Is marquisette the same as tulle?

No. Both are sheer and open, but marquisette is woven on a loom with the leno weave, while tulle is a machine-made net. Marquisette has a squarer, gridded mesh and a crisper hand; tulle has a fine hexagonal mesh and a softer drape.

What is the leno weave?

The leno or gauze weave is a method in which two warp threads are twisted around each other and around each weft pick, locking the open spaces so the cloth stays sheer without slipping or fraying. It is what gives marquisette its stable openness.

Which is better for a mosquito net?

Marquisette. Its locked, stable leno grid holds an even open mesh that resists snagging and distortion, which is exactly what netting needs, while tulle is chosen more for soft decorative drape.

Side by side

Marquisette vs Tulle

Marquisette and tulle are both sheer open-mesh fabrics, but they are built by different methods. Marquisette is woven on a loom using the leno weave, where paired warp threads twist around the weft to lock open squares in place. Tulle is a net, made on a bobbinet or net machine that twists threads into a fine hexagonal mesh with no true weaving at all. One is woven cloth full of holes; the other is machine-made net.

Marquisette

No. 133

leno-weave open mesh · first documented 1900s

Tulle

No. 058

bobbinet hexagonal mesh · first documented 1700s

The differences

Aspect	Marquisette	Tulle
How it is made	Woven on a loom by the leno (gauze) weave, with paired warps twisted around each weft.	Made on a bobbinet or net machine that twists threads into mesh, not woven.
Mesh shape	Roughly square, gridded openings locked by the warp twist.	Fine hexagonal (or diamond) net openings.
Hand	Crisper and more stable, with visible grid; holds its shape.	Softer, finer, and more drapeable, from gauzy to stiff depending on fiber.
Typical use	Mosquito netting, curtains, canopies, casement and dress sheers.	Veils, tutus, gowns, and trims where a soft cloud of net is wanted.

Which to choose

If the open fabric is woven, with a squared, gridded mesh that feels stable and crisp, it is marquisette. If it is a soft, fine, machine-made hexagonal net, it is tulle. The quickest tell is the mesh shape and whether you can see a woven grid.

Common questions

Is marquisette the same as tulle?: No. Both are sheer and open, but marquisette is woven on a loom with the leno weave, while tulle is a machine-made net. Marquisette has a squarer, gridded mesh and a crisper hand; tulle has a fine hexagonal mesh and a softer drape.
What is the leno weave?: The leno or gauze weave is a method in which two warp threads are twisted around each other and around each weft pick, locking the open spaces so the cloth stays sheer without slipping or fraying. It is what gives marquisette its stable openness.
Which is better for a mosquito net?: Marquisette. Its locked, stable leno grid holds an even open mesh that resists snagging and distortion, which is exactly what netting needs, while tulle is chosen more for soft decorative drape.

Full entry: Marquisette Full entry: Tulle

Sources & References

1.Marquisette, Wikipedia
2.Leno weave, Wikipedia
3.Tulle (netting), Wikipedia
4.Bobbinet, Wikipedia