Textiles and Clothing: Fibres, Fabric Care, Stitching and Selection
Expect fibre identification, matching fabric to use, stain and wash care, basic stitches, and reasoned clothing selection for climate and budget.
Fibres
Natural: cotton, linen, silk, wool, jute. Man-made: rayon (regenerated from cellulose), nylon, polyester, acrylic (fully synthetic). Staple fibres are short (cotton, wool); filament fibres are long (silk, nylon).
- Cotton: absorbent, cool, stronger when wet, wrinkles, damaged by acid, burns fast.
- Wool: warm, absorbent, elastic, felts and shrinks in hot water and agitation, damaged by alkali and chlorine bleach.
- Silk: lustrous, strong but weaker when wet, damaged by strong soap and sunlight.
- Polyester and nylon: strong, quick drying, non-absorbent, thermoplastic, so they melt near a hot iron.
Fabric care
Soap suits cotton; detergent suits synthetics. Test colour fastness. Never soak silk or wool. Wash wool in lukewarm water with mild soap, squeeze, never wring, dry flat in shade. Cotton may be boiled and bleached. Iron temperature: cotton high, silk and wool moderate, nylon low. Starch gives body; blueing masks yellowing.
Stitching basics
Take body measurements, draft the pattern, keep a seam allowance of about 1.5 cm, tack, then stitch permanently - running, back stitch, hemming, buttonhole - and press at the end.
Selecting clothing
Consider climate, occasion, age, occupation, figure, budget, comfort, durability, colour fastness, shrinkage, and ease of washing and ironing.
Worked example
Choose fabric for a boy's summer school shirt in the plains. Cotton, or a blend with at least 60 per cent cotton: cotton absorbs sweat and allows air movement, withstands frequent washing and strong sun, and is cheap; the blend adds strength and reduces ironing. Pure polyester would feel hot and cling.
Traps
Rayon is man-made but not synthetic; wool shrinks in hot water; silk should not be rubbed with strong soap; dark colours absorb heat in summer; a higher price does not guarantee colour fastness.