INTRODUCTION TO TEXTLES

LECTURE 2
Some Textile Related Terms

• Yarn: The continuous strand of fiber or

group of fibers used in weaving, knitting,
etc. forming the fabric.
• Warp yarn: Lengthwise yarn in a woven
textile
• Weft Yarn: Crosswise yarn in a woven
textile. They are interlaced with warps in a
crosswise direction to make a fabric. 
Some Textile Related Terms
Thread count:
The total number of warps
and wefts per square inch
of a woven fabric. This is
an indicator of the quality
of a textile.
Ply: Selvedge (Selvage):
This refers to the number The two long finished edges, one
of threads used to form a on each side along the length of
yarn used to weave the the fabric
fabric – it indicates the
weight of yarn. Larger the
ply, heavier the fabric.
Some Textile Related Terms

 Warp-faced textile: Fabric which has prominent warp yarns on the surface

 Weft-faced textile: Fabric with prominent weft yarns on the surface

 Textile Finishes: This is a general term which refers to the treatment of a fabric to add a
functional or decorative quality to it

 Tear Strength: The force necessary to tear a fabric. This is usually expressed in pounds or in
grams. 

 Zephyr: Lightweight fabrics.

How are textiles made ?

 After the fibers are produced, they are made into yarn.

 Different types of fibers under go different types of spinning processes to make

them into yarns.

 The finished yarn is made into fabric by different methods like weaving &
knitting. Other methods like crocheting, felting, laminating, knotting etc. are also
used.
Textile Production Methods

Fibers can be transformed into textiles through a variety of processes.

Weaving 
 Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are
interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth.

 The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling.

 Different types of weaving apply different methods in which these threads are inter-woven which
affects the characteristics of the cloth.

 The machinery that creates a weave is called a loom. While some looms are small, industrial
weaving looms are massive and can weave fabric by yards.
Types of Weave
The manner in which the yarns are interlaced determines the type of weave.

Plain Weave:

 In the plain weave each yarn passes over and under the warp yarns, with the order
reversed in alternating rows.

 Plain weave fabric is a very sturdy, reliable fabric for everything from clothing to
upholstery. 

 Examples of plain weave fabric include flannel, chiffon, organza, etc.

Types of Weave

Satin weave:

 Woven Textiles with a smooth finish on one side and a matt finish
on the other side due to the weaving that makes either weft or warp
thread dominating the weaving structure.

 Satin weave features four or more weft threads going over one warp
thread, or the opposite: four or more warp threads going over a weft
thread.

 Velvet, charmeuse, brocade, sateen and duchess satin are examples

of this weave type.
Types of Weave
Twill weave:

 When weaving twill, the weft thread (the horizontal thread) is woven
over one or more warp threads (the vertical thread held taught on a loom)
and then under one or more warp threads.

 Twill weave run in a ribbed diagonal pattern.

 It has a distinct, often darker colored front side (called the wale) with a
lighter back.

 Twill has high thread count, which means that the fabric is opaque, thick,
and durable.

 Examples: Denim, bed and bath linens

Gracias!