Suedecloth: The Complete Guide to Wazoodle's Suede-Feel Fabric

What Suedecloth Is and Why It Matters

Suedecloth is an ultra-lightweight polyester knit with a brushed surface that creates a soft, suede-like texture against skin. At just 65 GSM and 0.010" thick, this is one of the thinnest functional fabrics in the Wazoodle lineup — designed to do one job exceptionally well: keep skin dry by wicking moisture away from contact without absorbing it. The hydrophobic polyester fibers repel liquid at the skin surface and transport it through the knit structure for evaporation on the opposite side.

This makes Suedecloth the go-to stay-dry lining for cloth diapers, training pants, and incontinence products where maintaining skin dryness is critical but adding bulk is not acceptable. Where microfleece and minky linings add noticeable thickness to layered construction, Suedecloth provides equivalent stay-dry function at a fraction of the profile — 0.010" versus typical microfleece at 0.030"+ — making it the preferred choice when every millimeter of bulk matters in the finished product.

The fabric features 20% stretch across the width and 5% lengthwise, with minimal shrinkage in either direction. The brushed surface has a directional nap that appears lighter or darker depending on viewing angle — a visual characteristic that requires consistent cutting orientation. Made in USA by AKAS Tex, CPSIA certified, Forever Chemicals-Free (no PFAS, BPA, phthalates).

Key Concept — Wicking vs Absorbing: Suedecloth does NOT absorb moisture. It wicks — meaning liquid passes through the fabric to the absorbent layer below while the skin-contact surface remains dry. This is the opposite of Zorb fabrics, which are designed to capture and hold liquid. Suedecloth and Zorb are complementary: one keeps skin dry, the other captures what passes through.

Working With Suedecloth: Sewing and Construction Guide

Suedecloth handles like a stable knit — easier than jersey, lighter than interlock. The main construction consideration is managing the directional nap.

Pairing Suedecloth With Absorbent and Waterproof Layers

Suedecloth is almost always used as the skin-contact layer in a multi-layer system. It wicks moisture to the absorbent layer below, which captures and holds it, while a waterproof barrier underneath prevents leaks.

Common Applications for Suedecloth

• Cloth Diaper Stay-Dry Linings — The primary use case. Suedecloth lines the interior of cloth diapers, keeping baby's skin dry while moisture passes through to the absorbent core. Ultra-thin profile adds virtually no bulk to the finished diaper.
• Reusable Training Pants — Interior lining for toddler training pants where the stay-dry surface helps children feel wet-then-dry feedback while preventing prolonged skin contact with moisture.
• Incontinence Product Linings — Skin-contact layer in adult incontinence pads and underwear. The hypoallergenic, pH-neutral (7.4) construction suits extended-wear applications against sensitive or compromised skin.
• Athletic Base Layers — Moisture-wicking lining component in athletic garments where rapid moisture transport prevents fabric cling and chafing. UPF 15 provides basic sun protection.
• Moisture-Wicking Sleepwear — Lining for sleepwear and mattress protectors where nighttime moisture management improves comfort without adding perceptible thickness.

Suedecloth Care: Washing, Drying, and What to Avoid

Wash at warm or cold temperature. Tumble dry low or line dry.

The brushed surface may flatten slightly with repeated washing but wicking performance is maintained — the stay-dry function is in the fiber structure, not the surface texture.

Suedecloth Specifications

All specifications may vary ±10% due to textile industry manufacturing standards.