FABRIC

Fabric is cloth made of fibers. Fibers are hair-like strands that are wound to make yarn or thread used to
make fabric. Fabric is the cloth or material used in making our clothes, curtains, tablecloths, sheets and
many other items.

Types of Fabrics

Woven fabric does not stretch except on the bias. Woven fabric is
made up of fibers which run straight at ninety degree angles to each
other.

Knit fabric has loops of fiber that allow the fabric to stretch. The
amount and the direction of stretches are all variables. A knit may
stretch in one direction or it may stretch in both directions.
This is an important consideration when choosing fabric for a specific
pattern. For example, a bathing suit pattern will require equal two way
stretch. If you choose a fabric that only stretches in one direction, the
suit is not going to fit properly and you cannot even put it on.

KINDS OF FABRICS, THEIR USES, CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE

NATURAL FIBERS USES (HOME AND CHARACTERISTICS CARE
APPAREL)
Vegetable Fibers

A. Cotton Good for items that need The world's most popular Special for
Comes from cotton plant. to be washed fabric. It is cool to wear durable press.
often like sheets and and easy to wash and
pillows, school clothes, sew. It is versatile, Maybe machine
and work clothes. durable and comfortable. laundered.
Inexpensive but shrinks
and wrinkles easily. Avoid risk of
mildew.

Kinds of Cotton Fabric

KINDS USES CHARACTERISTICS
Canvas
Used for crafts, home decorating Tightly woven heavy-duty cotton
(curtains cushions and
outdoor gear)

Cotton Batiste For elegant garments A finely woven lightweight

(blouses, baby dresses, and cotton. Uses straight stitch/jeans
underlining) presser foot and 60/8 or 70/10
machine needle

Broadcloth Perfect for shirts. Fantastic, closely woven cotton

that has slight rib
Cotton Home decorations Needs special fabric
Chintz (curtains and cushion) treatment that leaves it shiny and
smooth.

Cotton pique The most common fabric used in Medium weight cotton fabric that
the tie and waistcoat of white tie. has raised nubby surface

Cotton shirting
Pajamas and boxers. Lightweight 100 percent cotton
that makes fantastic menswear
shirts.

Cotton Voile
Mostly used in soft furnishing Crisp lightweight cotton
such as curtains, mosquito nets, used for garments
and also dressmaking

Denim
Great for clothes, and jackets. One of the most heavy duty
cottons

Seer sucker Used to make clothing for spring This falls into the category of
and summer wear cotton crinkles which have
surface texture.

Terrycloth Used for robes, towels, Thick, absorbent cotton

beachwear and home decorating

NATURAL FIBERS USES (HOME AND CHARACTERIS CARE

APPAREL) TICS
B. Linen Women’s and children’s Very strong, cool to Iron at high temperature.
Comes from flax plant. dresses and blouses wear, and usually more
expensive than cotton. Avoid pressing in sharp
Summer dress Easily wrinkled unless a creases.
special finish is applied.
Known as the oldest Avoid risk of mildew
Table linens and other
fiber and used by the
household fabrics
Egyptians thousands of
years ago. It comes
from the stem of a very
pretty plant called flax.
Animal Fiber
A. Silk For high-end Strong and luxurious Dry cleaning is preferred.
Collected from cocoon of clothing and fabric with natural
silk worm. accessories. Some luster; moderately Maybe hand washed in
expensive resilient and resists mild suds.
upholstery and wrinkling
drapery fabrics Avoid over exposure to
More expensive than light.
manmade (filament)
silky yarns. Can be attacked by
insects.

Kinds of Silk
KINDS USES CHARACTERISTICS
China silk
Used almost exclusively for lining A very lightweight silk

Brocade
Luxurious fabrics made into Textured silk with some stiffness
clothing or wall hanging

Chiffon
Can be used in all Lightweight, very drapery silk.
sorts of garments This is the fabric that goes with
the flow.

