MATERIALS part 1.1 TEXTILE - WINDOW TREATMENTS

Textile

Also known as fabric cloth, is a flexible artificial material made up of a network of natural or artificial fibers (thread or yarn) formed by weaving or knitting, or pressed into felt. Any material made of interlacing fibers

Fabric

Any material made through the various processes such as weaving, knitting, crocheting, or bonding

Cloth

Refers to the finished piece of fabric that can be used for varying purposes such as bedcover, etc.

Durability

Related to flexibility. Fabric is evaluated according to how it is able to withstand wear, pressure and or damage to friction

Tenacity

Basically refers to tensile strength. Pertains to how well the fabric can carry its own weight without breaking

Elongation

A fabric's stretching ability. Fabric is tested as to what degree it can stretch without breaking

Absorbency

How well will the fabric absorb and or retain moisture

Hydrophilic

Water-loving, means fabric has special affinity for water, thus absorbs moisture readily

Hydrophobic

Water-fearing, meaning fabric repels water, thus absorbs moisture readily

Hygroscopic

Fabric absorbs moisture without feeling wet

Resiliency

Refers to the fabric's elasticity. This checks the fabric's ability to return to its original shape after wear and tear

Fiber

The basic element of the textile. It is the fine, hair like strand forms the basis of a yarn

Staple fiber

Short fibers, somewhat randomly arranged and loosely twisted, resulting in softer yarns. All natural fibers are ___________ except silk

Filament fibers

Long and continuous fibers, usually measured in meters or yards, laid parallel to one another and tightly twisted to produce smooth, strong yarns.

Yarn

Formed by twisting fibers together to create a continuous strand

Spun yarns

Composed of staple fibers twisted together

Filament yarns

Composed of continuous strands made from either a spinneret generated synthetic fiber or from silk

Natural

Type of classification of fibers where fibers are from animal, plant, mineral sources

Synthetic

Type of classification of fibers where the fibers are man-made and thoroughly modern, most having been developed in the twentieth century

Rayon

The first synthetic fiber- began commercially produced in 1939.

Cotton

It is the most widely used plant fiber. It is a vegetable or cellulosic fiber which comes from the balls of cotton plant that grows prolifically in warm climates

Shiny cotton

This is a processed version of the fiber made into a cloth that resembles satin. It has a hydrophobic nature thus making it unfit for towers

Organic cotton

The term is applied on how the plant is grown and cultivated. It has to be grown with no presence of synthetic or chemical pesticides and fertilizers

Green cotton

The term is applied on how the fibers are processed. It is only washed with mild soap and must not be bleached, although they can be dyed

Carded cotton

This is a cotton that has undergone carding (mechanical process that disentangles, cleans and intermixed fibers), a step in the refinement process of the fiber

Combed cotton

This is the process for further refinement of the fibers, and is done after the carding process, thus it is a higher form than carded cotton

Upland cotton

Also known as Mexican cotton. It is the most widely planted species of cotton in the world. It is the main type cotton grown in the USA. It is the third best quality cotton in the market

Long staple cotton

It is the kind of cotton product, and is known to be superior to other cotton products. This has fine and long fibers, that are spun to create softer, silkier and more durable cotton fabrics

Pima cotton

Second best quality cotton in the world. Originated in Peru, but is now mainly grown in Peru, Australia, and United states. Supima is the trade marked brand of this type of cotton

Egyptian cotton

This has an established reputation of being the best cotton in the world. It has the ability to absorb liquids, giving fabrics deeper, brighter and more resistant colors. It has 1000 thread per square inch

Kapok

Poor man's cotton. Like cotton, it is derived from seed. It is taken from the seed pod of the java kapok tree. Used as cushioning, stuffing pillows, and seat cushion

Flax (linen)

Probably the oldest fiber ever woven into fabric. It is a vegetable fiber found in most parts of europe, northern america and argentina. Its yarn is grayish in color with a silky luster. Reflects heat better than cotton and holds their color longer under strong light conditions more than any other natural fiber

