Textiles
Design & Technology: AQA GCSE, topic 1.6.6
Textiles: Fibres
Textiles are categorised into several types: plant-based natural fibres, animal-based natural fibres, synthetic fibres, blended and mixed fibres, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, and knitted textiles.
Plant-based natural fibres
- Plant-based natural fibres have the following characteristics:
- These plant fibres can be spun together to make yarn.
- Fabrics are extracted from plant-based materials that are renewable but take a long time to grow.
- The most common type is cotton.
Animal-based natural fibres
- Animal-based natural fibres have the following characteristics:
- These animal-based fibres can be spun together to make yarn.
- Fabrics are taken from animal-based materials that are renewable but take a long time to extract.
- The most common type is wool and silk.
Synthetic fibres
- Synthetic fibres have the following characteristics:
- Synthetic fibres are readily available and easy to maintain.
- Synthetic fibres are durable and have a high resistance to wear and tear.
- Synthetic fibres absorb very little water and dry very quickly.
- Synthetic fibres can be very lightweight and wrinkle resistant.
Blended and mixed fibres
- Blended and mixed fibres have the following characteristics:
- Blended fabrics are created by combining one or more fibres together to make a new fabric.
- They tend to be easy to clean, care for and comfortable.
- Common examples include polyester/cotton and Nylon/wool.
Textiles: Weave
Textiles are categorised into several types: plant-based natural fibres, animal-based natural fibres, synthetic fibres, blended and mixed fibres, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, and knitted textiles.
Woven textiles
- Woven textiles have the following characteristics:
- Woven textiles are produced by weaving yarn a technique that dates back thousands of years.
- There are many types of woven textiles the most common being plain weave.
Woven textiles cont.
- The woven cloth are made up of two sets of thread woven 90 degrees to each:
- The warp threads run horizontally the length of the fabric.
- The weft runs across the fabric from selvedge to selvedge.
Non-woven textiles
- Non-woven textiles have the following characteristics:
- Non-woven textiles are made directly from fibres without being spun into yarns.
- These fabrics tend to be bonded together from a web of fibres held together with heat or adhesive.
- Non-woven textiles can be given special properties to make them heat resistant.
Examples of non-woven textiles
- Common examples of non-woven textiles are:
- Surgeon’s garments.
- Dishcloths.
- Crime scene investigator overalls.
Knitted textiles
- Knitted textiles have the following characteristics:
- Knitted textiles is a traditional technique that has been used for hundreds of years and incorporates interlocking yarn loops to make a fabric.
- There are two types of knitted fabric called warp and weft knit.
- Knitting can be done by machine or by hand.
Weft and warp knitting
- Weft knitting fabrics are made by hand or by machine and tend to be quite stretchy due to the loose knitted yarns.
- Warp knitting fabrics are made by hand or machine and tend to be more complex in shape due to the interlocking yarns.
- They tend to be less stretchy and hold their shape for longer.
Test yourself on Textiles
Which is an example of a plant-based natural fibre?