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Assam ASSEB HSLC Weaving & Textile Design study materials
Assam ASSEB HSLC Weaving & Textile Design study resources

Assam ASSEB HSLC Weaving & Textile Design practice questions

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Question 1Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

In weaving terminology, what is a single continuous lengthwise thread in a woven fabric called?

  1. A weft pick
  2. A float
  3. A warp end Correct answer.
  4. A selvedge

Explanation

The lengthwise threads stretched on the loom are warp threads, and one individual lengthwise thread is called a warp end. Weft threads run crosswise and are inserted over and under the warp. Keeping the two directions distinct is the foundation of all later weave analysis.

Question 2Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

Which term describes the self-finished edge that prevents a woven fabric from unravelling along its length?

  1. The heading
  2. The fringe
  3. The nap
  4. The selvedge Correct answer.

Explanation

The selvedge is the tightly woven border formed where the weft turns back at each side of the loom. Because the weft loops around the outer warp ends, the edge does not fray in the way a cut edge would. It is normally stronger and denser than the body of the cloth.

Question 3Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

A weaver counts 40 warp ends per inch and 30 weft picks per inch in a finished cloth. Which statement is correct?

  1. The warp sett is 30 ends per inch and the weft density is 40 picks per inch
  2. The warp sett is 40 ends per inch and the weft density is 30 picks per inch Correct answer.
  3. Both counts describe the weft density of the cloth
  4. The counts cannot be compared because they use different units

Explanation

Ends per inch always refers to the warp and picks per inch always refers to the weft, so the figures must be read in that order. Here the warp is the denser direction at 40 ends per inch. Both counts use the same unit, the inch, so they are directly comparable.

Question 4Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

Which weave structure is produced by interlacing warp and weft in a simple over-one, under-one sequence?

  1. Satin weave
  2. Twill weave
  3. Plain weave Correct answer.
  4. Pile weave

Explanation

Plain weave is the simplest interlacing, where each weft pick passes alternately over and under successive warp ends. It gives a firm, stable cloth with maximum thread interlacing. Twill and satin both rely on floats to create their characteristic surfaces.

Question 5Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

What is the correct name for the frame or machine part that holds the warp threads under tension during weaving?

  1. The reed
  2. The shuttle
  3. The loom Correct answer.
  4. The heddle

Explanation

The loom is the whole apparatus that holds the warp under tension and carries the mechanisms for shedding, picking and beating up. The reed, shuttle and heddle are individual components mounted on it. Naming the whole machine rather than a part is the key distinction here.

Question 6Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

In a woven fabric, the term 'grain' refers to which feature?

  1. The direction in which the cloth was folded for packing
  2. The direction of the diagonal lines in a twill
  3. The direction in which the cloth was dyed
  4. The direction of the warp threads running lengthwise Correct answer.

Explanation

Grain describes the alignment of the warp threads along the length of the fabric, which is why pattern pieces are usually placed on the straight grain. It is a structural direction set during weaving, not a finishing or handling effect. Cutting across the grain changes how a garment hangs and stretches.

Question 7Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

A weaver wants a cloth with a clear diagonal line running across the surface. Which weave should be chosen, and why?

  1. Satin weave, because long floats reflect light strongly
  2. Plain weave, because it has the greatest number of interlacings
  3. Twill weave, because the interlacing point advances by one or more threads each pick Correct answer.
  4. Pile weave, because the surface tufts catch the light

Explanation

In twill weave the interlacing point shifts regularly along the warp from pick to pick, so the floats form a continuous diagonal rib. This stepped progression is what produces the visible twill line. Plain weave has no floats and satin floats are deliberately scattered to hide any line.

Question 8Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

What is the shed in weaving?

  1. The pile of woven cloth wound onto the cloth beam
  2. The gap between two adjacent warp ends in the reed
  3. The space left at the end of a weft pick before turning
  4. The opening formed between raised and lowered warp threads through which the weft is passed Correct answer.

Explanation

The shed is the temporary triangular or rectangular opening created when the heddles lift some warp ends and lower others. The shuttle or weft carrier travels through this opening. A clean shed is essential for smooth picking and for correct interlacing.

Question 9Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

A reed has 60 dents and each dent is threaded with 2 warp ends. How many warp ends are in the reed?

