Summary Grade 11 Consumer study notes on fibres and fabrics

Fibres and fabrics
Weaving
Plain weave Over and under alternate yarn
Satin weaving One wrap passes over four or more weft yarn in
staggered pattern
Sateen weave Weft yarn passes over and under four wrap yarns
Twill weave Form diagonal lines across surface
Dobby weave Small regular repeated designs or geometric
figures
Jacquard weave Different loom that creates complex pattern
Pile weave Pile formed by interlacing additional wrap and
weft yarns between


Fabric properties

1. Visual and tactile properties
 What you can see
 What you can touch

Draping quality
 Soft, silky and hangs well
 Satin weaves, weft knits of wool, cotton, cotton blends, silk, acetate
 Used for: feminine blouse, men’s evening shirts and curtains

Colourfastness
 How quickly a fabric loses or retains colour.
 Syntenic is good
 Natural materials leach

2. Durability
 How hard wearing
 Polyester, cotton and linen is most durable
 Gabardine, cotton and polyester with a twill weave are for work
overalls
 Denim is durable cotton

Strength
 Fibre or yarn: stretched to test

,  Nylon: strongest synthetic
 Cotton or linen: strongest natural
 Lyocell: strongest regenerated cellulose
 Can be improved by tight weaving and spinning (sportwear, curtains
and upholstery)

Abrasion resistance
 When two surfaces rub together like collars or elbows
 Satin and sateen are not good at this
 Wool, cotton and viscose are good

Pilling
 Small balls on surface of fabric
 Fabrics can be treated to prevent
 Wool, lyocell, viscose, acrylic all pill (blend with nylon to reduce)

Sunlight resistance
 Choose polyester, nylon and bamboo
 Choose wisely with fabrics that are exposed

3. Comfort
 Physical comfort

Elasticity
 Ability for fabric to return to natural shape.
 Active wear is blended with elastane and anti-microbial and wicking
properties of other fabrics

Dimensional stability
 The fabric retain its size and shape after washing
 Weft and twill knits tend to skew

Absorbency
 Take up moisture
 Natural and regenerated are absorbent
 Good for towels, underwear and active wear

Heat conductivity
 How well heat is passed through and on
 Good heat conductor: cellulose fibres

Heat retention
 Ability to resist heat
 Wool and acrylic retain body heat
 Closely woven or layered fabrics: suitable for cold weather

4. Maintenance