Chapter 44: Fabrics and

Their Care

Objectives: Compare different

types of fibers, fabric construction,

methods, and finishes.

Define the following key terms.

� Fibers—very fine, hairlike strands of

various lengths.

� Yarns—fibers that have been twisted or

grouped together.

� Natural fibers—fibers that come from

plants or animals.

� Manufactured fibers—fibers that are

formed completely or in part by chemicals.

� Blend—a yarn made from two or more

different fibers to take advantage of the

best features of each.

� Fabric finishes—special treatments that

improve the appearance, feel, or

performance of the fabric.

� Colorfast—the color remains the same

over time.

� Mildew—a fungus that shows up as black

dots on clothes.

� Woven fabrics: Weaving involves

interlacing two sets of yarns together at

right angles.

� Plain weave is the most common weave.

You often see it in shirts and sheets.

� Twill weave produces fabrics, such as denim, that are stronger than those of plain weave.

� Satin weave produces smooth fabrics with a sheen but they are less durable. Some blouses and evening apparel are made from this weave.

� Plain—over and under 1; twill—over and under two; satin—over and under 3.

� Knits are constructed by pulling the loops

of yarn through other loops of yarn,

creating interlocking rows. Knit clothes

are comfortable and don’t wrinkle easily.

� Other fabric construction methods:

nonwoven—felt; made by matting or

bonding fibers with heat, moisture, or

adhesives.

Other Construction Methods

� Bonding—fusing one fabric to another;

quilting—putting a fluffy layer between two

layers.

Answer the following questions:

1. How are fibers related to yarns?

Fibers are twisted or grouped together to

form yarns.

2. What is the key difference between

natural fibers and manufactured fibers?

Natural fibers come from plants or

animals. Manufactured fibers are made

completely or in part from chemicals.

4. Name three natural and three manufactured fibers. List two characteristics of each.

Natural

Cotton: Comfortable in warm weather; strong; absorbent; shrinks; wrinkles.

Linen: (flax) Stronger than cotton; absorbent; comfortable; wrinkles easily.

,

Wool: (fleece of sheep) warm; resists wrinkles; repels water; shrinks easily; dry cleaned.

Silk—(cocoon of silk worm) lightweight; resists wrinkling; damaged by perspiration, deodorant, and high ironing temperatures.

Ramie—(stems of China grass) strong with natural luster; absorbent; washable, stiff texture = usually blended with other fibers.

Manufactured Fibers

Rayon: Absorbent; soft; comfortable;

drapes; shrinks; dry cleaning

recommended.

Polyester: Resists wrinkling and shrinking;

not absorbent; washable; dries fast;

attracts oily stains; tends to pill (form balls

on surface of fabric).

Nylon: Strong; lightweight; holds shape; Not absorbent; static electricity; washable; dries quickly; sensitive to heat; white nylon-yellow.

Acrylic: Soft; warm; resists wrinkling; not dried at high temperatures; some pilling and static electricity; resists fading.

Spandex: Often combined with other fibers; no bleach or high drying temperatures.

4. What is a blend? Give an example.

A yarn that is made from two or more different fibers. Ex: polyester and cotton

5. Compare the construction and characteristics of woven and knit fabrics.

Woven fabrics: Are made with two sets of yarns interlacing at right angles. Are stronger than knit and hold their shape better.

Knit fabrics: Are constructed by pulling

loops of yarn through other loops of yarn.

Stretch with movement and return to

original shape.

They do not wrinkle easily.

6. Give four examples of different purposes for fabric finishes.

To improve appearance.

Improve feel.

Improve performance of fabric.

To add color or design.

To make water repellant.

To make softer, shinier, or crisper.

To make wrinkle-resistant.

Add soil-release finish.

7. What are two advantages of colorfast

fabrics?

The color will remain the same over time.

Dye will not leach into other laundry.

8. Why is it important to take proper care of clothes?

They will look good and last longer.

9. Describe three ways to treat a stain.

Rinse with cold water.

Use stain-removal towelette.

Soak with detergent o plain water.

Pretreat before washing.

10. Explain how to hand wash a garment.

Soak in sudsy water.

Gently squeeze suds through garment.

Replace soapy water with fresh to rinse

garment.

Repeat rinse until no suds remain.

11. What is mildew? When might it become

a laundry problem?

A fungus that appears as small black dots

when laundry is left in the washer too

long.

Clothes may develop a sour odor that is

difficult to remove.

12. Why should some garments be pressed rather than ironed?

Garments such as knits should be pressed rather than ironed to avoid stretching.

13. How is dry cleaning different from regular laundering?

Dry cleaning uses special chemicals, rather than water and detergent, to clean clothes.

14. Describe how to store a wool sweater to

keep it in the best possible condition.

Be certain sweater is stain-free and cleaned

before storage.

Fold rather than hang the sweater to avoid

stretching.

Store in a dry place.

15. Why are natural fibers often the most

comfortable to wear?

They absorb moisture and allow air to reach

your skin. They keep you cool in warm

weather and warm in cold weather.

16. Which fabrics made from manufactured

fibers are likely to pill?

Polyester and acrylic

17.What is the advantage of a fiber blend?

It combines the best feature of each fiber.

18. What qualifies as a fabric finish?

Special treatments that improve the

appearance, feel, or performance of a

fabric.

19. Why would you wash a garment

with “like colors”?

To prevent its dye from running into

other items.

20. When is the best time to treat stains?

As soon as possible.

21. List three factors to consider when

sorting laundry.

Care instructions.

Color.

Weight of items.

Linting.

Amount of soil.

22. Identify three actions you can take to

deal with clothing stains.