Fabric Selection, Care and Quality Control
What this domain tests
This domain tests how well you match fabric to design and end use, prepare fabric before stitching, care for finished embroidery, and inspect quality against clear criteria. Expect questions on fibre properties, grain, shrinkage, colourfastness and fault identification.
Core rules
- Fibres: cotton is absorbent, stable and takes embroidery well; linen is strong but creases; silk is lustrous but weak when wet and needs gentle handling; wool is warm and can felt; synthetics are strong but may pill or melt under a hot iron. Blends combine properties and need fibre-content checks.
- Fabric structure: plain weave is firm and even; twill is diagonal and drapes; satin weave is smooth but snag-prone. Check grainline before cutting; off-grain pieces hang badly. Thread count affects needle size and stitch density. Pre-shrink washable cotton before stitching and test stitch on a scrap.
- Care: wash in cool or lukewarm water with mild detergent, avoid chlorine bleach, rinse well, dry in shade, and press on the reverse. Store rolled or flat with acid-free tissue; avoid long-term plastic bags that trap moisture.
- Quality control: inspect design placement, motif alignment, stitch density, tension, puckering, thread tails, needle marks, stains, colour bleeding and size measurements. Check the back as well as the front.
Worked example
A child's cotton dress will carry a dense animal motif. Pre-wash and dry the cotton to shrink it; test a sample with the chosen thread; use tear-away stabiliser and a fine embroidery needle; after stitching, trim tails, check that no needle holes remain, and wash-test a scrap for colour bleeding. Reasoning: children's garments are washed often, so shrinkage and colourfastness matter more than a perfectly flat unwashed surface.
Traps
Assuming all cotton is pre-shrunk; ironing metallic thread directly; using chlorine bleach on coloured embroidery; checking only the front of the work; and cutting off-grain to save fabric.