Textiles

• Properties of natural fibres to make them suitable for clothing include:

  
  

  • thermal properties

  • soft to handle

  • absorbency for dyeing

  • good drape (the way in which fabric hangs)

  • can be washed and ironed
• Cotton is soft and can be washed / ironed at high temperatures

  
  

  Creased easily
• Cotton is used for t-shirts, socks and underwear
• Cotton fibres come from the seed of a bushy plant grown in tropical parts of the world.
• Wool is a hair fibre that mostly comes from sheep (although some luxury wools come from goats, rabbits and other furry animals).
• wool is soft, warm and will not crease

  
  

  shrink in a tumble dryer (special finishing required)
• wool is good at absorbing moisture, but is also water repellent
• wool is used for sweaters, blankets and coats
• Silk is a protein fibre that comes from the cocoon of the silk caterpillar.
• Silk is used for evening dresses and lingerie
• Creases easily: Cotton, Silk
• Polyester is hard, crease resistant and doesn't absorb moisture
• Polyester is used for clothing, bedsheets and ropes
• Polyamide (Nylon) is extremely strong, lightweight and is a thermoplastic

  
  

  exposure to sun will cause the fabric to yellow and eventually rot.
• Nylon is used for underwear, shoelaces and tents
• Elastane (Lycra) is stretchy, easily washable and quick drying
• Lycra is used for sportswear and swimwear
• Fibres are blended:

  • to help reduce the cost of the fabric
  • to make the fabric stronger
  • to make a fabric easier to care for
  • to enable fabrics to be more crease-resistant
  • to allow fabrics to be heat-set.
• Most modern fabrics contain more than one fibre. This is called a mixed or blended fibre.

  Blending is achieved by spinning two or more fibres together to make a yarn.
• (Polycotton) made from polyester and cotton

  
  

  is a popular blend used to produce shirts, bed sheets, car seat covers and furniture.
• to produce different fibres with more desirable/enhanced

  properties, eg polyester can mitigate against shrinkage, creasing

  and slower drying speed

  • make a yarn (blend of two or more fibres) to make a better product

  • improve durability in the fibre, eg poly-cotton (polyester and cotton

  mix)

  • make fabric easier to care for

  • make clothing less likely to shrink or crease.

  • produce clothing more cheaply, eg poly-cotton is a cheaper

  material than pure cotton

  • use of cotton with a synthetic material makes it more breathable

  hence comfortable to wear
• Warp = y axis
• turn of weft is called selvedge
• Bonded fabrics

  • cheap to manufacture
  • easy to sew
  • do not fray
• Felting

  • warm and soft
  • do not fray
  • not as strong as woven and knitted fabrics
• Weft = x axis
• Silk is lightweight and strong (but weak when wet)

  
  

  however, its expensive and creases easily
• Two properties of natural fibres that make them suitable for clothing : Absorbency for dyeing and ability to be washed & ironed