  1. 30
  2. 60
  3. 90
  4. 120 Correct answer.

Explanation

Each dent holds the number of ends with which it is threaded, so the total is the dent count multiplied by ends per dent. Here 60 dents multiplied by 2 ends per dent gives 120 warp ends. Reed count and ends per dent together determine the warp sett.

Question 10Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

Which term describes the number of warp threads contained in a given width of cloth, usually expressed per inch?

  1. The crimp
  2. The count of the yarn
  3. The pick
  4. The sett Correct answer.

Explanation

Sett, or ends per inch, states how many warp threads occupy a unit width in the woven cloth. It is a measure of warp density and directly affects the firmness and handle of the fabric. Yarn count, by contrast, describes the thickness of a single yarn.

Question 11Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

During weaving, weft threads appear slightly wavy rather than straight. What is this waviness called and why does it occur?

  1. Twist, caused by spinning the yarn too tightly
  2. Crimp, caused by the interlacement of warp and weft taking up length Correct answer.
  3. Nap, caused by brushing the finished cloth
  4. Drape, caused by the weight of the cloth hanging

Explanation

Crimp is the undulation a thread develops as it passes over and under crossing threads. Interlacement forces each thread to take a longer path than the straight distance it covers, so length is taken up. Crimp therefore explains why more yarn is needed than the finished cloth dimensions suggest.

Question 12Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

Which yarn property is described as the number of twists per unit length, and why does it matter in weaving?

  1. The crimp, because it fixes the width of the loom
  2. The twist level, because it affects yarn strength, liveliness and abrasion during weaving Correct answer.
  3. The lustre, because it fixes the shade of the dye
  4. The count, because it fixes the weight of the cloth

Explanation

Twist level, usually expressed as turns per inch or per metre, controls how tightly the fibres are bound together. Higher twist generally gives a stronger, leaner yarn but also a livelier yarn that may snarl or kink during weaving. It therefore affects both performance on the loom and the final handle of the cloth.

Question 13Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

What is the function of the take-up motion on a loom?

  1. It separates the warp threads into two layers before weaving begins
  2. It winds the woven cloth onto the cloth beam at a controlled rate Correct answer.
  3. It lifts the heddle frames to form the shed
  4. It drives the shuttle across the warp

Explanation

The take-up motion draws the finished cloth forward and winds it onto the cloth beam, while the let-off motion releases fresh warp. The two work together to keep warp tension steady as weaving progresses. Controlled take-up also governs the picks per inch in the cloth.

Question 14Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

A fabric is described as having a 'balanced' plain weave. What does this mean in terms of thread spacing?

  1. The weft floats over five warp ends in every repeat
  2. The warp and weft yarns are of equal count and have equal ends and picks per inch Correct answer.
  3. The warp is twice as dense as the weft
  4. The cloth has been dyed evenly on both faces

Explanation

A balanced plain weave has the same yarn count in warp and weft and an equal number of ends and picks per unit length. This symmetry gives the maximum possible number of interlacings and a firm, square-set cloth. If either direction dominates, the weave is described as unbalanced.

Question 15Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

Which weave is characterised by long floats that give a smooth, lustrous face and a duller back?

  1. Rib weave
  2. Basket weave
  3. Plain weave
  4. Satin weave Correct answer.

Explanation

Satin weave uses long floats arranged so that the interlacing points are widely spaced and scattered, leaving a smooth reflective surface. The reverse shows the short, dull interlacing points. Because of the long floats, satin fabrics are more prone to snagging than plain or twill cloths.

Question 16Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

A designer needs a cloth in which the weft forms raised cut tufts on the surface. Which weave category provides this structure?

  1. A crepe weave with a random pebbly surface
  2. A leno weave with crossed warp ends
  3. A cut-pile weave such as velvet or carpet construction Correct answer.
  4. A dobby weave with small geometric motifs

Explanation

Cut-pile structures weave an extra set of pile threads over wires or between ground picks, then cut them to leave standing tufts. Velvet and many carpets are made this way. The ground cloth holds the pile in place while the tufts give the raised surface.

Question 17Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

In a leno weave, what happens to the warp threads during weaving?

