Types of materials

• Types of Material

  • Natural
  • Manufactured
• Fibres

  Small hair-like structures used to make fabrics
• Spinning

  Twisting fibres together to make yarn
• Fibres

  • On their own they are very weak but when twisted to make yarn they become stronger
  • Different types of fibres have different properties (things that they do such as strength, durability, elasticity, crease resistance)
  • If different fibres are twisted together they form yarns with combined properties
• Main groups of fibres

  • Natural
• Natural Fibres

  • Animal fibres (wool, silk, angora, mohair, alpaca)
  • Plant fibres (cotton, flax, jute, hemp)
• Natural Fibres

  • They are biodegradable (rot away) and are sustainable as they will grow again so are environmentally friendly if produced organically
• Manmade Fibres

  • Synthetic fibres (polyamide, polyester, acrylic, elastane, microfibers)
  • Regenerated fibres (viscose, triacetate, acetate, modal)
• Manmade Fibres

  • They are not environmentally friendly as they are made from chemicals which come from oil or coal
• Regenerated fibres

  Made from a combination of chemicals and cellulose (tree products)
• Fibre properties

  • Crease resistance
  • Absorbency
  • Strength
  • Insulation
  • Elasticity
• Blending fibres


  Combines the best properties of both fibres (e.g. cotton and polyester to make polycotton)
• Cotton


  • Fine, flexible and lie close together making it cool to wear
  • Strong and absorbs water easily
  • Crease easily
  • Washes well
• Linen


  • Creases very easily
  • Strong and absorbs water easily, is stronger when wet
  • Hardwearing
  • Washes well and dries quickly
  • Less comfortable to wear than cotton as less flexible
• Wool


  • Resistant to creasing and quite elastic, making them comfortable to wear
  • Insulate well because the fibres trap air between them
  • Absorbent but also slightly repel water
  • Can be felted together when warm and wet
• Silk


  • Cool fibres but can also keep you warm
  • Absorbent and dye well
  • Long and smooth fibres which give a lustrous and soft finish
  • Does not crease easily
  • Very strong
• Conversion of fibres into fabrics

  1. Fibres are twisted together by spinning to make yarn

  2. Yarn is knitted or woven to make fabrics

  3. Different ways of knitting or weaving change the type of fabric, altering the look, properties and feel

  4. Fibres can also be joined together by felting, stitching or chemicals (missing out the spinning process) to make non-woven fabrics
• Woven fabrics


  • Fray easily when cut
  • Don't stretch much
  • A close weave gives a strong and firm fabric
  • Are strongest along the straight grain of the fabric
  • Cool in temperature
• Types of woven fabric

  • Satin
  • Twill fabrics such as denim
  • Pile fabric such as velvet, towelling
  • Plain cotton, polycotton or canvas
• Products made from woven fabrics

  • Products that you don't want to lose shape by stretching (e.g. trousers, towels, carpet)
• Knitted fabrics

  • Are stretchy
  • Unravel
  • Are warm
• Types of knitted fabric

  • Jersey
  • Double jersey
  • Velour
  • Fur fabric
  • Fleece
• Products made from knitted fabrics


  • Products that you want to stretch and have some give (e.g. T-shirts, jumpers, track suits, cuddly toys)
• Non-Woven Fabrics

  • Cheap fabrics as the process of spinning the fibres into yarn is missed out, saving money
  • Weak, easily torn fabrics as fibres are not held together in any structured, secure way
  • Break rather than stretch
  • Shouldn't be used as the base fabric of a product as will not wash or wear well due to structure
• Types of Non-Woven fabrics

  • Interfacing (vilene)
  • Bondaweb
  • Felt
  • Wadding
• Products made from Non-Woven fabrics


  • Support or strengthening for garments (e.g. interfacing, bondaweb)
  • Often used to make disposable items (e.g. disposable knickers, fabrics on sanitary towels)
  • Cleaning cloths (e.g. dusters)
• Fabric Finish


  Applied to a fabric once it has been made to improve its appearance, feel or other properties
• Main types of Fabric Finishes

  • Physical
  • Chemical
  • Biological
  • Coated
• Reasons for using Fabric Finishes

  • Improve appearance (colour, pattern, sheen)
  • Change the texture (embossing, brushing, smoothing)
  • Improve the feel (softer, crisper, firmer)
  • Improve the drape
  • Improve wearing qualities (crease resistance, stain resistance, flammability, waterproofing)
  • Modify care requirements (easy wash, quicker drying, colourfast, less shrinkage)
• Mechanical Fabric Finishes

  • Brushing
  • Calendering
  • Embossing
  • Shrinkage control
• Chemical Fabric Finishes

  • Mercerising
  • Flame proofing
  • Waterproofing
  • Stain resistance
  • Easy care
  • Anti-static
  • Anti-felting
  • Moth proofing