhaka muslin: A historically renowned, exceptionally fine cotton textile woven in Bengal, especially around Dhaka. It is the best-known fine muslin tradition and a distinct historical grade.
Calico: A plain-woven cotton fabric, usually unbleached or only partly processed. Calico is typically heavier and less sheer than fine muslin.
Warp and weft: Warp threads run lengthwise on a loom; weft threads cross them to form woven cloth. Their crossing creates the plain-weave structure of muslin.
Stage gauze: A theatrical fabric that appears opaque or transparent depending on lighting and what lies behind it. Fine muslin can serve as scenic cloth in theatrical settings.