  1. Every warp end is cut after a few picks
  2. The warp is printed with a pattern before weaving
  3. Pairs of warp ends cross over each other between picks Correct answer.
  4. The weft is beaten with a comb instead of a reed

Explanation

Leno weaving uses doup heddles to make adjacent warp ends cross and recross around the weft. This crossing locks the weft in place and produces an open, stable gauze fabric. The structure is valued for its firmness despite a very open sett.

Question 18Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

A weaver reports that the picks per inch in the cloth fall short of the intended value. Which loom adjustment most directly corrects this?

  1. Increase the number of ends threaded per dent in the reed
  2. Increase the twist level in the weft yarn
  3. Adjust the take-up or beat-up so that more picks are packed into each inch Correct answer.
  4. Change the heddle threading order to a different draft

Explanation

Picks per inch is set by how far the cloth advances per pick and how firmly each pick is beaten into the fell. Reducing the take-up rate or increasing beat-up force packs more picks into each inch. Reed threading and draft order control the warp, not the weft density.

Question 19Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

A plain-weave cotton cloth has 48 ends per inch and 48 picks per inch, with warp and weft yarns of the same count. A buyer asks for a cloth of identical appearance but 25 per cent lighter per square metre. Which change keeps the weave balanced while reducing mass?

  1. Keep the same yarns and increase picks per inch to 60
  2. Change the weave to a 2/2 twill with the same yarns and sett
  3. Reduce the ends per inch to 36 and keep picks at 48
  4. Use a finer yarn count in both warp and weft and reduce ends and picks proportionally Correct answer.

Explanation

Mass per unit area depends on yarn thickness and on thread density in both directions. Using a finer yarn in both warp and weft and lowering ends and picks proportionally keeps the balance between the two directions while reducing mass. Changing only one direction would make the weave unbalanced.

Question 20Introduction to Weaving and Textile Terminology

Two cloths have the same yarn count and the same ends and picks per inch, but one is plain weave and the other is a 4/1 satin. Which statement best explains the difference in their properties?

  1. The satin has fewer interlacings, so its yarns are freer, giving a smoother face but lower resistance to snagging Correct answer.
  2. The plain weave has longer floats, so it is smoother but weaker
  3. The two cloths must behave identically because sett and yarn count are equal
  4. The satin has more interlacings, so it is firmer and more abrasion resistant

Explanation

Interlacing frequency, not sett alone, governs surface and durability. A 4/1 satin has far fewer interlacing points than plain weave, so the floats lie flat and reflect light for a smooth face. The same long floats make the cloth easier to snag and abrade.

Question 21Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which of the following fibres is classified as a natural cellulosic fibre used in Assamese handloom weaving?

  1. Silk
  2. Jute Correct answer.
  3. Polyester
  4. Wool

Explanation

Jute is a bast fibre composed mainly of cellulose, obtained from plant stems, and it is widely used in Assam for making yarn and fabric. Silk and wool are natural protein fibres, while polyester is a synthetic polymer fibre.

Question 22Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Eri silk, traditionally reared in Assam, is popularly known as which type of silk because its cocoon is not reeled but spun?

  1. Muga golden silk
  2. Tasar reeled silk
  3. Non-mulberry spun silk Correct answer.
  4. Mulberry silk

Explanation

Eri silk is a non-mulberry silk whose cocoons are open-ended, so the filaments cannot be reeled continuously; the fibre is spun like cotton or wool. Muga is the golden silk of Assam but is reeled, and tasar is a different wild silk.

Question 23Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

A weaver wants a yarn with high tensile strength, low moisture regain and resistance to rot for making fishing nets. Which fibre property combination best suits this use?

  1. Good elasticity and low abrasion resistance
  2. High elongation and high moisture regain
  3. High tenacity with low moisture absorption Correct answer.
  4. High warmth retention and low density

Explanation

Nets need strong yarn that does not swell or degrade in water, so high tenacity combined with low moisture absorption is desirable. Elongation, warmth and low density do not address strength and rot resistance in wet conditions.

Question 24Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which simple field test distinguishes a pure cotton yarn from a pure wool yarn most reliably?

  1. Float test in water
  2. Burning test Correct answer.
  3. Magnetic test
  4. Gram-per-metre test

Explanation

The burning test works because cotton, a cellulose fibre, burns with a smell of burning paper and leaves soft grey ash, whereas wool, a protein fibre, smells of burnt hair and leaves a crushable dark bead. The other tests do not separate cellulose from protein fibres.

