MATSEC SEC Fashion and Textiles flashcards
MATSEC SEC Fashion and Textiles · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Cotton count (Ne)
- The number of 840-yard hanks of cotton yarn that weigh one pound; a higher count indicates a finer yarn.
- Denier
- A unit of linear density for filament yarns; the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of yarn. Lower denier means finer yarn.
- Plain weave
- The simplest weave where warp and weft yarns interlace alternately (1/1), producing a strong, stable fabric with no distinct pattern.
- Twill weave
- A weave with a diagonal pattern created by passing the weft over one or more warp yarns, then under two or more; denser and more durable than plain weave.
- Satin weave
- A weave with long floats that produce a smooth, lustrous surface; it has low abrasion resistance because the floats can snag.
- Weft knit
- A knitted fabric where loops are formed across the width; it stretches more widthwise, curls at edges, and is used for T-shirts.
- Non-woven fabric
- A fabric made directly from fibres bonded by heat, chemicals, or mechanical means, without a yarn structure; used for interfacing and disposables.
- Burn test
- A fibre identification test: cellulosic fibres burn like paper, protein fibres smell of burnt hair, and synthetic fibres melt into a hard bead.
- Reactive dyes
- Dyes that form covalent bonds with cellulose fibres, giving excellent wash fastness and bright colours; used for cotton and viscose.
- Disperse dyes
- Dyes used for synthetic hydrophobic fibres such as polyester; they require high temperature and pressure to penetrate the fibre.
- Mercerising
- A chemical finish using caustic soda that swells cotton fibres, increasing lustre, strength, and dye uptake.
- Sanforising
- A mechanical compressive shrinkage process that reduces the shrinkage of cotton fabrics to about 1%.
- Colourfastness
- The resistance of a dye to fading or bleeding during washing, light exposure, rubbing, or perspiration; rated on a grey scale from 1 to 5.
- Pilling
- The formation of small balls of tangled fibres on the surface of a fabric due to abrasion; reduced by singeing or using longer-staple fibres.
- Mood board
- A visual collage of images, colours, and fabric swatches that communicates the theme and direction of a design collection.
- Technical flat
- A scaled, detailed drawing of a garment showing seams, topstitching, and closures, used for production specifications.
- Croquis
- A quick fashion sketch of a stylised figure, typically nine heads tall, used to illustrate design ideas.
- Toile
- A test garment made in inexpensive fabric (often calico) to check the fit and proportions of a pattern before cutting final fabric.
- Dart manipulation
- Moving a dart to a different position on a pattern by pivoting around the bust point, while keeping the total intake the same.
- Seam allowance
- The distance between the stitching line and the raw edge of the fabric; typically 1.5 cm for seams and 1 cm for necklines.
- French seam
- A seam that encloses the raw edges within a double row of stitching, giving a neat finish suitable for light and sheer fabrics.
- Grainline
- A line on a pattern indicating the direction of the straight grain, usually parallel to the centre front or back; essential for correct drape.
- Staystitching
- A row of stitching just inside the seam line on curved edges to prevent stretching during construction.
- Portfolio annotation
- Written notes in a coursework portfolio that explain design decisions, fabric choices, and construction methods, linking them to research.
- Quality control
- Checks during garment making to ensure even seam allowances, matched patterns, secure stitching, and clean pressing.
- Care label symbols
- Standardised pictograms (ISO 3758) indicating washing, bleaching, drying, ironing, and dry cleaning instructions for a garment.
- Ironing temperature dots
- One dot means 110°C (acrylic, nylon), two dots 150°C (wool, polyester blends), three dots 200°C (cotton, linen).
- Dry cleaning symbol
- A circle on a care label; the letter inside indicates the solvent type: P for any solvent, F for petroleum-based only.
- Risk assessment
- A systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and implementing control measures.
- Machine safety guard
- A physical barrier on a sewing machine that protects fingers from the needle; must never be removed during operation.
- Circular fashion
- A design approach that aims to keep garments in use for as long as possible through durability, repair, and recycling, minimising waste.
- GOTS certification
- Global Organic Textile Standard; certifies organic status of textiles from harvesting to labelling, including social and environmental criteria.