Muslin Fabric: Uses, Types, How it’s Made

Muslin is a fabric made from cotton fiber with fantastic lightweight properties. It’s one of the oldest fabrics around, dating back centuries. Though it’s hard to be sure, muslin is likely to have originated in ancient India and slowly appeared around the globe.

There are many reasons people love this light, woven material. While you can find more beautiful fabrics, muslin is hardworking and versatile. It has a high thread count and loose weave, so it’s soft and has a light weight. Its characteristics make it useful in countless settings, and it’s also affordable and easy to take care of.

If you’re curious about muslin, you’ve come to the right place. You’ve probably come in contact with it at some point, even if you haven’t realized it. Today we’re going to take a deep dive into this fabric type, so keep reading to learn more.

What Is Muslin?

Muslin is a woven cotton fabric. Historically, all muslin fabric came from the Phuti karpas cotton plant. This type of cotton is common in the Indian subcontinent and has the fine fibers needed to make muslin. Today, producers may use other cotton varieties, such as polyester and cotton blends. But whatever the fibers are made of, the weaving technique remains the same.

It’s called a plain weave, and the technique involves alternating a single weft thread over and under a single warp thread. The threads form right angles with each other, creating a sturdy piece of fabric. It also gives muslin the same appearance on either side.

People worldwide choose muslin because it’s light, airy, and versatile. You’re just as likely to find it in someone’s home as you are in a restaurant, hospital, or theater.

History of Muslin Fabric

History of Muslin Fabric

There is some debate about where muslin came from, but we know that it’s been around for centuries. The fabric takes its name from the city of Mosqul, Iraq, which is where Marco Polo first described it. However, many argue that it was first produced in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The truth is that muslin was probably being made in multiple places simultaneously, so it’s hard to say for sure. But we can find references to the fabric as far back as the prehistoric period. It was a highly desired material and traded frequently. Because it took a long time to make, muslin was incredibly valuable. It was often worth as much as gold.

British colonial rule in India was a dark time for muslin weavers. Their colonizers treated them brutally, forcing them to produce muslin and other woven products. The colonizers also took muslin-making techniques home with them after coming across the material in the Middle East. The material began appearing in Europe in the 1600s, where it was given the name muslin.

Muslin fabric quickly became a popular alternative for other expensive fabrics, like linen and silk. Europeans also found that it was easier to care for. Both the Romans and the French took a liking to it. Muslin was traded heavily during the 17th and 18th centuries. They used it in sewing to make shirts, dresses, underwear, and children’s clothing.

The fabric’s popularity has shown no signs of slowing down and can be found today in all corners of the globe.

Properties and Characteristics of Muslin

Characteristics of muslin include comfort, durability, and breathability.

If you’ve ever picked up a piece of muslin cloth, you’ll know how soft it was. Durability is another defining characteristic. Despite being soft and comfortable, muslin fabric stands up well to whatever demands you place on the fabric. It’s also easy to maintain. When it gets dirty, all you have to do is throw it in the wash on the cold cycle and hang it to dry.

Here’s how muslin fabric stacks up in terms of fabric properties:

  • Fabric breathability. Because the cotton fibers are woven loosely, muslin is lightweight and breathable. It facilitates airflow, making it a popular choice for clothing in hot or humid regions.
  • Moisture-wicking abilities. Despite being a quick-drying and breathable fabric, muslin is much too thin for moisture-wicking. It absorbs sweat from the skin, but you’ll still be able to feel it on the fabric.
  • Heat retention abilities. Muslin is light and breathable, so it does not have impressive heat retention abilities. However, it can help babies regulate their temperature when used as a swaddle.
  • Stretchiness. Muslin can stretch a bit, but it’s not known for its stretchiness.
  • Pilling/bubbling. High-quality muslin should resist pilling.

Types of Muslin

Muslin is available in a variety of types and different weights. You can find both high-grade fabrics and coarse, low-quality muslin fabrics. There are four main types.

Gauze

Muslin gauze is the lightest variety of the four. It’s sheer and almost transparent. Gauze muslin is common to make clothes, in medical settings, and for use as filters in cooking.

Mull

Mull muslin is an incredibly common variety. It’s the next thickest type of muslin fabric, and its primary uses are in textiles. Mull muslin is excellent for lining structured garments and for creating new patterns.

Swiss Muslin

You’ve probably seen Swiss Muslin before, as it’s easily recognizable by the raised bumps or dots on the fabric’s surface. Despite being thicker than both gauze and mull, it’s still breathable. Swiss muslin is an attractive choice for warm-weather apparel.

Sheeting

Sheeting is the fourth and heaviest type of muslin you can find. It’s also the most durable. For this reason, it’s commonly used in home decor (like curtains) and for upholstering furniture. If you’re in the theater world, you can find it in backdrops.

How Is Muslin Made?

How is Muslin Fabric Made

The muslin fabric manufacturing process has changed very little over the years.