Linen

a fabric made from flax, is less absorbent than cotton but more resistant to mildew. It is extremely strong, virtually non elastic and tende to be brittle ; it wrinkles and creases rapidly. "Gusot mayaman"

Jute

Fiber which resembles flax, but is made from the stem and stalk of the jute plant which primarily grows in India. It has an anti static characteristic

Burlap

A fabric that is often made from jute. It has an excellent resistance to microorganisms and insects

Hemp

Comes from a plant located in temperate zone. It is a course fiber originally used in ropes and sacks, but is now being used by designers in clothing. It is taken from the stems of canabis sativa plant

Manila hemp

Also known as abaca, derived the mula textilis plant. It is mainly grown in the Philippines. (Abaca or sinamay)

Ramie

An inexpensive fiber from an east asian plant, often times used as a substitute of flax. It can be spun or woven into fabric. Sometimes called china grass or grass linen. Produced from s perennial shrub

Natural rubber

Rubber in fiber form dates from 1920s. When it was discovered that latex (liquid rubber) could be extruded into fiber. High elastic, flexible, and impermeable, to water and air

Jusi

Originally made from abaca, and even banana fibers, but modern ones may also be made with a mix of pina, and silk fibers

Pina

Made from the leaves of pineapple plant. This fabric is commonly used in the Philippines. It can pure combined with other fibers such as jusi, silk, or polyester to create a fabric.

Wool (sheep)

Is sheared from domesticated animals, primarily a sheep

Merino wool

Comes from merino sheep, mostly found in australia and new zealand. It is finer or thinner than the average wool, making it softer, less itchy and more flexible

Shetland wool

Comes from shetland sheep, originally found in the shetland islands in Scotland. It has the gloss and softness of silk. Not the best wool but one of the most expensive wool because of limited sources

Lambswool

This is the finest and softest fleece and it comes from a lamb's first shearing, usually when it is six or seven months old. Excellent for blankets and sheets

Virgin wool

Term used for a wool that has not yet been previously processed

Ordinary wool

A regular type of wool, and may include reclaimed scraps from knits, broken threats, and other sources ; processed wool

Recycled wool

New wool or felted fabric scraps that are shredded and reused

Worsted wool

It is a high quality type of wool yarn, and named after the small english village of worstead which was the center for its manufacturing in the 12ty century. Generally more expensive than the other grades of wool because of the process it undergoes, which is complex and time consuming

Hair

From camel, goat, mohair, alpaca, llama, the vicuna (the rarest) and horse hair

Cashmere

A fiber obtained from soft undercoat of the lowly kashmiri goat. Approximately three times more insulating than sheep's wool

Pashmina

It is a fine type of cashmere, and actually shorn from the undercoat of Himalayan mountain goat. Pure type of this fabric are often gauzy or open weave, since it's thinness cannot tolerate high tension

Kevlar

High temp resistant fibre. Inredibly strong, stronger than comparably to sized steel. Used as barrier fabric between upholstery cushion and fabric in seating. Used in bullet resistant vests.

Elastoester

Used for fitted furnishings. Manufactured by japanese textile firm, Teijn Ltd. less elastic than spandex, moderately resistant, and has a more silk like hand. Manufactured under the trade name "rexe"

Microfibers

A synthetic fiber that is very fine, smaller than the diameter of a strand silk, which in itself is about 1/5 diameter of a human hair

Felting

Matting together of fibers. Form a web by moisture, pressure and heat. Continuous dense cloth that is firm, slightly fuzzy and comparatively low in tensile strength.

Films

Produced originally in sheet forms through extrusion through a wide die, forming in molds rolling between rollers

Knitting

Utilizes machinery wherein blunt rods or needles are used to form a single continuous yarn into a series of interlocking loops.

Wales

The vertical rows of stitches in knitting

Courses

horizontal rows of stitches in knitting

Plain stitches

Knitting stitches that produce a smooth-face material; used in making fine, thin, or sheer fabrics

Rib stitches

Produce lines of wales on both sides of the fabric causing the fabric to be very elastic.

