Fabrics Flashcards
How are most fabrics made?
Weaving or knitting yarns
How are non-woven fabrics made?
Bonding or felting fibres together
What is the weft?
The yarn going across the width of the fabric
What is the warp?
The yarn going down the length of the loom
What is the selvedge?
The side of the fabric where the welts are double backed to form a non fraying edge
What are the 3 types of woven fabric?
Plain weave
Twill weave
Satin weave
How is plain weave fabric woven?
The warp and weft ar aligned so they form a simple crisscross pattern
How is twill weave fabric woven?
The crossings of the weft and warp are offset to give a diagonal pattern on the fabric surface
How is satin weave fabric woven?
There is a complex arrangement of weft and warp threads, which allowed longer float threads either across the warp or the weft
What are the properties and uses of plain weave fabric?
Strong
Hard wearing
Fashion and furnishing
What are the properties and uses of twill weave fabric?
Strong
Drapes well
Jeans, jackets and curtains
What effect does the long floats on a satin weave have?
The light falling in the yarn doesn’t scatter and break up creating a smooth and lustrous surface
What are the two satin weave variations?
Jacquard and damask
What are the two types of knitted fabrics?
Weft knitted and warp knitted
How is weft knitted fabric made?
Looping together long lengths of yarn. Yarn runs in rows across the fabric. If the stitch is dropped it will ladder down the length of fabric
How is warp knitted fabric made?
The loops interlock vertically along the length of fabric
Which knitted fabric can be done by hand?
Weft knitted fabric
What are the properties and uses of weft knitted fabrics
Stretchy
Comfortable
Socks, t-shirts and jumpers
What are the properties and uses of plain warp knitted fabric?
Slightly stretchy
Doesn’t ladder
Swimwear, underwear and geotextiles
How are bonded fibre fabrics made?
Webs of synthetic fibres are bonded together with heat adhesives
What are the pros of using bonded fibre fabrics?
Cheap to produce Easy to sew Crease resistant So not fray Washable and dry cleanable
What are the cons of bonded fibre fabrics
Not as strong as woven or knitted fabrics
Mainly used for interlining
How is wool felt made?
Animal hair or wool fibres are matted together using moisture heat and pressure
What are the pros of felted fabric?
Warm
Doesn’t fray
What are the cons of felted fabrics?
No strength
No drape
No elasticity
Wool felt is expensive
What is felted fabric used for?
Hats slippers and handcraft
What are modern and smart fabrics designed to do?
Maximise certain characteristics; Lightness Breathability Waterproofing Etc
React to heat or light
How are modern/smart fabrics usual made?
Using microfibres
What are the properties of woven polyester/microfibres?
Woven polyester makes it; Lightweight Soft Good drape Breathable Shower proof
What are the uses of microfibres/woven polyester?
Raincoats
Active sportswear
Fashion clothing
What are the properties of polar fleece?
Lightweight
Soft
Breathable
Warm
What is polar fleece?
Brushed polyester in a warp knit
What are the uses of polar fleece?
Fleece;
Jumpers
Jackets
Blankets
What is gore-tex?
Laminated membrane
What are the properties of gore tex?
Breathable
Lightweight
Waterproof
What are the uses of gore tex
All weather jackets and shoes
What is micro-encapsulated fabric?
Different micro capsules are embedded into a fibre or fabric
What Properties can micro-encapsulated fabric have?
Aromatic scent
Reduces body odour
Provide vitamins
Reduce skin irritation
What is micro-encapsulated fabric used for?
Underwear
Anti bacterial socks
Medical textiles
What is thermochromic material?
Heat sensitive fabric
What properties can thermochromic material have?
Change colour in response to heat
Only lasts 5-10 washes
What uses does thermochromic material have?
Children’s clothes
Sporting clothing
Firefighters clothing
Wound dressings
what are photochromic dyes?
Light sensitive dyes
What are the properties of photochromic dyes?
Change colour in response to sunlight
What are the uses of photochromic dyes?
Tshirts
Military clothing
What are combination fabrics?
Layered and combined fabrics
Why use combination fabrics?
They have improved handle performance and appearance
What do interfacing fabrics such as vilene do?
Stitched or laminated into other fabrics
What are benefits of using interfacing fabric?
reinforces, stiffens and gives strength to collars and cuffs to prevent the fabric from stretching or sagging
What is quilted fabric?
Fabric with two or more layers sewn together
What are the benefits of quilted fabrics?
Attractive appearance
Added warmth
What are the benefits of kevlar?
High strength
Lightweight
Flexible
What are the uses of Kevlar?
Bicycle tyres
Racing sails
Police bulletproof vests
What is thinsulate fabric?
High insulating but thin fabric
Contains fine microfibres to capture more air in less space
What are the benefits of thinsulate?
Insulated Machine and dry washable Breathable Moisture resistant L
What is the main use of thinsulate?
As a primary layer for scuba divers diving in cold waters
Worn under a dry suit
What is memory foam?
Mounds to users shape but can return to original state
Why was memory foam initially created?
For NASA astronauts
What is memory foam used for?
Mattresses
seats
Space suits
What is smart shape memory alloy?
Returns to original shape when heated
How are smart memory shirts made?
Smart memory fibres are woven with nylon
What is special about smart memory shirts?
Don’t need ironing
What is fast skin?
Simulated texture of sharks skin
What is fastskin used for? What are its properties?
Reduces water drag with textures
Good for swimming suits
What questions should you ask when choosing a fabric?
Natural or synthetic fibre? Woven, knitted or non woven fabric? Dying, printing, mechanical finishing or chemical finishing? What is the end use? What are the aftercare requirements?
What 3 factors will determine the fabrics aesthetic, functional and comfort properties?
Fibre content
Fabric construction
Finishing processes
What are aesthetic properties?
Handle
Drape
Colour
Appearance
What are functional properties?
Strength Durability crease resistance Flame resistance Stain resistance Water resistance After care Cost
What are comfort properties?
absorbency Breathability Elasticity Softness Stretch Warmth
What properties do cycling jackets need?
Warm Breathable Elastic Wind proof Water resistant
What properties do children’s jumpers need?
Soft Colourful Stretchy Warm Easy care
What properties do seatbelts need?
Strong
Durable
Flame resistant
What properties do fire protective clothing need?
Strong Durable Flame resistant Water resistant Breathable Elastic
What properties do geotextiles need
Strong
Durable
