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What Is Muslin? How to Use and Care for Muslin

Lightweight and breathable, muslin is a loose plain weave cotton material that dates back to Ancient India. Today, muslin’s value is in its versatility and it is used in everything from photography backdrops to cooking to surgical procedures. Muslin is a loosely woven cotton fabric. It’s made using the plain weave technique, which means that a single weft thread alternates over and under a single warp thread. Muslin is known as the material used in fashion prototypes to test patterns before cutting and stitching the final product.i

What Are the Different Types of Muslin?

Muslin comes in a variety of different forms and weights. High-quality muslins are soft, smooth, and are woven from evenly-spun yarns, which means the thread maintains the same width throughout. Coarser, lower quality muslins are woven with uneven yarns that can be bleached or unbleached. There are four main grades of muslin –

  1. GAUZE –  Gauze is an ultra-lightweight, sheer form of muslin used for clothes, as a filter in the kitchen, and to dress wounds. 
  2. MULL – Mull is a lightweight, plain muslin usually made from cotton and silk, but sometimes viscose as well. Mull is usually used for dress underlining, to help provide more weight and structure to a garment, or for pattern testing garments.
  3. SWISS MUSLIN – Swiss muslin is a sheer, lightweight form of muslin with raised patterns or dots that is used frequently for warm-weather clothes.
  4. SHEETING – Sheeting is the thickest and coarsest form of muslin and is used in clothing and homewares.

What Is Muslin Used For?

Muslin is an extremely versatile fabric used for everything from clothing to science to theater. Here are some functions of the fabric:

  • DRESSMAKING – Designers use muslin most frequently in sewing and pattern-making to test new patterns. Even if a different fabric is used to make the prototype, it is still referred to as a “muslin.” 
  • QUILTING – Muslin fabric is often as the backing for a quilt. 
  • HOME DECOR – Muslin is used in home decor when a lightweight, sheer fabric is needed to create an airy space, and is used for items like curtains, lightweight bed sheets, and towels. 
  • CLEANING – Muslin clothes are popular for multi-use cloths for cleaning everything from the face to the kitchen countertop, as the material can be easily washed and reusing for environmental cleaning purposes. 
  • ARTS – Muslin holds dye well and is a great option for theater scrims backdrops, and sets. Muslin is light and is a good portable seamless for photographers. 
  • CHEESEMAKING – At-home cheesemakers pour curdled milk, through a muslin bag to separate the liquid whey from the cheese curd. 
  • SURGERY – Doctors wrap muslin gauze around aneurysms. This helps make the artery stronger and prevent rupture.
Why CLC Cotton Muslin ?
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100% woven and dyed in Thailand

Thailand's leading supplier for cotton muslin. The product range and color can be customized based upon end-use requirements.

Premium Luxury Quality Cotton Muslin

Thailand's leading supplier for premium luxury cotton muslin. We also provide a swatch service to match your color requirements.

Solid Dyes & Custom Digital Prints

Our muslin fabrics come in 44'' and 58''. We offer custom packing options (20/30/60 meters) and offer our range of fabrics in both solid dyes and digital prints.