Separator for rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing the same and rechargeable lithium battery including the same

Disclosed is a separator for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a porous substrate, a patterned woven fabric layer disposed on at least one side of the porous substrate, and a polymer coating layer disposed on at least one side of the woven fabric layer. The patterned woven fabric layer is a fabric support layer comprising a plurality of connected strands of fiber and a plurality of open portions, wherein at least some of the open portions in the fabric support layer form a repeating pattern.