If you've ever turned a cotton top inside out and noticed that the back looks different from the front, you're already looking at part of what makes one knit different from another. “Baby rib” and “jersey” describe how the fabric is knitted. Cotton describes the fiber used to make it.
Those words can pile up on a clothing page. It becomes easier to follow them when you connect each one to a real garment: the bodysuit that closes underneath, the tee with a loose hem, the pullover that goes over the top.
The little columns in baby rib
Rib knitting forms alternating columns. A 1 × 1 rib alternates knit and purl columns, giving it that ribbed surface and allowing the structure to extend. That movement comes from the knit construction; it isn't the same thing as adding spandex to the fiber blend.
Our Washed Black Short-Sleeve Bodysuit uses 100% organic cotton 1 × 1 baby rib. It also has an expandable collar and three snaps at the bottom. The fabric is one part of the piece; those openings are another part of how you put it on and change it.
When comparing a bodysuit, look at the length through the torso and the room for the diaper as well as the surface of the cloth. The snaps should meet comfortably. A fabric you like doesn't solve a body that's too short.
Jersey, and the familiar tee shape
Single jersey is a knit used in many T-shirts, with a different-looking face and reverse. It can be made in different weights and fiber blends, so “jersey” won't tell you the thickness or composition on its own.
For any particular tee, look at its own fabric information. Our Strawberry Tee has an undyed organic cotton base, with the design screen printed in our San Francisco studio. If you're comparing it with another tee, look at the fabric description and the cut as well as the picture on the front.
An open hem changes dressing too. You can compare the chest and body length, see where the shirt lands over pants, and think about how the child will manage it. Our bodysuit, romper and tee guide gets into those different shapes and openings.
Then there's the layer over it
French terry has loops on the reverse. It's another knit conversation, and it's the organic cotton fabric in our Washed Black Kids Pullover.
Try a layer over the actual top you plan to use. Look at room through the body, how the sleeve openings work together and the overall length. Two cotton pieces can be quite different in shape and weight, which is part of why they can work well together.
For our baby-rib bodysuits, care means a gentle cold wash with similar colors, low tumble or line drying, no bleach and a low iron if needed. Another piece may need different care for its print, trims or construction, so keep its own instructions with it.
Once you know which word belongs to which part—cotton for the fiber, organic for the growing standard, rib or jersey for the structure—the label gives you a clearer picture. Then you can get back to choosing the garment that makes sense for the day.
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