Question 25Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

In the burning test, a fibre that melts and shrinks away from the flame, smells of hot plastic and leaves a hard black bead is most likely to be which type?

  1. Polyester Correct answer.
  2. Cotton
  3. Silk
  4. Wool

Explanation

Synthetic fibres such as polyester thermoplasticise, shrink from the flame and form a hard, dark bead with a chemical smell. Natural cellulosic and protein fibres char or burn with paper or hair odours and leave soft ash rather than a hard bead.

Question 26Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

What does the term 'staple fibre' mean when describing a yarn?

  1. A fibre coated with wax
  2. A fibre with a hollow core
  3. A fibre of short, limited length Correct answer.
  4. A filament of indefinite length

Explanation

Staple fibres are short fibres measured in centimetres, such as cotton, wool and spun silk, and they must be twisted together to form yarn. Continuous filaments of indefinite length are the opposite category.

Question 27Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which yarn production route converts short cotton fibres into a continuous yarn by parallelising and twisting them?

  1. Ring spinning Correct answer.
  2. Wet spinning
  3. Film slitting
  4. Melt spinning

Explanation

Ring spinning drafts a roving of staple fibres, inserts twist with a traveller and spindle, and winds the yarn onto a cop. Melt spinning, wet spinning and film slitting are filament production methods, not staple yarn spinning.

Question 28Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

A yarn label reads '60s count' for a cotton yarn. In the indirect English cotton count system, what does a higher count number indicate?

  1. A finer yarn Correct answer.
  2. A thicker yarn
  3. A rougher yarn
  4. A heavier yarn

Explanation

The English cotton count is an indirect system in which the number expresses how many hanks of 840 yards weigh one pound; a larger number therefore means more length per unit weight, that is, a finer yarn. Thickness and weight move in the opposite direction to the count.

Question 29Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which yarn property is directly increased by inserting more twist per unit length in a staple yarn?

  1. Colour fastness
  2. Fineness
  3. Strength up to an optimum twist Correct answer.
  4. Lustre

Explanation

Twist binds staple fibres together and increases inter-fibre friction, so strength rises with twist up to an optimum point, after which over-twisting reduces it. Fineness, lustre and colour fastness are not controlled by twist level in this way.

Question 30Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which of the following best describes a plied yarn?

  1. A filament extruded directly from a spinneret
  2. A yarn made only from waste fibres
  3. A single strand of untwisted fibres
  4. Two or more single yarns twisted together Correct answer.

Explanation

Plying twists two or more already-spun single yarns together, improving uniformity, strength and balance. A single untwisted strand, a direct filament and a waste-only yarn are different categories.

Question 31Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Muga silk is prized in Assam mainly because of which distinctive property?

  1. Natural golden colour and high durability Correct answer.
  2. Thermal insulation and crimp
  3. Elasticity and resistance to sunlight
  4. High moisture regain and low strength

Explanation

Muga silk has a natural golden lustre that does not fade easily and offers good durability, which makes it culturally and commercially valuable in Assam. High crimp and elasticity are characteristic of wool, not Muga.

Question 32Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

A fabric sample dissolves in concentrated sulphuric acid but remains unaffected in cold dilute acid and burns with a burnt-hair smell. Which fibre is it most likely to be?

  1. Jute
  2. Cotton
  3. Wool Correct answer.
  4. Polyester

Explanation

Wool is a protein fibre, so it burns with a burnt-hair smell and is attacked by concentrated sulphuric acid. Cotton and jute are cellulosic and behave differently in acid, while polyester resists many acids and melts rather than smelling of burnt hair.

Question 33Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Why is moisture regain an important property to consider when selecting a fibre for summer clothing in humid Assam?

  1. Higher regain helps absorb perspiration and feel comfortable Correct answer.
  2. Higher regain prevents colour fading
  3. Higher regain increases the melting point of the fibre
  4. Higher regain makes the fabric waterproof

Explanation

Fibres with good moisture regain, such as cotton and silk, absorb perspiration and release it, which improves comfort in hot humid weather. Regain does not confer waterproofing, raise melting point or stop dye fading.

Question 34Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which of these is a regenerated cellulosic fibre rather than a fully synthetic fibre?

