FABRIC STUDY

Unit -1
Woven fabrics
Fabric is the final product of the processed fibers. There are several methods of fabric
manufacturing today such as weaving, knitting, weaving, lace-making, knotting, braiding,
moulding etc. of these, weaving is one of the major methods of fabric manufacturing that has
been in practice since prehistoric times. It is also considered as one of the oldest development art.
Woven fabrics are made by using two or more sets of yarn  interlaced at right angles to
each other. Much variety is produced by weaving. Woven fabrics are generally more durable.
They can be easily cut into different shapes and are excellent for producing styles in garments.
However, the raw edges ravel or fray easily and need to be protected. Fabrics having more fabric
count (number of wrap and weft yearns present) keep the shape well. Low count fabrics are less
durable and may snag or stretch.

Woven fabrics are manufactured in different widths depending on the end use. The fabrics used
for apparels usually contain 90 cms width. The Sheeting materials are generally made having a
width of 160 cm/140cms and 150cms/180 cms.

Weaving

Weaving is a process of interlacing sets of yarns for formation of a textile substrate. A

device that aids in this process is the loom. Loom, one of the man’s simplest and
versatile tools, has not changed in its basic structure since it was invented in prehistoric
times.

Woven fabrics are produced on a loom by interlocking

yarns lying in a vertical (warp) and a horizontal (weft)
direction. Weft yarns are woven over and under warp
yarns, and where the weft yarns loop back to form an
edge that doesn’t fray, it is called the selvedge. When
cut, woven fabrics will fray.

There are a number of different types of woven

fabric, each with their own characteristics determined by how they are woven:

 Plain weave - The weft yarns pass over one warp yarn and then under another, with
striped patterns created by varying the colours of the warp yarns. The thicker the
yarn, the denser and heavier the fabric becomes. Commonly used to produce bed
linen and school shirts.
 Twill weave - Creates a diagonal pattern to produce a heavier, more durable fabric.
Jeans, work overalls and rucksacks are made from a twill weave.
 Satin weave - Produces a smooth shiny appearance (high lustre) because
the weft yarns ‘float’ over between four and seven warp yarns, allowing light to be
reflected. They tend to snag easily, making the fabrics less durable, and are often
used for dresses.
 Pile weave - Has a raised surface formed by introducing additional yarns into the
woven construction that stand up from the surface of the fabric and are cut to create
a nap. A common example is velvet.