Charmeuse Works well as a 1940s redux A slinky, satiny, supple silk

dressing gown, dresses and
blouses

Crepe de
Chine For making a full range of A light to medium weight silk and
garments comes in two-ply, three- ply, and
four- ply (the heaviest) weights

Dupioni
For making Capri pants or a A stiffer and crisper silk that has
fancy room divider telltale slubs and raised yarn on
the fabric; easy-to-sew silk that
adds a lot of fashion flair
 Georgette
Used for blouses, dresses, Lightweight silk and barely
evening gowns, and trimmings visible

Raw Silk Silk with a dull finish made from

It is used create apparel as short silk filaments discarded as
well as integral accessories waste but easy to sew and has a
them. distinctive look

Washed silk The washing process makes

A great travel fabric this silk creamy and soft.

Shantung
For special occasion uses Especially crisp and shiny silk

Taffeta
For special occasion clothing A crisp silk wrinkles, and
swishes upon movement

NATURAL FIBERS USES (HOME AND CHARACTERISTICS CARE

APPAREL)
B. Wool
Collected from the sleets blankets and Springs back into Will shrink and felt in
of sheep upholstery Shape. Requires little presence of moisture
pressing; with great and heat and can be
versatility in fabric and attacked by insects.
with insulating capacity

Kinds of Wool
KINDS USES CHARACTERISTICS
Boiled For blankets and jackets Made in similar fashion as felt, but
much richer and more supple. There’s
no need to finish the seam edges.
Boucle
Perfect for soft shaping in Has a distinctive sweater-like nubby
coats and jackets surface created with
little loops

Challis Perfect for all types of Medium to lightweight, it is hand

garments washable and doesn’t wrinkle much.

Crepe For scarves, shawls, and Can be composed of wool, silk, cotton,
bonnet trimmings or synthetic. It varies in quality and it
Perfect for making shirts is expensive. It is a beautiful fabric
that drapes well and is extremely
wearable.
Gabardine Works well on tailored and A twill-weave fabric, hand washable
constructed garments and do not wrinkle

Melton
Used for coats Thick and bulky wool with a soft

Merino Widely used in the A very fine, expensive, closely-woven

textile industries wool made from Merino sheep’s coats.

Worsted Used for tailoring jackets, Lustrous wool in a

skirts and pants. variety of weights

Synthetic or USES (HOME AND CHARACTERISTICS CARE

Manmade Fibers APPAREL)
a. Rayon Light and medium – weight Soft, cheap and comfortable Hand washing to dry
clothing fabric absorbent; lacks cleaning. Tends to
resilience; wrinkles easily. shrink and stretch
Drapery and Upholstery unless proper chemical
fabrics Not easy to sew as plain finish is applied.
cottons.
Blankets, throw rugs and
table coverings

b. Polyester Wash and wear clothing- Strong and durable synthetic Can be washable or dry
often in combination with fabric; dries quickly, with clean. Remove oily
other fibers, especially sharp pleat and crease stains before washing.
cotton Curtains, carpets, retention. Needs little ironing or
fiberfill, raincoats and hats. pressing. Use steam
It is ideal for constructing iron at warm setting.
strong outerwear for damp
climates.
c. Nylon Women’s stockings were the It was first developed as a Remove oily stains
first commercial use of substitute for imported silk. before washing.
nylon. With exceptional strength, Washes easily; wash
Also used for clothing, excellent elasticity; retains with care to maintain
upholstery and carpet, rope, shape. Woven fabrics feel whiteness. Press at low
tents and fishing line. uncomfortable in contact with temperatures
skin.
Dry clean only.

D. Rubber Foundation, garments, Stretch and recovery Frequent washing in

Swimwear rate is high mild suds;
Avoid constant
Damaged by oils and overstretch at high
light temperature

With discoloration

e. Spandex Foundation garments; Stretch and recovery May be machine

Swimwear rate is high laundered with warm
Surgical hose, Ski pants and water
other Sportswear Resists abrasion and body oils Dry on lowest
With discoloration heat, shortest cycle.

f. Acrylic
Tailored outerwear; knitted Resists wrinkling Remove oily stains
wear, pile fabrics, blankets High bulking power before washing.
and carpets Wool-like texture Very resistant Washable or dry
to effects of sunlight cleanable.
Medium iron
temperature.