  1. Viscose rayon Correct answer.
  2. Polypropylene
  3. Nylon
  4. Acrylic

Explanation

Viscose rayon is made by dissolving cellulose pulp and regenerating it into filaments, so it is a regenerated cellulosic fibre. Nylon, polypropylene and acrylic are synthesised from petrochemical monomers.

Question 35Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

A handloom weaver in Assam wishes to produce a warm winter shawl from locally available fibre. Which fibre choice and property best justify the selection?

  1. Jute because it has high stiffness
  2. Cotton because it has high moisture regain
  3. Polyester because it has low cost
  4. Wool because its crimp traps air for insulation Correct answer.

Explanation

Wool's natural crimp creates air pockets that trap body heat, giving warmth suitable for winter shawls. Cotton is cool and absorbent, jute is coarse and stiff, and low cost alone does not provide insulation.

Question 36Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which measurement expresses yarn linear density directly in terms of mass per unit length?

  1. Worsted count
  2. Metric count
  3. Tex Correct answer.
  4. English cotton count

Explanation

Tex is a direct system giving the mass in grams of 1000 metres of yarn, so a higher tex value means a thicker yarn. English cotton, worsted and metric counts are indirect systems based on length per unit mass.

Question 37Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

During identification of an unknown fibre, a sample leaves a soft grey ash, smells of burning paper and continues to burn after the flame is removed. Which fibre group does this indicate?

  1. Mineral fibres
  2. Protein fibres
  3. Cellulosic fibres Correct answer.
  4. Synthetic fibres

Explanation

Cellulosic fibres such as cotton, jute and viscose burn readily with the odour of burning paper and leave soft, feathery grey ash. Protein fibres smell of burnt hair, synthetics melt and form beads, and mineral fibres such as asbestos do not burn.

Question 38Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

What is the main purpose of blending two different fibres, such as cotton and polyester, before spinning?

  1. To make the fibre dissolve in water
  2. To make the yarn cheaper only
  3. To eliminate the need for twist
  4. To combine complementary properties in one yarn Correct answer.

Explanation

Blending lets the strengths of each fibre compensate for the weaknesses of the other, for example polyester adds strength and wrinkle resistance while cotton adds absorbency and comfort. Cost reduction may occur but is not the only purpose, and blending does not remove the need for twist.

Question 39Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which fibre characteristic explains why silk yarn can be reeled as a continuous filament while cotton must be spun?

  1. Silk has higher moisture regain than cotton
  2. Cotton filaments are thicker than silk
  3. Cotton fibres are too strong to be reeled
  4. Silk has a longer continuous filament length from the cocoon Correct answer.

Explanation

The silk worm extrudes a continuous filament that can be unwound from the cocoon in long lengths, so it can be reeled. Cotton grows as short staple hairs on the seed, so the fibres must be twisted together by spinning.

Question 40Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

In a weaving workshop, a yarn that is uniform in thickness, has few thin and thick places and shows even twist is described as which of the following?

  1. A chenille yarn
  2. A fancy yarn
  3. A regular yarn Correct answer.
  4. A slub yarn

Explanation

A regular yarn has consistent linear density and twist along its length, which gives even fabric appearance. Slub, fancy and chenille yarns are deliberately irregular or decorative by design.

Question 41Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

A weaver needs a yarn for warp that must withstand high tension and abrasion on the loom. Which property is most important to check first?

  1. Colour of the fibre
  2. Crimp of the fibre
  3. Tenacity and abrasion resistance Correct answer.
  4. Moisture regain of the fibre

Explanation

Warp yarns experience repeated tension and abrasion from healds and reeds, so high tenacity and abrasion resistance are the primary requirements. Colour, moisture regain and crimp affect appearance or comfort but not the ability to survive weaving stress.

Question 42Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Which statement correctly distinguishes between a fibre and a yarn?

  1. A fibre is woven fabric; a yarn is raw cotton
  2. A fibre is always synthetic; a yarn is always natural
  3. A fibre is the basic hair-like unit; a yarn is a twisted assembly of fibres Correct answer.
  4. A fibre is a long twisted strand; a yarn is a short hair

Explanation

A fibre is the smallest hair-like unit from which textiles are made, while a yarn is formed by twisting or assembling many fibres or filaments together. Fabric is produced later by weaving or knitting yarns.

