Jersey Fabric

Jersey is a knitted fabric, originally made from wool on the Channel Island of Jersey, which is where the name comes from. Today it’s most often made from cotton, polyester, viscose, and blends. The knit structure gives jersey its characteristic stretch and soft handle.

Jersey is a knit, made of interlocked loops rather than crossed threads. This is what gives it stretch and a softer drape than woven fabrics of similar weight. The right side shows vertical V shapes; the back shows horizontal loops.

Jersey stretches because of its knit structure. The interlocked loops can flex in multiple directions. This is mechanical stretch, separate from the chemical stretch added by elastane. Jersey stretches more across the width than along the length.

Cut edges of jersey don’t unravel like woven fabric, but they can curl, particularly at the side edges. Jersey doesn’t need the same edge finishing as woven cloth, although hems and seams benefit from a stretch-friendly finish such as a twin needle hem.

Single jersey is a single layer with a clear right and wrong side, lighter and stretchier with a tendency to curl. Interlock is a double knit that looks the same on both sides, heavier and more stable. Interlock has less stretch but more body.

See our Jersey fabric product range