A stitchbonded fabric has a substrate material of uniform composition and physical properties and stitching threads stitched through and over the extent of the substrate in which the substrate has one or more linear slits defined by opposite facing lips that are unparted when the fabric is stitched. The fabric can be tensioned such that the lips part and thereby produce varied performance characteristics such as increased stretch and aesthetically pleasing effects as are useful in fabric utilities such as mattress cover skirts. The lips can pucker to give the fabric texture. The fabric can be extended and/or contracted laterally to further buckle out of plane. The puckering and buckling give the fabric additional functional properties such as dust-catching ability in cleaning wipe utilities.