Feature Comparison
| Property | Plain Weave | Twill Weave |
|---|---|---|
| Good stability | Good | Acceptable |
| Good drape | Poor | Good |
| Low porosity | Acceptable | Good |
| Smoothness | Poor | Acceptable |
| Balance | Good | Good |
| Symmetrical | Excellent | Acceptable |
| Low crimp | Poor | Acceptable |
| Cosmetics | Good | Excellent |
| Ease of use | Excellent | Good to Excellent |
Summary
Plain Weave
Each warp fibre passes alternatively under and over each weft fibre. (Difficult to drape and high crimp impacts low mechanical properties).
Twill Weave
One or more warp fibres alternatively weave over and under two or more weft fibres in a regular repeated manner. This produces diagonal rib.
Superior wet out and drape, over plain, with only a small reduction in stability.
Reduced crimp gives smoother surface and high mechanicals.
To increase the pliability of any fabric, cut the fabric across on a bias of 45 degrees angle. Even the coarsest fabric will drape better over contours when cut this way.