Tuck stitches

Formed by holding one loop on a needle while taking on one or more additional loops and then casting all of them onto another needle

Purl stitches

Knitting stitches that have successive courses of stitches drawn to opposite sides of the fabric, thereby making it very elastic in the lengthwise direction and quite elastic in the crosswise direction

Circular knit

Made on a circular machine and produces a tubular fabric without seams.

Ribbed fabric

Made with 2 sets of needles to give a ribbed or corrugated surface to the fabric

Flat outerwear

Fabric is made by having the needles arranged in a straight line.

Flat underwear

fabric is made on a machine with only one set of needles

Double knit

A fabric knitted with a double stitch on a double needle frame to provide a double thickness that is the same on both sides. This type of fabric has excellent body and stability

Interlock knit

Eight-lock knit cloth that has a smooth surface on both sides.

Jersey

A plain stitch knitted fabric

Knit pile

A fabric produced by silver knitting, a method of knitting both yarn and fiber into a fabric to provide an exceptionally deep pile effect.

Milanese knitted

Known for its high gauge, lightweight, fine texture, and appeal in hand. The warps always move in opposite direction with the full threading or color arrangement to produce a run-proof fabric

Plated

A knit fabric that has one kind of yarn on the face while another type is found on the back of the goods.

Rachel knit

A versatile fabric that can be made from every type of yarn of any type of fiber in any form.

Single knit

Fabric knitted on a single-needle machine. It has less body substance and stability than the double knit

Velour

Is a popular knit fabric with properties that are similar to woven velour

Braiding

The interweaving or intertwining of three or more strands of yarn or other material so that the strands pass over and under one another.

Straws

Fabrics made by braiding natural plant fibers

Baku

A fine, lightweight, expensive straw with a dull finish.

Balibuntal

A fine, lightweight, glossy straw obtained from unopened palm leaf stems.

Milan

A fine, closely braided straw.

Leghorn

A fine, braided straw, made from special wheat grown in Tuscany that has been cut, bleached and worked by hand

Panama

A fine, hand-braided, creamy-colored Toquilla straw made primarily in Ecuador

Tuscan

A fine, yellow straw woven from the tops of bleached wheat stalks grown in Tuscany

Twisting

Intertwining and sometimes knotting of yarns that run in two or more directions. This method is used to make nets, macrame (knotted) and laces.

Weaving

Interlacing of warp or float (lengthwise) and filling or weft yarns usually at right angles on the loom, then turning them into cloth

Selvages

length-wise edges of the fabric

Loom

a device used for weaving cloth. The basic purpose this is to hold the warp threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of weft threads

Dobby loom

Type of floor loom that controls the warp threads using a device called dobby

Jacquard loom

a mechanical loom, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard, first demonstrated in 1801, that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles with complex patterns. The loom was controlled by a "chain of cards", a number of punched cards, laced together into a continuous sequence.

Plain weave

Made by the simple interweaving of warp and weft threads, when each warp yarn passes over and then under the weft yarns. This results in no particular surface pattern or texture, making this type of weaving the ideal background for printed fabrics

Regular weave

A type of Plain Weave when the weave is balanced in sequence or over and under so the warp and weft yarn have the same count per square inch; simplest of weaves and the strongest because it has the maximum possible number of interlacements. Also known as tabby or taffeta weave, the simplest and strongest weave because it has the maximum possible number of interlacement

Extra warp and weft pattern weave

A type of combination or figured weave in which extra warp and weft yarns are added to the fabric during weaving; created on the jacquard loom; and also known as Inlay Pattern Weaving or Brocades

Leno

A loose weave in which the warp threads are wound in half twist around each other and around a filter yarn alternating in position on each row to form a knot to keep the yarn from slipping. This is used for most loose, net-like casement textiles

Gauze

Very similar to Leno, the difference is that the earl threads maintain the same position in relation to the weft

Tension and texture-related weaves

Are weaves in which uneven tension in either weft or warp yarns are produces an uneven surface effect

Grey or greige goods

Fabrics that are still rough, full of blemishes and impurities

Finish

Is defined as a process done to fabrics, sometimes to fibers and yarns, causing them to change in appearance, texture and performance

Temporary finish

The kind of finish that last until the fabric is washed or dry-cleaned