Jersey: The T-Shirt Fabric
Jersey is the fabric t-shirts are made of: a single knit with flat vertical Vs on the face and horizontal loops on the back. It stretches by construction — no elastic required — drapes softly, and wears comfortably in every season, which is why more garments are cut from jersey than from any other knit on earth.
The name traces to the island of Jersey, whose fishermen wore tightly knit woolens; the modern tee inherited the cloth and dropped the sea.
How jersey is made
One continuous yarn loops through itself row after row — the same stockinette structure hand-knitters make, produced at industrial speed and fineness. Because every loop can flex, the cloth stretches most across the width and a little along the length, then relaxes back. Add a few percent spandex and the relaxing back becomes a snap — that is cotton-spandex jersey, the fitted-tee standard.
Types of jersey
Fiber determines personality: cotton jersey is the matte, breathable tee standard; viscose and modal jersey drape fluid and cool; Tencel jersey is the silky eco-modern upgrade; poly jersey is hardy and quick-dry; slub jersey knits irregular yarns for vintage texture; and cotton-spandex jersey adds the recovery fitted tees need. Double jersey — two layers locked together — is sold as interlock.
What jersey feels like
Soft, light and yielding — jersey follows the body rather than shaping it. The single-knit structure has two quirks every sewist meets immediately: cut edges curl toward the face, and the fabric can run like a stocking if a loop breaks. Neither is a defect; both are stockinette physics.
What to sew with jersey
- T-shirts, tanks and everyday tops
- Dresses and skirts that move
- Baby clothes and loungewear
- Linings for knit garments
How to sew jersey
- Use a ballpoint or stretch needle — a sharp universal cuts loops and starts runs
- Sew seams with stretch: narrow zigzag, lightning stitch or a serger
- Hem with a twin needle or zigzag so hems stretch with the fabric
- Do not pull the fabric through the machine; let the feed dogs work
- A shot of steam relaxes curling edges enough to handle
Jersey vs. interlock and rib
Interlock is a double-knit — two jerseys locked back to back: thicker, more stable, no curl, both faces smooth. Rib knits in raised columns and stretches much further — that is neckband and cuff territory. Jersey remains the lightest and drapiest of the three.
Jersey, measured
Fibers in our jersey
- Polyester60%
- Spandex51%
- Viscose33%
- Cotton28%
Share of listings containing each fiber — most cloths blend two or more.
Live from 7,258 measured listings on our shelf. How we measure →
Common questions
What fabric are t-shirts made of?
Cotton jersey, overwhelmingly — usually 140–200 gsm, heavier for structured tees. Blends add drape (viscose), durability (poly) or recovery (spandex).
Why does jersey curl at the edges?
Stockinette structure is unbalanced: face stitches pull one way, back loops the other, so free edges roll. Steam, starch spray, or simply sewing the edge into a seam or hem tames it.
What needle do I use for jersey?
Ballpoint (jersey) or stretch needle, size 70–80. The rounded tip slides between loops instead of piercing them — the single biggest fix for skipped stitches and runs.
Does jersey shrink?
Cotton jersey shrinks 3–5% on a hot first wash and can twist slightly on the grain. Pre-wash and dry the yardage the way you will treat the garment, then cut.
