Textiles, Clothing and Fabric Care: Fibres, Weaves, Finishes and Laundry
Textiles, Clothing and Fabric Care asks you to classify fibres, match fabric properties to use, identify weaves and finishes, and choose the correct washing and stain-removal method.
Fibres
- Natural: cotton and linen (plant); wool and silk (animal); jute.
- Man-made: regenerated (rayon) and synthetic (nylon, polyester, acrylic).
- Key properties: cotton is absorbent, cool and strong when wet but wrinkles and shrinks; linen is stronger and stiffer; wool is warm, absorbent and resilient but felts and weakens in strong alkali; silk is lustrous and strong but loses strength when wet and is damaged by sunlight and bleach; polyester is strong, wrinkle-resistant and quick-drying but non-absorbent.
Weaves and finishes
Plain weave (muslin, poplin) is firm and cheap; twill (denim) is diagonal and durable; satin uses floats for lustre. Finishes: singeing, bleaching, mercerization (cotton gains lustre and strength), calendering, dyeing and printing.
Care
Read the care label first. Cotton tolerates hot water and strong detergent; wool needs lukewarm water, mild soap, no wringing, flat drying in shade; silk needs cold water, mild soap and shade drying; synthetics need low iron heat. Protein stains (blood, egg, milk) must be rinsed in cold water before washing - hot water sets them; grease is blotted, then treated with detergent.
Worked example
Choose fabric for a child's summer uniform. Cotton is chosen: it absorbs sweat, lets air move, withstands frequent hot washing and is cheap. A poly-cotton blend adds wrinkle resistance and durability but reduces absorbency and comfort in heat. Reasoning: match fibre property to climate and washing frequency, not to appearance alone.
Traps
- Washing a blood stain in hot water.
- Using strong alkali soap on wool.
- Claiming silk may be bleached in sunlight.