Fabric 
Fabric
Waffle knit fabric manufacturer
Waffle gets its character from geometry rather than weight — a honeycomb cell structure that traps air and gives the fabric stretch in both directions.
Waffle is a structured knit where raised ribs form a grid of recessed cells. Those cells do three useful things at once: they trap a layer of air, which is why waffle works as a light thermal; they give the fabric mechanical stretch without any elastane; and they create a visible surface texture that photographs well in flat product shots.
The trade-off is dimensional stability. A cellular structure wants to relax, so shrinkage control at finishing has to be tighter than for a flat jersey. We compact waffle to a set width and run wash tests on bulk fabric before cutting, because a waffle tee that grows two centimetres after the first wash is a return waiting to happen.
Weights run from 180 gsm for summer tees and baby sets up to 300 gsm for loungewear and thermal layers. Cotton is standard; cotton/modal gives a softer drape, and a little elastane helps where a piece is meant to be fitted.
Specification
- Weight range
- 180–300 gsm
- Composition
- Cotton, cotton/modal, cotton/polyester, optional elastane
- Structure
- Honeycomb cell, thermal waffle, mini-waffle
- Stretch
- Natural two-way stretch from the structure itself
- Finishing
- Compacted and wash-tested for shrinkage
- Dyes
- GOTS and OEKO-TEX approved reactive dyes only
Variants
How we make waffle
Each of these is a machine setting or a finishing route we already run — not a new supplier.
- Classic waffle
- Medium honeycomb cell — loungewear and tees.
- Thermal waffle
- Deeper cell, higher gsm, built for warmth as a base layer.
- Mini waffle
- Fine cell for baby and kids where scale matters.
- Garment-dyed waffle
- Dyed after making up for a lived-in, slightly uneven colour.
What buyers use it for
- Loungewear and pyjama sets
- Waffle tees and henleys
- Thermal base layers
- Baby sets and swaddles
- Robes and towels
Made from it
Styles in our range using waffle
Every one of these was developed in our own sampling room. Take a style as it stands or use it as a starting point.
Fabric Also from our knitting hall
Other fabrics we make.
Fabric supply
Need the cloth on its own?
We supply dyed and finished knitted fabric independently of any garment order, through our sister concerns Lucky Process and Lucky Terry Processors.