French Terry

French terry is a knit with a relatively smooth face and unbrushed loops or floats on the back. It is common in sweatshirts, joggers, and casual sets.

How It Works

Knitting forms the face stitches and longer yarn segments on the back, where the loops or floats remain visible. Machine setup and yarn feeding can change loop length, density, and fabric weight.

Uses and Benefits

The flat face works well for printing or decoration, while the back has the distinctive loopback texture. It suits casual styles that need some body without the feel of a thick raised pile inside.

Limitations

Long loops can snag, and loose constructions deserve a wash test for distortion. French terry and brushed sweatshirt fleece look different on the back. Actual thickness and warmth depend on the finished fabric.

What to Check

Confirm whether the fabric is brushed, which yarns are used on each face, and the finished weight. On a sweatshirt set, compare shrinkage, shade, and skew of the body fabric and cuff rib after washing.