First, the cotton yarn used to make the fabric must be spun into incredibly fine threads. Spinning at the right temperatures is critical for achieving the perfect result. A hot, wet environment keeps the threads pliable, so it makes sense that muslin originated in humid climates. Conversely, spinning cotton yarn in cold, dry climates makes for brittle threads that are likely to snap.

Once the spinner has turned the cotton yarn into threads, they use a loom to weave them by hand. Years ago, these looms were capable of producing a fabric with an astonishing 500-thread count! However, the final product took time and effort. Three weavers needed two months to weave roughly six meters of fine muslin.

Today, muslin fabric production happens in mostly the same way. The one difference is that machines have replaced human spinners for the most part. They do all the spinning and weaving, making for a much more efficient process.

How Is Muslin Used?

What makes muslin such an incredible fabric is the sheer number of ways you can use it. It shows up in numerous settings, so it’s likely you’ve run across it already. Listing all of its uses in this article would be impossible, but here are some of the most common ones.

Clothing

Muslin appears repeatedly in fashion design. It’s highly useful as a lining fabric, for one. Manufacturers use it to line structured garments made from less comfortable fabrics. The result is a more comfortable feel that doesn’t affect the shape of the garment. You can find muslin lining in things like skirts, blazers, and even wool coats.

Designers also use it to make warm-weather pieces. Because it’s sheer, it’s usually paired with another lightweight material. Swiss muslin especially makes an excellent top layer.

Food & Cooking

Fabric is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of food production, but muslin fabric has its place in the cooking world. You may even be surprised by the many ways you can use it.

For example, muslin is a good fabric if you want a filter to decant wine. Some people also use it as a strainer to remove seeds from juice, and it’s an eco-friendly way to make reusable tea bags.

Its fabric qualities are right at home in beekeeping, where beekeepers use muslin to filter particles and debris from beeswax. Muslin shows up regularly in cheesemaking, where using muslin cloth is an excellent way to separate liquid whey from the cheese curd. And of course, you can use it at home to remove moisture from grated vegetables.

Medicine

If you’ve ever had a medical professional treat a wound, chances are they used muslin. It has many properties that make it excellent for dressing wounds: it soaks up blood quickly, it feels nice on the skin, and it’s easy to produce. It also has several surgical applications, so there’s never a shortage of muslin fabric in hospitals.

Infants

Muslin cloths are highly versatile items when it comes to infant care. You can use them for just about anything. They are commonly used to swaddle, as a nursing cover, to clean spit up, or as a blanket. You can also use muslin during bathtime or as a car seat cover.

Given its myriad uses, chances are you have an impressive collection in various sizes and colors if you’re a new parent or a soon-to-be parent.

Theater & Photography

Muslin fabric is common in the theater and photography realm, where it’s mostly used for backdrops. It’s a cost-effective way to make different backdrops, and it looks excellent. When painted, muslin’s texture looks uneven and creates depth. It’s also available in flame-retardant versions, so it helps productions comply with fire regulations.

Sewing

Muslin has plenty of applications in sewing and quilting, but its most widespread use is probably in dressmaking.

Designers often create pieces from highly expensive materials, so the pressure to achieve the correct design is high. To help ensure things go smoothly, they typically sew a muslin replica of their idea first. This kind of pattern making helps them adjust the fit and style before they commit to the idea with a more expensive fabric.

Advantages of Muslin

By now, you’ve probably already seen that muslin fabric has plenty of uses. It also has plenty of advantages in skincare, infant care, and the theater world.

Skincare

Muslin fabric has myriad uses in skincare, making it a welcome addition to any skincare regimen.

The cotton fabric makes a perfect substitute for harsh washcloths, for one. Muslin cleanses the skin effectively without irritating it, while still providing gentle exfoliation. Additionally, if you want to ditch your cleansing wipes, muslin fabric is the best quality eco-friendly swap. Plus, the cloths dry quickly, so you don’t have to worry about bacteria growing.

Babies

With so many advantages for newborn babies, it’s no surprise that most new parents have some muslin on hand.

Like the fact that cotton muslin is a fantastic material for sensitive infant skin because it’s so gentle and soft. These properties make it the perfect fabric for swaddling, as it traps warmth while still being breathable. Muslin swaddles keep the baby comfortable and at the right temperature, which in turn facilitates better sleep and breastfeeding.

Muslin cloths are also perfect for helping them regulate their temperature during bathtime. You can place one over your baby’s body to keep heat in, while you use another cloth to wash the rest of their body.

Theater

Designers are well aware of the many advantages that come with using muslin in the performing arts world. When it comes to backdrops, muslin fabric looks good, it’s easy to store/transport, it’s durable, and it’s easy to handle. Not to mention, it’s a cost-effective way to design.

Disadvantages of Muslin

Though there are many things to love about muslin, it’s important to know about some of its downsides. Disadvantages include wrinkling, shrinkage, and problems with ironing.

Wrinkling

Anyone who owns cotton clothing knows that it wrinkles easily. Muslin is no exception, as it’s highly prone to wrinkles. (Another issue some people find is that it doesn’t hold its shape very well.) Some people don’t mind wrinkling, but a proactive approach is necessary if you want to prevent it. The best way to keep wrinkles at bay is by laying muslin pieces flat to dry.

