Textiles

Question 1

What are the three types or fibres and name examples

Answer 1

Natural- cotton, linen, wool, silk
Manmade- nylon, acrylic, polyester
Regenerated- viscose

Question 2

What are the two types of fibres

Answer 2

Staple- short, like cat or dog hair, wool, cotton, acrylic
Continuous- long, like human hair, luxurious, nylon, silk

Question 3

Weaving

Answer 3

Strong
Shirts, skirts, bedding, jeans, curtains

Question 4

Knitting

Answer 4

Stretchy, comfy
Underwear, jumpers and t-shirts.

Question 5

Bonded

Answer 5

Felt doesn’t need to be spun, weak short fibres compressed and glued together.
Surgical masks, kitchen cleaning cloths.

Question 6

how is wool made

Answer 6

Wool primarily comes from the fleece of sheep, however, hair from camels, llamas, goats and Angora rabbits can be used. The wool needs to be washed, then carded which brushes the wool. Worsted fabric is produced from parallel fibres for an even texture where as woollen is produced from random fibres creating a fluffy texture and a good insulator.

Question 7

Wool- advantages

Answer 7

Breathable, has elasticity, doesn’t crease, warm to wear, very absorbent, low flammability, very soft next to skin, wide range of weights, can be dyed.

Question 8

Wool- disadvantages

Answer 8

Expensive, may shrink when washed, takes long time to dry, can be itchy.

Question 9

Wool- uses

Answer 9

Soft furnishings, carpets, blankets, suits, dresses and knitwear, flannel, cashmere and tweed.

Question 10

Silk- advantages

Answer 10

Smooth finish, high absorption of moisture, soft, comfy, fine, drapes well, wide variety of textures, easy to print on.

Question 11

Silk- disadvantages

Answer 11

Expensive, may not wash well, can be weak when wet, may crease easily.

Question 12

Silk- uses

Answer 12

Underwear, knitwear and soft furnishings.

Question 13

How is cotton made?

Answer 13

From cotton bolls which form after the cotton flows has died. The boll needs to undergo ‘ginning’ where the seeds, stalks and leaves are removed, then the cotton is carded which uses brushes to draw out the cotton into a thin film which is drawn into silvers. The thin fibres are spun into twisted thread.

Question 14

Cotton- advantages

Answer 14

Comfy, durable, strong even when wet, absorbent, environmentally sustainable, inexpensive, hard wearing, cooling, able to be died or printed on.

Question 15

Cotton- disadvantages

Answer 15

Creases easily, dries slowly, shrinks, burns easily, highly flammable, damaged by sunlight.

Question 16

Cotton- uses

Answer 16

Soft furnishings, clothing, denim, sewing.

Question 17

how is nylon produced

Answer 17

The two types of nylon are produced from oil. Nylon 6 is produced through a chemical reaction where as nylon 6.6 is produced from a single compound. Nylon forms as a long filament when it is produced however can be cut into short fibres. The fibres can be woven into a very close weave making it windproof and water repellent.

Question 18

Nylon- advantages

Answer 18

Excellent abrasion resistance, lightweight, warm, absorbent, breathable, repels rain and moisture, good drape, durable, range of finishes available.

Question 19

Nylon- disadvantages

Answer 19

Low absorbency, can shrink so needs to be dry cleaned, poor resistance to UV light, static.

Question 20

Nylon- uses

Answer 20

Clothing, active sportswear, fleeces, socks, seatbelts, fishing lines, carpets, umbrellas , ropes, stockings, parachutes, kites.

Question 21

Acrylic- advantages

Answer 21

Luxurious appearance, wide range of colours, durable, soft, shrinkage and moth resistant, dry fast as low moisture absorbency, oil resistant, doesn’t wrinkle.

Question 22

Acrylic-disadvantages

Answer 22

Prone to static build up and pilling. Not as breathable as natural fibres, can be unconfutable as doesn’t change based on temperatures, not as environmentally friendly as natural fibres.

Question 23

Acrylic- uses

Answer 23

Socks, hats, gloves, sweaters, fabrics, home furniture and awnings.

