Fibers & Fabrics

Variety of fabric. From the left: evenweave cotton, velvet, printed

cotton, calico, felt, satin, silk, hessian, polycotton.

Sunday textile market on the sidewalks of

Karachi, Pakistan.

Natural FibersCotton

Wool

Silk

Flax

More Natural Fibers

Hemp

Jute

Sisal

Properties of wool:1) It is hard wearing and absorbs moisture.2) It does not burn over a flame but smolders instead.3) It is lightweight and versatile.4) Wool does not wrinkle easily.5) It is resistant to dirt and wear and tear.

Uses: Wool is used to make sweaters, dresses, coats, suits, jackets, pants and the lining of boots. It can also be made into blankets and carpets.

WOOL

Wool comes from sheep, llamas, rabbits and goats.

SHEARING: New technologies are being worked on to reduce

the labor costs needed for shearing. It includes injections that make the wool fall off and also a robot that can shear the

sheep.

After the shearing wool is baled.

Wool Production Process

Combing

Sorting

Finishing

Properties of cotton:1) It is soft and comfortable.2) It wrinkles easily.3) It absorbs perspiration quickly.4) It has good color retention and is good to print on.5) Cotton is also strong and durable.

Uses: Cotton is used to make blouses, shirts, shorts, jackets and pants. It can also be made into bedspreads, towels, pillowcases, carpets and curtains.

COTTON

Cotton Production Process

Growing

Picking

Cleaning

Carding

Spinning

SILKProperties of silk:• 1) It is versatile and very comfortable.

2) It absorbs moisture.3) It is cool to wear in the summer yet warm to wear

in winter.4) It can be easily dyed. 5) It retains its shape and is relatively smooth.6) It has a poor resistance to sunlight exposure.7) It is the strongest natural fiber and is lustrous.

Uses: • Silk is used to make blouses, dresses, scarves,

pants and ties. It can also be made into curtains, draperies, cushion covers and sofa covers.

Workers classify silkworm cocoons before they are processed at a silk factory. Each cocoon has a thread that

is 1,000 to 3,000 feet long. A mile is 5280 feet.

Linen is made from the Flax plant

Synthetic Manufactured Fibers

• Rayon, 1910• Acetate, 1924, • Nylon, 1939• Modacrylic, 1949• Acrylic, 1950,• Polyester, 1953• PLA, 2002

AND…• Aramid (Twaron, Kevlar,

Technora, Nomex)• Carbon fiber• Microfiber• Olefin• Polyethelene (Dyneema,

Spectra)• Spandex• Zylon

POLYESTERProperties of polyester:• 1) It is resists wrinkling.

2) It is easy to launder.3) It dries quickly.4) It is resistant to stretching and shrinking.

Uses: • Polyester is used to make

most forms of clothing like shirts, running shorts, track pants, windbreakers, and lingerie. It can also be made into curtains and draperies.

• The most used of all fibers!

NYLONProperties of nylon:• 1) It is strong and elastic.

2) It is easy to launder.3) It dries quickly.4) It retains its shape.5) It is resilient and responsive to heat setting.

Uses: • Nylon is popular for hosiery and is

used to make track pants, shorts, swimwear, active wear, tents, windbreakers, bedspread and draperies. It can also be made into parachutes, flak vests, combat uniforms, tires and life vests, or used as the netting of bridal veils, umbrellas and luggage.

Typical Weave Construction(takes two threads/yarns to create a weave)

Fabric Manufacturing

Huge looms used to weave fabric.

Looms for weaving fabrics.

Knitting Machines in Textile Factory.(use just one thread/yarn to create knits)

Left and below: Examples of circular knitting. Used for socks and t-shirts.

Felted Fabrics

• Another way fabrics are made is by felting.

• Fibers are randomly put together with heat and pressure.

• This type of fabric is commonly used for:– Carpet pads– Craft items– Quilt battings

Working in a textile plant.Assembly line production

Assembly line production is when each person does a step of the process

and then passes it on to the next.

a. _______________ b. _______________

c. _______________ d. _______________

h. _______________g. _______________

f. _______________e. _______________