Textiles

Question 1

What are the two main catagories ?

Answer 1

Natural: sourced from plant and animal products

Synthetic: made from petroleum based chemicals and coals

Question 2

What is the source, use and pros and cons of wool ?

Answer 2

Sheep
Jumpers, hats and coats

Pros: warm, crease resistant, low flamibility and sustainable
Cons: shrinks with heat, itchy and expensive

Question 3

What is the source, use and pros+cons of silk ?

Answer 3

Source: silk worm
Uses: scarves and nightwear+ ties
Pros: smooth, good drape, comfortable, sun resistant and sustainable
Cons: crashes easily, expensive, doesn’t wash well

Question 4

What is the source, use and pots and cons of leather ?

Answer 4

Cows
Used in belts, sofas, car seats and bags
Pros: doesn’t fray, holds its shape, long lasting and sustainable
Cons: more difficult to see, expensive and ethical concerns

Question 5

What is the source, use and pros+cons of linen ?

Answer 5

Source: flax seed
Uses: bed linen, furniture, dresses, shirts, trousers
Pros: very cool in hot weather, dyes well, sustainable
Cons: creases very badly, flammable, poor elasticity, dries slowly

Question 6

What is the source, use and pros+ cons of cotton ?

Answer 6

Source: cotton plant
Uses: t shirts, jeans, bedding
Pros: comfortable, dyes well, washes well
Cons: creases, flammable, poor elasticity, dries slowly

Question 7

What is the source, uses and pros+ cons of polyester ?

Answer 7

Coal and oil
Clothing, curtains, cushion filling
Pros: strong, good elasticity, dries quickly, cheap
Cons: flammable, not biodegradable, not sustainable

Question 8

What is the source, uses and pros+cons of elastane (Lycra)

Answer 8

Coal and oil
Sportswear combined with other fibers for stretch such as jeans

Pros: extremely elastic, dries quickly, doesn’t crease and cheap
Cons: flammable, not biodegradable and not sustainable

Question 9

What are blended yarns ?

Answer 9

2 or more fibres spun together

Eg poly cotton

Question 10

What are mixed fabrics ?

Answer 10

2 or more yarns woven together

Eg skinny cotton jeans with 2-5% elastane

Question 11

What are the properties and uses of Kevlar ?

Answer 11

Properties: 5x stronger than steel, chemical bonds and weave pattern for strength, resistant to abrasion

Used in bulletproof vests and motorcycle jackets aswell as reinforcing tyres

Question 12

What are the properties and uses of conductive fabrics ?

Answer 12

Conducts electricity as metal strands are woven into the textile or hands have a metal coating

Wearable tech and touchscreen gloves

Question 13

How do we make fabrics ?

Answer 13

• the microscope thread like strands are called fibers: they come in sorry lengths called staple fibers and loner filaments
• fibers are typically spin/ twisted together to produce a longer and stronger yarn
• multiple yarns can form a ply
• there yarns are combined to create a length of flexible material called fabric

Question 14

How do woven fabrics work ?

Answer 14

• Two sets of yarn are interlaced
• Weft threads are the bent ones
• warp threads are the long straight ones

Uses: cotton calicos and gingham patterns like table clothes

Question 15

How do non woven fabric ?

Answer 15

• not very strong
• originally crafted from wool by hand
• used: in hats, slipper and throws