Question 24

How is polyester made

Answer 24

Polyester was developed in the 1950s as a by product of the petrochemical industry. Polyester mainly comes from non-sustainable sources however there is a growing number of recycled plastic bottles being used. It is a versatile alternative to natural fibres as it can be produced by weaving or knitting.

Question 25

Polyester- advantages

Answer 25

Good strength, dries easily and quickly, resists rubbing, non-absorbent, good drape, durable, can be soft, doesn't shrink or wrinkle, crease or stretch, and recyclable. Resistant to chemicals, mould, rot and sunlight. Easily cared for and can feel silky.

Question 26

Polyester-disadvantages

Answer 26

Static, tends to hold odours and is less breathable compared to natural fibres. Non- absorbent, not warm, needs ironing to remove creases.

Question 27

Polyester- uses

Answer 27

Often mixed with cotton, raincoats, fleeces, nightwear for children, medical textiles, car seatbelts and sportswear, duvet and pillow filling.

Question 28

How is linen produced

Answer 28

Linen fibres are produced from a plant called flax which grows in cool damp climates mostly in the northern hemisphere. The plants are harvested and left out to allow microorganisms to attack the gum that attaches the fibre to the stem. The flax is collected, dried and scutched (rolling and scraping), the fibres between 30 and 50cm are then spun into yarn.

Question 29

Linen- advantages

Answer 29

Antibacterial, durable, strong when wet, comfy, strong, cool to wear, very hard wearing, insect repelling, sustainable, dries quickly, can be washed and ironed, luxurious, breathable, little fluff, high absorption of water, lightweight, withstands high temperatures.

Question 30

Linen- uses

Answer 30

Table linen, tea towels, aprons, sheets, curtains, soft furnishings, embroidery, lace and shirts or blouses.

Question 31

Linen- disadvantages

Answer 31

Can fade in sunlight, can be difficult to work with, doesn't drape, difficult to dry and dye, expensive, creases badly, frays badly.

Question 32

Polypropylene- advantages

Answer 32

Heat, water, abrasion, moth, chemical stains and fading resistant, tough, durable, affordable to produce, lightweight, recyclable, quick drying, retains heat, no static electricity.

Question 33

Polypropylene- disadvantages

Answer 33

Can be damaged by UV light, cannot be dyed once spun, specialist dry cleaning required.

Question 34

Polypropylene- uses

Answer 34

Table cloths, tote bags, rope, carpet, outdoor clothing, twine, upholstery, luggage, face masks.

Question 35

What are the 10 surface finishes that can be applied to textiles called

Answer 35

Printing, flame retardant, water repellent, crease resistance, stain resistant, calendaring, brushing, embossing, bio stoning, mercerising.

Question 36

What is printing

Answer 36

An image inkjet printed onto specially treated paper can be heat pressed onto fabric to provide a permanent image.

Question 37

What is flame retardant

Answer 37

Chemical additives can be sprayed onto fabric to slow down the combustion process at different stages such as heating, ignition and spreading of the flame. One chemical additive option is a mixture of phosphine gas, formaldehyde and a mineral gas such as hydrochloric acid.

Question 38

What is water repellent

Answer 38

Silicone-based chemicals can be sprayed on to provide a protective barrier.

Question 39

What is crease resistance

Answer 39

A resin can be applied to stop creases setting.

Question 40

What is stain resistance

Answer 40

A silicone-based spray can stop stains being absorbed into the fabric.

Question 41

What is calendaring

Answer 41

Sends fabric through heated rollers and makes it smooth.

Question 42

What is brushing

Answer 42

Fabric is sent through a series of fine wire-toothed rollers, which gives it a soft, fluffy surface.

Question 43

What is embossing

Answer 43

Synthetic fibres are sent through heated, decorative rollers pressing the pattern texture into the fabric.

Question 44

What is bio stoning

Answer 44

Adding a cellulose enzyme to the washing process causes a stonewashed, distressed effect, mainly used on denim.

Question 45

What is mercerising

Answer 45

Especially used on cotton, sodium hydroxide is added to the fibres making them swell to give a shiny appearance.

Question 46

What is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Answer 46

Provides a protective surface to a fabric which helps prevent stain and liquid damage.