Shrinkage

Shrinkage is another disadvantage to muslin, as its plain weave style makes it quite prone to shrinking in the wash. Pay attention to the water temperature when washing, and avoid putting it in the dryer if possible. Drying is likely to shrink muslin quite a bit, so air drying is recommended.

Ironing

If you think ironing is the answer to all those creases and wrinkles we talked about, think again. Most manufacturers recommend not ironing muslin, so that option is out. You can, however, give your fabric a light steam with a steamer.

Alternatives to Muslin

If you want to avoid some of these downsides, you may want to consider a muslin alternative. The two most common alternatives are linen and hemp.

Both materials are quite similar to muslin. They’re breathable, have antimicrobial properties, and are available in organic forms. They do share some of the same downsides, mostly that they wrinkle easily. However, you can iron both linen and hemp. Hemp also wrinkles much less than linen, so it won’t have that lived-in look as soon as you put it on.

Another reason to choose hemp over linen is that it mimics muslin a bit more. It gets softer with each wash, and it is especially moisture-wicking.

Where Is Muslin Produced?

Where is Muslin Fabric Produced

Muslin has historically been a heavily favored textile in Asia and the Middle East. Its lightweight, breathable qualities made muslin the desired fabric in these humid regions, and the same rings true today. Although we can still find plenty of production in these areas, the rest of the world has caught on. Muslin is now produced around the globe.

However, we can see three different examples of countries with exceptional muslin production. The first is China. As is true of many kinds of Chinese products, you can find muslin made in China all over the world.

Turkey produces quite a lot of muslin as well. Jante Textile is a major producer, and Turkey is their home. Jante Textile produces all sorts of muslin products, but they’re most known for their home items like bedding and bath towels.

Finally, the United States has also come to be a large supplier—specifically Chicago Canvas and Supply, one of the muslin giants in the US. The company focuses on manufacturing theater and photography backdrops.

How Much Does Muslin Cost?

The price of muslin varies considerably depending on several factors. Some of the most critical factors include the quality (organic vs. non-organic), how thick the cloth is, and whether it’s bleached or unbleached muslin.

Vendors usually sell muslin by the yard, though it’s not uncommon for those undertaking a large-scale project to purchase it by the bolt. A bolt of fabric can be anywhere between 40 to 100 yards, though muslin can be purchased in a 25-yard bolt.

Now let’s take a look at how much the four types of muslin cost per yard:

  • Gauze. Gauze is the most affordable type of muslin, coming in at about $6 per yard.
  • Mull. Mull muslin costs about $12 per yard, making it a cost-effective way for designers to test out their prototypes.
  • Swiss. Swiss muslin is one of the most popular household muslins, especially among new parents. You can get it for around $24 per yard.
  • Sheeting. Since sheeting muslin is typically used in theater settings, designers require a lot and purchase it in bolts. The cost depends on the width and fabric quality of the sheeting muslin, so it can vary widely. You can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $120 per bolt.

What Certifications Are Available for Muslin?

Do you want to ensure the muslin you’re purchasing is high-quality, eco-friendly, and ethically made? If so, keep an eye out for the following certifications.

Geographical Indication Certification (GI)

The geographical indication certification is available for handmade muslin. It tells you that the product is of a natural, handmade, or agricultural nature. It also indicates that the product comes from a certain location and possesses qualities inherent to that area. Because it assures the consumer of the link between the product and where it was made, it typically increases its value.

Fairtrade Cotton Certification

The Fairtrade cotton certification tells consumers that manufacturers purchased cotton grown under the Fairtrade standards. In other words, it’s possible to trace Fairtrade products directly from the farmer to the muslin you’re holding. What makes Fairtrade certification so important is that it helps ensure safe and fair working conditions for farmers.

Global Standard Organic Textile Certification (GOTS)

One of the most common customer questions about organic products is how to determine if they’re being sold a truly organic item. Manufacturers serious about their processes opt for a GOTS certification, which sets worldwide standards for organic textures. They must demonstrate their adherence to strict manufacturing guidelines to receive it.

So if you want assurance regarding environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, shop for organic muslin with this label.

What Is the Environmental Impact of Muslin?

Given its popularity around the world, you may be wondering about the environmental impact of producing muslin. Thankfully, muslin is relatively eco-friendly, especially if we compare it to other fabrics.

For one, most muslin is manufactured from cotton. Because it comes from cotton, it’s a natural product that makes organic production possible. It’s also biodegradable. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, purchasing muslin products is a good choice.

Of course, every product creates some kind of environmental impact, and muslin is no exception. Water consumption is one of those areas, as cotton needs plenty of water to grow. Soil erosion is another since cotton fabric production causes soil erosion. And from a social standpoint, there are always concerns about child labor in developing countries.

Thankfully, we can help minimize any negative social and environmental impact by making the right choices. The best way is by purchasing muslin made from organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or chemicals, meaning it needs significantly less water to grow. Another upside is that it leads to less soil erosion and creates fewer emissions.