French terry can be described as being between light to mid-weight fabric that can be used in casual and active apparel, such as hoodies, sweatshirts, hoodies, and pullovers. 

The French terry fabric can either consist of 100% cotton or a blend of cotton and spandex, rayon, lycra, polyester, or organic soy.

But if you are ready to dig deeper to find out exactly what makes French terry different from fleece, which it needs to be cared for, and things that French terry is used for, you have come to the right place. 

French terry is a knit fabric having soft piles on one side and loops on the other side and can be recognized in sweatshirts where it's soft on the inside and smoother and soft on the outside.

Thanks to the type of knitting that French terry is constructed from, it is known for its soft and comfortable texture and is heavier than t-shirt cotton but lighter than fabrics you'd find in sweatpants.

Even though French terry can absorb body sweat, it isn't as moisture-wicking as you see on fabrics specially designed for fitness. 

Believe it or not, the cotton thread of French terry fabric can absorb around 27 times its weight in water. 

Being that French terry and terry cloth are very similar in name, it makes sense to be curious about the differences between french terry vs terry cloth.

On the one hand, traditional terry cloth can be made from linen, silk, polyester, and other man-made blends, yet it is, however, they're generally woven from cotton.

But French terry is just one type of terry cloth, with other types being terry velour, microfiber terry, long loop terry, and low and zero twist terry.  

French Terry generally doesn't wrinkle, but if you notice any wrinkles that pop up after it has been washed and dried, just simply use a steam iron rather than using a dry iron to help push the wrinkles right out of it. 

One of the many beauties of French terry is that it is simple to clean and maintain, but you need to do so regularly while being gentle with the fabric and staying away from chemicals such as bleach. 

Pre-treat any tough stains on the fabric before you throw it into the washing machine with mild laundry detergent. If you see any residue on the fabric from any laundry detergent, the fabric may become stiffer and harder. 

Avoid fabric softeners to minimize their long-term effects when putting French terry clothing in the dryer to maintain the water. 

If you still want to find a way to use fabric softeners with French terry cloth, be sure to add one and a half cups of baking soda with each wash to soften the water in order to allow the fabric to not be tougher.

Pay attention to the following additional advice that you can utilize in order to maintain the quality of French terry fabric.

When you are washing French terry cloths, make it happen to turn them inside out before you even put them into the washing machine to assist with protecting the color on the front from fading. 

Use the appropriate wash settings on the washing machine, such as a delicate, hand-wash, or gentle cycle, to greatly reduce the chances of wearing out the clothing.

Color contamination tends to be a sizable issue with French terry fabric. Therefore it is wise to get into the routine of when you wash different French terry colors separately to prevent color contamination.

You surely don't want to wash a French terry sweatshirt that they need to wear on a particular outing only to have it shrink to the point that it becomes something to pass down to your children. 

To prevent shrinkage, use low heat drying settings on a dryer. If you are drip-drying your clothes outside, turn your French terry items inside-out to protect the outer part of the cloth from discoloration or fading. 

Being that French terry is a fabric that has soft and short piles of yarn on the inside, it's very comfortable when you wear it in the form of hoodies and sweatpants.

For jobbing suits and sportswear, the stretchiness, absorbance, and flexibility make it a suitable fabric that adds value to these pieces of apparel. 

Even if you are just lounging around your house after work or while you are on vacation, the supreme comfort against your skin makes French terry a go-to material. 

If those benefits weren't enough, French terry has its place on summer days thanks to its fast-drying absorbance when you are getting wet at the beach. 

Bear in mind that you may want to avoid it during the winter months because it typically isn't warm enough to ward off the bitter cold temperatures and the material's lightweight makes it not feel thick enough. 

Ultimately, French terry is an ideal choice for early autumn and the beginning of the summer season.