What is the Difference Between Single Jersey Fabric and Bird's Eye Fabric?

                                  Single jersey fabric                                                                           Bird's eye fabric

Structure

Single jersey fabric uses a plain knit structure, resulting in a smooth, fine surface without distinct texture or holes. The face and back sides are clearly different: the face is smooth, while the back shows the loops or floats of the yarn.

Bird's eye fabric utilizes a single jersey jacquard structure. Through special loop arrangements, it forms uniform, hollow mesh holes on the surface, resembling a bird's eye or diamond shape. This texture has a three-dimensional effect, and the mesh holes are visible on both sides.

Hand Feel and Performance

Single jersey is typically lighter, softer, and offers a strong skin-friendly feel with almost no sensation of foreign material against the skin. It has moderate breathability and good moisture absorption. However, it dries slowly when damp and can cling to the skin. It has some horizontal stretch with decent recovery after stretching. The smooth surface contributes to its moderate abrasion resistance.

Bird's eye fabric feels slightly rougher due to the raised yarns at the edges of the mesh holes. It has a more noticeable dry feel. Its core advantage is significantly superior breathability and moisture-wicking compared to single jersey. The hollow mesh allows direct air circulation and faster moisture evaporation, reducing the likelihood of feeling stuffy or sweaty. Its stretch is similar to single jersey but offers less restraint when stretched. However, the yarns forming the mesh holes are more fragile, leading to slightly poorer abrasion resistance and a higher tendency to snag.

Common Uses

Single jersey focuses on comfort against the skin and is mostly used in scenarios requiring a skin-friendly feel, such as underwear, basic apparel, and infant clothing.

Bird's eye fabric prioritizes breathability and moisture wicking, making it almost exclusive to sportswear. It's commonly found in sports T-shirts, running vests, basketball jerseys, etc., as it helps with rapid heat dissipation. It's also used in breathable zones of outdoor quick-dry clothing and occasionally for items requiring good air circulation like pillowcases or pet bed liners.

Common Materials

Single jersey often uses materials like washed cotton, cotton-spandex blends, and other natural fibers to emphasize skin-friendliness. It also comes in synthetic fibers like polyester or modal, focusing on easy care.

Bird's eye fabric commonly uses synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, suitable for the moisture-wicking needs of sportswear. Cotton versions exist but offer poorer breathability compared to synthetic ones and are mostly used for casual apparel.