Flannel is a loosely woven fabric known for being soft and warm. While originally made from worsted yarn or carded wool, flannel is now made from wool (called wool flannel), cotton (called cotton flannel fabric), or even synthetic fibers.

Flannel is a soft, medium-weight cotton fabric that has a napped, fuzzy, finish on one or both sides. This napped finish either comes from brushing or from its characteristic loose weave. Its soft, cozy feel makes it the perfect fabric to keep you warm and comfortable all winter long.

Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of varying fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fiber. Flannel is commonly used to make tartan clothing, blankets, bed sheets, and sleepwear.

Essentially, “flannel” simply refers to any cotton, wool, or synthetic fabric that fulfills a few basic criteria: Softness: Fabric must be incredibly soft to be considered flannel. Texture: Flannel has either a brushed or unbrushed texture, and both textures are equally iconic.

The fabric itself can be traced back to 17th century Wales. Textile workers in the late 1600s began using a surplus of sheep's wool, using a process called “carding” to disentangle and soften yarns. This allowed for a softer fabric that still retained the toughness of wool.

cotton Flannel shirts can be worn all year. In spring and summer it is best to wear a flannel that is lightweight and made with 100% cotton. Lightweight flannel shirts weigh below 5oz/sq yard of fabric. For fall and winter it is best to choose a flannel shirt that is heavyweight, weighing 7oz/sq yard and above.

And like cotton, flannel is breathable: it allows air circulation and helps wick away moisture from your skin. Most of us would agree that flannel also feels exceptionally warm. Cotton sheets, by contrast, promise the maximum amount of air circulation, and can actually help you stay cool in the heat.

A good flannel won't be as heavy as a jacket or a wool sweater, but it should be inching towards that outershirt territory. It should have some heft when you take it off the hanger. Premium flannels should also have some loft (thickness that is the result of brushing either one side of both sides of the garment).

Here is the answer: the difference is that "plaid" is a pattern and "flannel" is a type of fabric. Usually both concepts mix as when you imagine a flannel shirt you build it in your mind as a checkered or plaid shirt. And many times it is like this but you will find many plain flannel shirts in our configurator.

We all know that a flannel shirt is a staple when it comes to casual men's style. It's masculine, it's comfortable, and it's a classic look that has stood the test of time.

The fabric itself can be traced back to 17th century Wales. Textile workers in the late 1600s began using a surplus of sheep's wool, using a process called “carding” to disentangle and soften yarns. This allowed for a softer fabric that still retained the toughness of wool.

All of L.L.Bean's flannel is made in Portugal with long-staple cotton. The Ultrasoft Comfort sheets, which are made with a 5-ounce flannel, are thick, plush, and a joy to slide into on a cold night.

Best Overall Everlane's Classic Cotton Flannel is our favorite option for women. This well-made button-down shirt is woven from 100 percent cotton, so you can bet it's soft and breathable. Perfect for year-round use and transitional weather, the medium weight makes it cozy but not too hot.

The soft flannel fabric adapts quickly to your body temperature, so your bed quickly feels lovely and warm. The thickness of the fabric also ensures that it retains the heat all night. Perfect for cold autumn and winter nights! Flannel is made from 100% cotton, because of this it is breathable and moisture absorbent.

A flannel is a reliable wardrobe staple that can warm you up in the winter or add some casual charm to a summer outfit.

History of Flannel Shirts While the origin of the word “Flannel” is uncertain, it is most likely that it came from the Welsh word gwlanen, meaning “woolen cloth”. Due to the differentiation in sound, some suggest that it actually originated from the Old French word flaine “a kind of coarse wool.”