Which fabric is 100% cotton, spun, balanced plain weave, bleached and parchmentized (acid)?

• A. Drapery sheer
• B. Plisse
• C. Crinoline
• D. Organdy

Answer: (D)

This item is about recognizing organdy as the classic fabric that matches these exact traits: 100% cotton, spun yarns, a balanced plain weave, and a finish that’s both bleached and parchmentized (acid). A balanced plain weave means the warp and weft densities are even, giving a uniform, smooth surface that reads as lightweight and sheer when the fabric is light. Using 100% cotton spun yarns contributes to a fine, crisp hand rather than a smooth, drapey feel you’d get from blends or filament fibers.

Parchmentizing, an acid treatment, stiffens the cotton fibers and increases transparency, producing that characteristic crisp, almost brittle hand signature of organdy. Bleaching keeps the fabric bright white, reinforcing its delicate, sheer appearance. Taken together, these properties create a fabric that is very light and sheer with a crisp, stiff finish.

The other fabrics don’t fit all these specifics: a drapery sheer is typically softer and more fluid, not the stiff crispness; plisse has a puckered texture from chemical treatment rather than a uniformly crisp hand; crinoline is generally stiffer and heavier, often not 100% cotton or not produced with parchmentizing.