Cotton muslin is a light, loosely woven plain cotton, usually with a soft crinkle, that lets air straight through. That makes it a natural choice for children's summer clothes: it is cool, quick to dry and soft on the skin. The muslin dresses we carry are 100% cotton at 75 g/m², OEKO-TEX certified, and light enough to be slightly sheer.
Muslin, smooth cotton and cotton knit compared
| Property | Cotton muslin (Sisi, Milka) | Smooth woven cotton (Sunshine) | Brushed cotton knit (hooded rompers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 75 g/m² | Not stated by the maker | 280 to 320 g/m² |
| Structure | Open plain weave, crinkled | Closer plain weave, smooth | Knitted, brushed inside, with elastane or polyester |
| Feel | Airy, soft, textured | Smooth, carries a print | Soft, stretchy, warm |
| Best for | Hot days | Summer days | Spring and autumn, everyday wear for babies |
| Care | Hand wash at 30 °C | Hand wash at 30 °C | Hand wash at 30 °C |
What is muslin?
Muslin is a plain weave cotton, one thread over and one under, woven loosely from fine yarn. The open structure is what makes it light and breathable. Most muslin for clothing is washed or finished to give it a soft crinkle, which also hides creases. The name is old and is usually traced to Mosul, in today's Iraq, where European traders first met the cloth.
Why muslin works for children's summer clothes
Children run hot and move constantly. An open cotton weave lets heat and moisture escape rather than holding them against the skin, and at 75 g/m² a muslin dress weighs very little. It dries fast after a wash or a paddle, and it softens with washing rather than stiffening. Because it is 100% cotton, there is no synthetic fibre against the skin.
Is muslin see through?
At light weights it can be, a little. Our muslin dresses are 75 g/m², which sits closer to sheer than to solid: in direct sun the outline of a light coloured dress shows. A thin cotton slip or vest underneath solves it on a bright day.
Single gauze or double gauze?
Single gauze is one layer of muslin. Double gauze is two layers held together by fine stitches, which makes the cloth warmer, more opaque and puffier; it is common in swaddles and baby blankets. Zezuzulla does not describe the Sisi and Milka dresses as double gauze, and at 75 g/m² they behave like a single layer: light and slightly translucent.
How to wash muslin
Zezuzulla gives one instruction for its muslin dresses: hand wash at 30 °C. Beyond the label, the usual cotton muslin practice applies: a gentle detergent, no fabric softener, reshape while damp and dry flat or on a hanger. The crinkle is part of the fabric, so there is no need to iron.
Sizing muslin dresses
Muslin dresses are usually cut loose. Measure your child's height and take the nearest size up. The Zezuzulla dresses run in European sizes from 104 to 134, and Sisi in peach also comes in 98. Our EU kids' clothing size chart converts height to age.
The dresses we carry
Zezuzulla is a Polish family brand that sews its clothes in Poland and tests them on its own children; its cotton carries OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and the International Cotton Mark. In muslin there is Sisi, with a frilled neckline and three snaps at the chest, in lilac and peach, and Milka, a sundress with tie straps and two front pockets. For a print, Sunshine is a smooth cotton summer dress with white suns on raspberry pink. All are in Kids' Dresses; for cooler days, the brushed cotton hooded rompers are in Jumpsuits.
Common questions
What is muslin fabric made of? Cotton, woven loosely in a plain weave from fine yarn. Muslin can be made from other fibres, but muslin for clothing is almost always cotton.
Is muslin good for summer? Yes. The open weave lets air and moisture through, the fabric is light, and it dries quickly.
Does muslin shrink? Cotton muslin can shrink in hot water. Wash it as the label says; for the Zezuzulla dresses that is a hand wash at 30 °C.
Is muslin see through? Light muslin can be slightly sheer in bright light. At 75 g/m², a thin slip underneath helps on a sunny day.
What is the difference between muslin and gauze? In clothing the two words usually describe the same light, open cotton weave. Double gauze is two layers of it held together with fine stitches, which makes it warmer and more opaque.
More from the atelier: Kids' Dresses, linen in summer and natural vs synthetic fabrics.
