Textiles, Fabrics and Fibres

• Textiles


  All types of material
• Fabrics


  All types of material
• Fibres


  Threads that textiles and fabrics are made up of
• Categories of fibres


  • Natural
  • Manmade
  • Regenerated
• Natural fibres


  • Grown or from animals
  • Easy to grow, cheap and quick to harvest
  • Renewable and biodegradable
• Regenerated fibres


  Natural materials that have been chemically treated to produce fibres
• Regenerated fibres


  • Viscose
  • Acetate
• Synthetic fibres


  Derived from oil and processed like thermoplastics
• Synthetic fibres


  • Acrylic
  • Polyester
  • Elastane
• Fabric blending


  Combining fibres before making into fabric to combine properties
• Fabric blends


  • Polycotton
  • Elastane mixed with cotton
• Fabric construction methods


  • Weaving
  • Knitting
  • Non-woven
• Weaving


  • Threads put on a loom (warp), other threads passed under and over (weft)
  • Different warp and weft combinations create texture and pattern
• Knitted fabrics


  • Made through interlocking loops of yarn
  • Excellent insulators as they trap air
  • Stretchy
• Non-woven fabrics


  • Layers of fibres glued or forced together
  • No particular direction so don't fray
  • Not very strong or stretchy
  • Quick to produce
• Non-woven fabric uses


  • Surgical scrubs
  • Dish cloths