Fibres
• All fabrics are made from tiny hair like structures
called fibres. They are either staple(short) or
Filament (long ) fibres.
• There are three main groups of fibres
• Animal like wool, silk, alpaca
• Plants like cotton, linen.
• Synthetic fibres are man-made from the by products
of oil. Like acrylic.
• Regenerated fibres are made from a combination of
chemicals and cellulose waste . Like viscose, modal
Yarns
• Individual fibres are weak but
if you put them together and
make a yarn they become
much stronger.
• Yarns are made by spinning
and twisting fibres together.
• The worsted system produces
smooth yarn
• Whilst the woollen spinning
system produces a more hairy
yarn.
Yarns
• Fibres can be spun in one of
two ways.
• S twist-anticlockwise
• Z twist-clock wise.
• These long lengths are wound
onto spools or cones.
• There are many different types
of yarn including spun, folded,
plied, complex and fancy.
• Bulk yarns are heavier and
chunkier and are often used
for hats scarves and sweaters.
Knitted Fabrics
• Knitted fabrics are made by
forming the yarn into loops.
• These loops are elastic and the
fabric is therefore stretchy.
Further elasticity can be added
through elastane.
• Knitted fabrics are warm and
this can be improved by
brushing the fabric as in a
fleece.
Types of knit
• Weft knits
• Have horizontal rows of
knitted yarn.
• Have horizontal ribs on the
wrong side
• Have v shaped loops
• Have interlocking loops above
and below each row.
• Examples include polyester
fleece fabrics, single jersey like
in T shirts.
• Warp knits
• Have interlocking loops or
chain vertically up and down
the fabric
• Can only be machine made
• Are less elastic and tend to be
firmer fabric
• Keep their shape and don't
usually ladder when cut
• Include lightweight fabrics like
net and lace.
Woven Fabrics
• Woven fabrics are constructed from
interlocking threads or yarns. They
are made on a weaving loom.
• Woven fabrics are made up of
• Weft yarns which run horizontally
• Warp yarns which run vertically
• Woven fabrics –
• Fray easily
• Are strongest along the straight
grain of the fabric
• Lack elasticity
• Are stronger and firmer the closer
the weave.
• Woven fabrics have a
• Selvedge –an edge that will not fray
• Bias-a diagonal or cross grain.