Creped

Creped is a descriptive term used in materials engineering and textiles to indicate a surface that is crinkled or wrinkled, a result of a creping process or treatment. The term derives from crepe, referring to the crinkled texture found in crepe fabrics, and it is most commonly applied to finishes that produce a soft, elastic feel.

In papermaking, creping involves removing a drying sheet from a drying cylinder with a creping blade or doctor blade and pressing it against a crepe blade at a controlled angle. This action introduces a network of microfolds, increasing the sheet’s caliper and stretch while reducing stiffness. Creped paper or tissue products typically exhibit improved softness, porosity, and absorbency, making them common in facial tissues, toilet paper, and paper towels. The degree of creping is described by the crepe percentage, which influences texture and stretch.

In textiles, a crepe finish yields a puckered or pebbled surface, often achieved through special weave techniques, high-twist yarns, or chemical treatments. Fabrics described as crepe—such as crepe de Chine or crepe back satin—have a characteristic graceful drape and a slightly textured hand. The term creped may also be used to describe fabrics that have undergone a crepe finishing process resulting in visible crinkles or graining.

Notes: In everyday cooking, the term creped is not standard; the correct term for a thin pancake is crepe. The noun crepe refers to the food, while creped describes the texture produced by crepe-related processes in non-food materials.