Clothing and Textiles
Clothing and Textiles
This domain tests fibres and fabrics, pattern work, garment construction and care/repair. Expect questions that match a fabric to a use, interpret pattern symbols, sequence sewing steps or select a repair.
Fibres and fabrics
Natural fibres are cotton, linen, wool and silk; manufactured fibres include viscose and synthetics such as polyester and nylon. Staple fibres are short and spun; filament fibres are continuous. Cotton is absorbent, cool and strong wet but creases and shrinks. Linen is cool and strong but creases. Wool is warm, elastic and flame-resistant but felts with heat and agitation. Polyester is strong, quick-drying and crease-resistant but hot and non-absorbent. Blends combine properties.
Pattern work
Measure over underwear and choose size by measurement, not age. Prepare fabric by washing or shrinking it and straightening the grain. Lay pieces on the grainline, place fold lines on the fold, and respect nap, checks and one-way designs. Cut notches outward, mark darts and balance marks, and add seam allowance if the pattern omits it.
Construction and care
Staystitch curves, baste before stitching and press as you sew. Plain seams suit firm fabrics, French seams fine sheers, and flat-fell seams durable jeans. Match needle and thread to fabric and test tension. Care labels give washing temperature, bleaching, drying, ironing and dry-cleaning instructions. Repair promptly: darn holes, patch tears, replace buttons and reinforce seams.
Worked example
A skirt has two panels, each 60 cm long. Add a 5 cm hem and 3 cm waist casing: 68 cm per panel. Hip is 96 cm, so half hip is 48 cm; add 3 cm ease and 3 cm total seam allowance = 54 cm per panel. Two panels need 108 cm width. On 115 cm fabric they fit side by side, but checks need matching, so buy 1.5 m, not 1.4 m.
Traps
Do not cut on the cutting line when seam allowance is needed; ignoring grainline makes garments twist; polyester and elastane scorch at cotton iron temperatures; 'dry clean only' does not mean gentle hand wash.