It's plain and unbleached appearance provides a blank canvas for various creative endeavors. It can be easily dyed, painted, or printed on to create unique designs and patterns. Calico fabric is often used for making stuffed toys, bags, accessories, and other handmade items.

This fabric is 100% cotton from the Joann Keepsake Calico line via Roblin. Most orders ship within 5 business days.

The term "calico" refers to an unbleached, unfinished fabric made from cotton fibers. It is often described as a half-processed cotton cloth, because it's typically sold as a “loomstate fabric,” meaning it's sold as-is after its final stitch is woven.

Calico is cheap to buy because it is unfinished and in its raw state it is not dyed. Calico is a cheap option for designers to test their designs through trial garments or muslins.

Calico is light, loosely woven cotton fabric, for example. It is used in fashion for making test garments before moving onto the more expensive material. Calico's raw look and light weight make it a popular fabric for carry bags and homewares. Canvas, on the other hand, is heavier than calico and more tightly woven.

The key with this type of calico is that the PVC lining on the back prevents water from affecting the material, making it waterproof. Also the fact that it is an eco friendly material is important, because it slowly degrades over time. This mid weight calico is made with cotton fibres in a plain-weave.

The fabric was originally from the city of Calicut in southwestern India. It was made by the traditional weavers called cāliyans. The raw fabric was dyed and printed in bright hues, and calico prints became popular in Europe.

Simply put, calico is a 100% cotton fabric that is unbleached and undyed. You will often hear calico fabric referred to as a 'loomstate' and this is because it hasn't undergone any treatment or finishing since leaving the loom. You may also hear calico fabric referred to as 'half-processed cotton' for the same reasons.

Due to its versatile nature, it is also used to make bags, aprons and other utility items thanks to its strength and durability. Calico is often used as a base cloth to make pillowcases, duvets and bedding ensembles.

Origins. Calico originated in Calicut, from which the name of the textile came, in South India, now Kerala, during the 11th century, where the cloth was known as "chaliyan".

Calico fabric does shrink, usually 10% on the first wash and up to 3% on subsequent washes so be sure to use a cooler wash and pre-wash before you sew.

The Calico Acts (1700, 1721) banned the import of most cotton textiles into England, followed by the restriction of sale of most cotton textiles. It was a form of economic protectionism, largely in response to India (particularly Bengal), which dominated world cotton textile markets at the time.