Fabrics
Textiles that are neither woven nor knit, and do not stretch. They are cheap to manufacture.
What are nonwoven fabrics?
A synthetic polymer fiber that contains at least 85% acrylonitrile.
What is acrylic?
A natural protein fiber that is obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm larva.
What is silk?
A machine used for weaving fabric.
What is a loom?
A class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to pieces of thread.
What is a Fiber?
A loose woven cotton cloth, such as is used in pressing cheese curds.
What is cheesecloth?
Fibers with strands thinner than one denier. Fabrics made with this fiber are exceptionally soft and hold their shape well.
What is mircofiber?
This fabric is made from the fur of a rabbit with the same name.
What is angora.
The gap between warp yarns on a loom when one or more, but not all, of the harnesses are raised.
What is a shed?
A long continuous length of interlocked fibers, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving and ropemaking. It can be made from any number of synthetic or natural fibers.
What is yarn?
Invented in 1959 by DuPont, this synthetic fiber, known for its exceptional stretchability, is stronger and more durable than rubber.
What is spandex?
A soft fiber that grows around the seeds of this plant with the same name. The fiber is most often spun into thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile.
What is cotton?
A style of fabric originally made from a Peruvian mammal's wool with the same name but is now frequently made from a similar type of fiber.
What is an alpaca?
The yarn that is woven back and forth through the warp to make cloth.
What is a weft?
The raw material, or its length and quality, of fiber from which textiles are made.
What is a staple?
A non-woven cloth that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers. The fibers form the structure of the fabric.
What is Felt.
This fiber can be processed to make cellophane and rayon.
What is cellulose?
This animal's hair can produce a variety of different coarseness of yarn. This fiber is a novelty fiber spun by hand-spinners.
What is a camel?
The set of lengthwise threads attached to a loom before weaving begins, and through which the weft is woven.
What is the warp?
A type of finely woven cotton fabric, introduced to Europe from the Middle East in the 17th century. It was named for the city where it was first made, Mosul in what is now Iraq.
What is muslin?
A stiff cloth, made of cotton or linen, which is used to cover, and protect, a book. It can also be used to stiffen clothes.
What is Buckram?
A coarse fiber extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a coconut.
What is coir?
A silk-like fabric made from the hair of the Angora goat. It is durable, light and warm, although some people find it uncomfortably itchy.
What is mohair
A common loom component, used to separate warp threads for passage of the weft. Commonly made of cord or wire.
What is heddle?
Recycled or remanufactured wool.
What is a shoddy?