Cotton French Terry Fabric vs. Terry Cloth Fabric: A Comparative Guide

When it comes to choosing the right fabric for your next project, the decision between Cotton French Terry Fabric and Terry Cloth Fabric can feel overwhelming. Both are loved for their comfort, durability, and versatility—but they serve different purposes. In this guide, we’ll compare French Terry fabric by the yard and Terry Cloth fabric by the yard, outlining their unique characteristics, ideal uses, and why one may suit your project better than the other.

🧵 What Is Cotton French Terry Fabric?

French Terry is a knit fabric with a smooth outer surface and a soft, looped interior. Lightweight and breathable, it’s a go-to choice for sweatshirts, joggers, and hoodies. The cotton French Terry fabric available at FabricLA offers a soft texture with a hint of stretch, making it ideal for comfort-focused garments.

• ✅ Soft, looped back and smooth face
• ✅ Moderate stretch and breathability
• ✅ Great for sweatshirts, shorts, joggers, and loungewear

The fabric’s looped interior absorbs moisture without adding bulk—perfect for transitional garments across seasons. Whether you’re sewing cozy sweatshirts for fall or breathable shorts for summer, French Terry is a favorite among both beginner sewists and pro designers.

🛁 What Is Terry Cloth Fabric?

Terry Cloth is a woven fabric known for its thick, uncut loops on both sides, giving it superior absorbency and a fluffy hand-feel. It’s most commonly used for bathrobes, towels, spa wear, and beach cover-ups.

• ✅ High absorbency and softness
• ✅ Thicker and heavier than French Terry
• ✅ Perfect for bathrobes, baby bibs, washcloths, and spa products

FabricLA’s terry cloth fabric by the yard is available in cotton and bamboo blends. Bamboo terry cloth adds antibacterial and eco-friendly properties—ideal for sensitive skin and sustainable sewing.

🔍 Key Differences: French Terry vs. Terry Cloth

Feature	French Terry Fabric	Terry Cloth Fabric
Construction	Knit (looped inside, smooth outside)	Woven (loops on both sides)
Feel	Lightweight, breathable, soft	Thick, fluffy, absorbent
Stretch	Moderate stretch	Minimal stretch
Best For	Sweatshirts, joggers, loungewear	Towels, bathrobes, spa wear
Weight	Lighter	Heavier

🎯 Which Fabric Should You Choose?

If you’re sewing apparel that needs to be lightweight, breathable, and a little stretchy—like sweatshirts or joggers—French Terry is your ideal pick. It offers comfort, casual appeal, and is easy to work with.

Need something that’s ultra-absorbent, plush, and cozy for post-shower moments or spa-like experiences? Terry Cloth is the better choice for towels, robes, baby items, and anything designed for drying or wrapping.

🛍️ Explore FabricLA’s French Terry & Sweatshirt Fleece Collections

At FabricLA, we offer high-quality French Terry fabric by the yard for breathable loungewear, and soft Sweatshirt Fleece fabric that's perfect for warm, cozy garments like hoodies, robes, and more.

Shop French Terry Fabric Shop Sweatshirt Fleece Fabric

🧵 Final Thoughts

Both Cotton French Terry and Terry Cloth bring their own unique value to sewing projects. French Terry is perfect for stylish comfort wear, while Terry Cloth shines in absorbent, plush applications. Choosing the right one depends on your project’s purpose—but with either, you’re guaranteed quality, comfort, and function.

Whether you’re making lounge sets, spa essentials, or baby items, FabricLA has the fabric to bring your creative vision to life.

Explore. Sew. Create. 💬 Share your finished pieces with us @FabricLA on Instagram!