Lawn cloth

Lawn cloth or lawn is a fine plain weave textile, now chiefly of cotton. Terms also used include batiste and nainsook. Originally the name applied to plain weave linen, and linen lawn is also called "handkerchief linen".

Lawn is designed using fine, high-thread-count yarns, which results in a silky, untextured feel. The fabric is made using either combed or carded yarns. When lawn is made using combed yarns, with a soft feel and slight luster, it is known as "nainsook". 

The term lawn is also used in the textile industry to refer to a type of starched crisp finish given to a cloth product. The finish can be applied to a variety of fine fabrics,  prints or plain.

Characteristics
Lawn is a lightweight, sheer cloth, crisper than voile but not as crisp as organdy. Lawn is known for its semi-transparency, which can range from gauzy or sheer to an almost opaque effect, known as lining or utility lawn. The finish used on lawn ranges from soft to semi-crisp to crisp, but the fabric is never completely stiff. Lawn can be white, or may be dyed or printed.

History
The term "lawn" derives from "Laon", a city in France, which produced linen lawn.

Uses
Lawn cloth commonly is used for infant wear, handkerchiefs. dresses, blouses, aprons and curtains. Other uses are nightwear, underwear, lingerie,  collar cuffs and shirting. 
 
It is also commonly used in vestments in Anglican churches, such as the surplice and episcopal rochet.

See also
 Textile manufacturing

Notes

Category:Woven fabrics