How fabric is made

Fabric starts with the fibers

Black Alpaca Silk Baby fine camel hair

Silk

Cotton

Dyed Wool

Types of Fiber

Natural Synthetic

Natural Fibers Come from plants and animals General Characteristics

Hydrophilic (Absorb Water) Most wrinkle easily

Aren’t completely uniform in look and quality, because they are affected by weather, nutrients in the soil, insects, and disease.

Price continues to increase because of limited supply.

Natural Fibers

CottonFlax (Linen)WoolSilk

Cotton advantages

Mildews Does not spring

back into shape Wrinkles easily Burns readily Shrinks

Strong, durable Soft Absorbs moisture Breathes well Washes easily Low cost Comfortable

Cotton Disadvantages

Care of Cotton Wash in washer and dry Iron at high temperature

Linen (Flax) Disadvantages

STRONG, stronger than cotton & even stronger when wet

Absorbs moisture Comfortable in warm

weather Washes easily Nice texture

Linen (Flax) Advantages

Mildews WRINKLES Burns easily Difficult to process Not very elastic and

will break if folded over and over in the same place

Care of Linen Wash or Dry Clean, CHECK LABEL Iron at HIGH temperature

Wool Advantages

WARM Durable ABSORBENT Resilient (returns to

original shape quickly) Resists wrinkling Fire Retardant Can keep you cool or

warm Does not soil easily

Wool Disadvantages

Requires special care Shrinks sometimes if

washed, or dried in dryer Absorbs odors Requires protection

against insects More expensive, so often

blended with other fibers

Care of Wool Dry Clean or Hand Wash and Dry flat Iron at low temperature

Silk Advantages

Soft and Smooth

Lustrous and Luxurious

Strong Doesn’t wrinkle

easily Drapes well Dyes well

Silk Advantages

Shows water spots

Sensitive to sunlight and can yellow

More expensive

Synthetic Fibers Made from petrochemicals Many made to resemble natural fibers at

lower costs Characteristics

Hydrophobic (water resistant) Promote static cling Heat Sensitive Many pill Most are wrinkle resistant Must press at low temperatures

Synthetic Fibers Acetate Acrylic Nylon Polyester Rayon Spandex (Lycra)

Polyester Excellent WRINKLE RESISTANCE Resistant to abrasion Dries quickly Blends well with other fibers Retains heat-set pleats and creases Absorbs oily stains Low absorbency of moisture Easily laundered Needs little or no pressing

Nylon Very Strong Resilient Lustrous Dries quickly May yellow or gray Heat Sensitive Low moisture absorbency Easily laundered Iron at low temperature Blend well with other fibers Melts

Acrylic Soft, Warm Wool-like Light weight Wrinkle resistant Resistant to moths and sunlight Pills Static electricity Heat sensitive Usually dry clean, iron at low temp.

Rayon

Made from wood pulp Made to resemble cotton or silk Soft and comfortable High moisture absorbency Drapeable May wrinkle or shrink unless treated May mildew Usually dry cleaned, sometimes washable Iron at low temperature

Spandex Excellent elasticity and recovery Stronger and more durable than rubber Light weight Resistant to body oils Damaged by chlorine bleach Damaged by heat

Acetate Silk look-alike Used in formal wear Soft, Drapeable Dries quickly Resistant to shrinking Not very strong Can wrinkle Low abrasion resistance Heat sensitive Damaged by acetone

Once the fiber is collected, the fiber is spun into yarns Yarn – made by spinning or twisting fibers

together Blended Yarn – often times yarn is made by

more than one type of fiber. They are blended to get the best qualities from each.

After the fiber is made into yarns the fabric is woven, knit or pressed into fabric

Fabric Construction Woven – interlocking yarns in an

over-under pattern

Knit – interlocking loops

Non-woven – fibers are pressed

together in no specific pattern.

Woven Fabrics

Woven Fabric Woven fabric made by a process of

interlacing yarns to create cloth or fabric.

Parts of a woven fabric1. Bias – the stretchiest direction of the fabric. Diagonal line between lengthwise and crosswise grains.

2. Selvage – tightly woven edge. Looks different than the rest of the fabric.

3. Warp Yarns/Lengthwise grain – strongest direction of fabric because those yarns are placed on the loom first. Least amount of stretch. Parallel to the selvage.

4. Weft yarns/Crosswise grain – a little less strong than warp because these are the yarns that are woven in. A little more stretch than warp. Perpendicular to warp and selvage.

Plain Weave

Over one, Under one

Twill WeaveForms a pattern

of diagonal ribs

Basket WeaveA variation of a plain

weave. Over two, under two. Usually use two or

more warp yarns.

Satin WeaveNo definite pattern, passes over more threads to give

it a lustrous, silk-like appearance

Pile Weave

A third set of yarn is added in to make knots

and add texture

Knit Fabric Knits are made by a series of interlocking

loops.

Knits• Stretches

• Returns to Original

Shape

• Wrinkle Resistant

Warp Knits vertical rows of loops

Weft Knits loops made as yarn added in

crosswise direction

Non Woven• fibers are pressed together in one big mass

•no grain

• no stretch or give• requires special sewing techniques

Non Wovens-Felt

-Babies disposable diapers

-sterile wraps, caps, gowns, masks and drapings used in the medical field

-wall coverings

-Vinyl (leather look-alikes)