What is a napped fabric?

Answer 1

'Nap' is a term used for fabric that has a 'pile' such as velvet, corduroy, and suede. In other words not smooth, but with a fuzzy, fur-like surface. When you sweep your hand across the fabric, the threads will stand up in one direction, and lay down in the other direction.

When using fabric like this, you want all pattern pieces to have the 'nap' going the same direction, so you have to use extra care in laying them out. Usually you want the nap to lay down from the top of the garment towards the bottom.

Answer 2

nap is generally a term used with fabrics that have pile. if you brush your hand over it, it will lay flat.. if you have fabric with a 'nap' you want to make sure your piece are put in a line from top to bottom without turning one bottom to top.

Answer 3

A napped fabric is a fabric with a "nap", that is, a fabric with a textured surface that looks different depending on how it is viewed or positioned. Faux furs, velour, velvet, suedes (real and synthetics), and some fleeces have a nap. Determining nap is important if you are cutting out a pattern. It is usually easy to determine nap by stroking the lengthwise and crosswise grain of the fabric in an up-and-down motion. One direction will be smooth and flat, the other rougher. The direction that makes the fabric smooth is the correct nap. If you cannot see a difference, the fabric does not have a visible nap.

Answer 4

When sewing with fabrics that have a nap, make sure that the fabric is always placed in the same direction, otherwise it will look as though you are using two different fabrics.

Though when working with a quilt, running the nap in different directions gives it a unique appearance.