Taffety

TAFFETA, TAFFETY

(Taffetas), French-Silk fabric known in England as early as the 14th century and probably manufactured in Brittany, where it was called Taftas. It was used for the lining of rich mantles. It was much used in the 16th century for various articles of dress. The word taffeta is now used to describe various cloths in the plain weave. One is closely woven all-silk fabric in which the number of ends per inch is about the same as the picks, the warp and weft are of the same count. Silk taffeta as made in France is plain weave with organzine silk warp and tram weft, 180 to 200 ends and 72 to 100 picks per inch, widths 27-in., 36-in. and 40-in. There is a fair weight of loading on these cloths. When made with weft differing in colour from the warp the cloth is known as " Taffetas Glace." Bradford produces a wool taffeta much used for better-class shirts. A large trade is done in cotton taffeta 36-in. to 40-in. wide, 60 ends and 100 picks per inch, 2/80's warp, 2/20's weft. This cloth is both bleached and dyed. A lower cotton taffeta is made with 72 ends and 96 picks per inch, 42's warp, 28's weft, dyed in all colours.