Question 43Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

A sample of yarn is found to be insoluble in cold water, softens at about 250 degrees Celsius and burns with a sweetish chemical smell leaving a hard bead. Which fibre is most probable?

  1. Jute
  2. Wool
  3. Nylon Correct answer.
  4. Cotton

Explanation

Nylon is a synthetic polyamide that softens at high temperature, melts rather than burns like cellulose, and forms a hard bead with a characteristic chemical odour. Wool and jute are natural fibres with very different burning behaviour.

Question 44Fibres and Yarns: Types, Properties and Identification

Why is a sized yarn often used for warp while weft yarn may remain unsized?

  1. Sizing makes the weft yarn shrink
  2. Sizing removes twist from the yarn
  3. Sizing changes the natural colour of the weft
  4. Sizing adds strength and smoothness to resist weaving abrasion on the warp Correct answer.

Explanation

Sizing coats warp yarn with a film of starch or size that increases strength and smooths the surface, helping it survive the friction of healds and reeds. Weft yarn undergoes less abrasion, so it usually needs no size.

Question 45Traditional Looms and Weaving Equipment

In a traditional Assamese throw-shuttle pit loom, what is the primary function of the 'maku' (shuttle)?

  1. It beats the newly inserted weft up against the fell of the cloth
  2. It carries the weft yarn across the shed between the warp threads Correct answer.
  3. It holds the warp threads at even spacing during beaming
  4. It controls the raising and lowering of the heald frames

Explanation

The shuttle is the hollow, boat-shaped carrier that travels through the open shed, paying out weft yarn as it moves. Its job is weft insertion, not spacing, beating, or shedding, which belong to other loom parts.

Question 46Traditional Looms and Weaving Equipment

Which part of a pit loom is pressed by the weaver's feet to control which heald frames rise and fall?

  1. The sley
  2. The treadles Correct answer.
  3. The back rest
  4. The reed

Explanation

Treadles are the foot-operated levers tied to the heald frames through cords and pulleys. Pressing a treadle changes the shed by lifting one set of healds while the other stays down.

Question 47Traditional Looms and Weaving Equipment

A weaver wants a stronger, denser fabric edge that will not curl or fray easily. Which loom attachment or technique should be used?

  1. A longer warp beam to increase warp tension
  2. A selvedge reinforced with a separate stronger thread or by doubling the edge ends Correct answer.
  3. A wider reed with fewer dents per inch
  4. A plain selvedge formed by the same weft as the body

Explanation

A reinforced selvedge, made with a separate stronger thread or doubled edge ends, resists abrasion and curling. The selvedge is the most stressed zone during weaving and finishing, so extra strength there is functional.

Question 48Traditional Looms and Weaving Equipment

What is the 'shed' in weaving terminology?

  1. The finished roll of cloth wound on the cloth beam
  2. The space between two adjacent dents in the reed
  3. The gap formed between raised and lowered warp threads for weft passage Correct answer.
  4. The knot joining a broken warp thread

Explanation

The shed is the triangular or rectangular opening created when healds separate the warp into two layers. The shuttle passes through this opening to lay the weft.

Question 49Traditional Looms and Weaving Equipment

Which material is traditionally used for making the healds (heald cords and heald frames) in Assamese handloom weaving?

  1. Cast iron rods welded to a steel frame
  2. Nylon monofilament stretched on a plastic frame
  3. Cotton yarn twisted into cord with bamboo or wooden staves Correct answer.
  4. Aluminium channels riveted to a metal bar

Explanation

Traditional Assamese looms use cotton cord for heald loops and bamboo or wooden staves for the frame. These materials are locally available, light, and easy to repair.

Question 50Traditional Looms and Weaving Equipment

A weaver notices that the cloth is coming out narrower than the reed width set at the loom. Which cause is most directly related to loom equipment?

  1. Excess weft twist in the pirn
  2. Too much warp tension combined with early weft take-up Correct answer.
  3. Incorrect denting that leaves too many empty dents at the selvedge
  4. A larger shuttle than the shed height

Explanation

Excessive warp tension pulls the warp ends inward and causes the woven width to contract, sometimes called warp crimp or contraction. Correct denting and balanced tension keep the cloth width close to the reed width.