Textiles research project

Year 9 2018
Success Criteria

❏ I can explain how textiles are produced.

❏ I can identify a range of tools and equipment and explain
what they are used for.
❏ I can understand the characteristics and properties of a
range of textiles.
❏ I can work respectfully and cooperatively with others.
 What is fibre?
What is Yarn? Any ideas?
What is Fabrics?
Fibre, yarns, Fabrics
Fibres are the starting point for
most fabrics - the hair-like
threads that can be spun
together to make a thread of
yard, and then woven, knitted
or bonded together to create
a length of fabric.
Where do fibres come
from?
Fibres come from a wide range of sources, some of which are
natural and some are created by people (manufactured).
 Natural fibres
Grown and come from either
plants or animals.

Create a list of natural fibres

make sure you separate them
into animal or plant fibres
What natural fibres
did we find?
Did we have all of these?
Plant Animal

Cotton Wool from- Sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas,

rabbits and camels

Flax - to make linen Silk - by cocoon of silk worm

Coir from coconut Leather - skin of animals

Bamboo

Hemp

Jute

Raffia
Processing natural fibres
Natural fibres go through the following stages:

● Growth - animals or plants are grown to produce the fibre

● Harvesting/collecting - fibres are separated from the animal or plant
● Cleaning - unwanted materials are removed from the fibres (by shaking,
brushing and washing to remove dirt, vegetable matter and oils/grease)
● Carding - fibres are brushed to line them up
● Bleaching and dyeing - colours of the fibres are changed
● Spinning - fibres are twisted together to make a thread or yarn.
 Manufactured
fibres
Are categorised into two main
groups: Regenerated fibres and
Synthetic fibres
 Regenerated
fibres
Production of regenerated
fibres starts with the collection
of natural plant-based fibres
from trees and grasses. These
fibres are chemically treated to
create a flexible, usable fibre
that can be spun and turned
into thread, yarn and fabric.
 Examples
Rayon is the common name for
all fibres/fabric made from
cellulose source (wood and
bamboo) and ‘viscose’
indicates a particular method of
processing the fibres. Common
regenerated fabrics include
tencel, lyocell, modal and
bamboo.
What are these fabrics?
Cellulose is one of many polymers found in nature. Wood, paper, and
cotton all contain cellulose. Cellulose is an excellent fibre. Wood,
cotton, and hemp rope are all made of fibrous cellulose.

What natural fibre is used to create these fabrics?

Tencel
Lyocell
Modal

What kind of fabric items are made of these fabrics?

Synthetic fibres
Are usually sourced from a
combination of chemicals
(either coal-based or petroleum
based) that create a polymer.
Synthetic fibres
The chemicals are combined and melted, and the thick liquid is then forced through
very small holes called spinnerets. The thin streams that come out of the
spinnerets are either air-blown or chemically treated to form a continuous fibre or
filament.

Common forms of these fibres are: polyester, nylon and acrylic

 Properties of Fabrics
When we choose materials for a
product, we look for materials that
have the right qualities - those that
are suitable for where and how the
product will be used. Materials are
chosen for products because of their
characteristics and properties. For
example a particular style of fabric
would be chosen for warmth if you
were making a jumper - what would
you choose?
Properties - examples
Fabric What good for What not so good for Examples

Cotton Soft (Characteristic) Heavy when wet Jeans

Cool- allows heat to escape Doesn’t dry quickly T-shirts
Hard wearing Wrinkles easily Towels
Drapes well Holds stains
Dyed easily

Wool Warm to touch (Characteristic) Prickly - unless very Jumpers

Insulator - protects from heat fine High fashion items
and cold Rugs/ carpets
Absorbent without being heavy
Create a list of properties
and create your own
wordle
 Fabric Construction
The way fibres or yarn are put together to make fabric will contribute to
its properties.

Woven
Knitted
Felted or bonded
Woven
Appearance:
Usually even, grid-like with
under/over pattern of threads.

Properties:
● Tightly woven fabrics are
firm and strong
● Loosely woven fabrics are
flexible and drape well
Knitted
Appearance:
Looped threads; can have
smooth, rough or ribbed texture

Properties:
● Stretchy
● Flexible
● Firmness dependent on the
tightness of the knit and
weight of thread
Boned or felted
Appearance:
No thread, uniform
construction, matted
appearance

Properties:
● Thick - firm and inflexible,
not stretchy, insulating and
water resistant
● Thin - flexible and
absorbent
What are these fabrics?
Create an A4 page- cut out two examples of each fabric construction
and label with their description of appearance and properties.
Complete Worksheet 2.2
from Tech by design
workbook- or on google
classroom