Nap
Nap is the raised surface of fibres on a fabric, brushed or lying in one direction, which changes how the cloth looks from different angles.
A napped fabric has fibres raised from its surface and smoothed in one direction, like the fur of an animal. Run a hand one way and it feels smooth, the other way rough, and the colour looks lighter or darker accordingly. Historically the nap on woollen cloth was raised with the dried heads of the teasel plant, the plant behind this magazine’s name.
Why does nap matter when cutting?
All pattern pieces must face the same way, “with nap”, or the garment will look two-toned. Velvet and corduroy are cut the same way because of their pile.
Sources
- Nap (AAT 300227858). Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Nap (Q901586). Wikidata
See also
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