Textiles

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Types of textiles and their uses

Textile materials can be found naturally or can be formed synthetically. They can be processed into different forms such as , or .

Natural fibres come from plants or animals. They are easily and .

Natural fibre	Physical properties	Working properties
Cotton	Grows on a cotton plant in a ball called a boll, fibres are combed and spun into a yarn	Takes dye well, soft, strong, absorbent, recyclable, used in clothing
Wool	Spun from animal fleece such as sheep and alpacas	Can be fine or thick, soft or coarse, takes dye well, warm and crease-resistant, used in clothing and carpets

Natural fibre	Cotton
Physical properties	Grows on a cotton plant in a ball called a boll, fibres are combed and spun into a yarn
Working properties	Takes dye well, soft, strong, absorbent, recyclable, used in clothing

Natural fibre	Wool
Physical properties	Spun from animal fleece such as sheep and alpacas
Working properties	Can be fine or thick, soft or coarse, takes dye well, warm and crease-resistant, used in clothing and carpets

Synthetic fibres are made mainly from coal and oil into and do not easily.

Synthetic fibre	Physical properties	Working properties
Polyester	Can be woven or knitted, thick or thin and available in a variety of colours, can be blended with other fibres for better properties (see polycotton)	Strong and versatile, it holds colour and washes well
Acrylic	Imitation wool, can feel stiff	Warm, dries quickly, poor absorbency, used for knitwear and blankets

Synthetic fibre	Polyester
Physical properties	Can be woven or knitted, thick or thin and available in a variety of colours, can be blended with other fibres for better properties (see polycotton)
Working properties	Strong and versatile, it holds colour and washes well

Synthetic fibre	Acrylic
Physical properties	Imitation wool, can feel stiff
Working properties	Warm, dries quickly, poor absorbency, used for knitwear and blankets

Woven fabrics use a warp and weft yarn on a loom to interlock fibres.

Woven fabric	Physical properties	Working properties
Plain weave	Threads are woven in a simple under one, over one	Simple and cheap, eg calico, strong and available in different thicknesses, when torn it rips in a straight line
Twill weave	Twill weave has a diagonal pattern on the surface as the weft yarn is woven over two warp threads in a continual pattern	Strong, hardwearing, denim has a white warp and blue weft resulting in a two-coloured fabric

Woven fabric	Plain weave
Physical properties	Threads are woven in a simple under one, over one
Working properties	Simple and cheap, eg calico, strong and available in different thicknesses, when torn it rips in a straight line

Woven fabric	Twill weave
Physical properties	Twill weave has a diagonal pattern on the surface as the weft yarn is woven over two warp threads in a continual pattern
Working properties	Strong, hardwearing, denim has a white warp and blue weft resulting in a two-coloured fabric

Non-woven fabrics are webs of fibres that are glued, compressed or melted together.

Non-woven fabric	Physical properties	Working properties
Bonded fabrics	Fibres are visible and random, often has small holes on the surface	Does not fray as it has no grain, not strong
Felted fabrics	Randomly matted fibres, often wool, available in many thicknesses and colours	Formed with moisture, heat and pressure, can be shaped as it has no elasticity or drape, used for hat making

Non-woven fabric	Bonded fabrics
Physical properties	Fibres are visible and random, often has small holes on the surface
Working properties	Does not fray as it has no grain, not strong

Non-woven fabric	Felted fabrics
Physical properties	Randomly matted fibres, often wool, available in many thicknesses and colours
Working properties	Formed with moisture, heat and pressure, can be shaped as it has no elasticity or drape, used for hat making

Knitted textiles made from rows of interlocking loops. They can be made from a variety of fibres, not just wool.

Knitted fabric	Physical properties	Working properties
Knitted fabrics	Can be warp knitted (straight lines) or weft knitted (knitted upwards), available in a variety of textures and colours, can have patterns knitted in.	Warm, stretchy and strong, tend to unravel when a hole is made, used in clothing and sportswear

Knitted fabric	Knitted fabrics
Physical properties	Can be warp knitted (straight lines) or weft knitted (knitted upwards), available in a variety of textures and colours, can have patterns knitted in.
Working properties	Warm, stretchy and strong, tend to unravel when a hole is made, used in clothing and sportswear