natural fibres Flashcards
what are the advantages of natural fibres?
-cheap
-easy to harvest
-biodegradable
where do natural fibres come from?
plants or animals
what are the five natural fibres from animals?
-wool
-silk
-alpaca
-angora
-cashmere
what are the two natural fibres from plants?
-cotton
-linen
where does linen come from?
cellulose fibre- a flax plant
what are the properties of linen?
-dyes well
-very cool in hot conditions
-creases badly
-poor elasticity
-dries slowly
what is cotton made from?
cellulose- it’s grown on a plant and it’s harvested, and cleaned and spun into a thread. cotton is easy to knit and weave
what are the properties of cotton?
-sustainable
-easily flammable
-creases
-poor elasticity
-dries slowly
-takes up dye easily
-comfortable
-washes well
where does wool come from?
any type of animal hair but wool specifically comes from sheep- the short hairy fibres can be twisted together to make a yarn ready to knit or weave
what are the properties of wool?
-warm
-crease resistant
-low flammability
-can be itchy
-expensive
-can shrink when exposed to heat
what are the disadvantages of wool?
-hairy surface which can irritate the skin
-shrinks when washed harshly- overlapping scales become tangled
what is silk?
the only natural filament fibre
where does silk come from?
cocoons from silk worms are harvested, cleaned and spun into a thread.
what is silk good for?
luxurious clothing
what are the properties of silk?
-smooth
-expensive
-easily creased
-good drape
-sun resistant
-doesn’t wash too well
