Fabric Construction and Properties

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to fabric construction, properties, and terminology.

Fabric

A stable 2-dimensional sheet of fiber or yarn.

Weaving

A fabric construction technique where two sets of yarns interlace at right angles.

Weight of Fabric

Refers to the heaviness or lightness of fabric, affecting its structure and durability.

WARP Yarns

Yarns that run parallel to the selvage (lengthwise grain) in woven fabrics.

WEFT Yarns

Yarns that run perpendicular to the selvage (crosswise grain) in woven fabrics.

Shed

The space created in weaving when harnesses are lifted, allowing the weft yarn to be fed through.

Thread Count

The density of yarns per square inch, combining both warp and weft directions.

Balanced Weave

A weave with similar numbers of yarns per inch in each direction.

Unbalanced Weave

A weave with differing yarn counts in the warp or weft directions, creating ribs.

Twill Weave

A weave characterized by a pattern created through the yarns' diagonal interlacing.

Satin Weave

A weave where yarns float over multiple yarns before interlacing under, creating a smooth fabric face.

Fiber Blends

When warp and weft yarns are made from different fibers to introduce visual interest or reduce cost.

Plain Weave

A basic weave where warp and weft yarns interlace 1x1, producing a fabric that looks the same on both sides.

Broken Twill

A woven pattern formed by reversing the direction of the twill at intervals, creating distinct patterns like herringbone.

Selvage

The finished edge along the length of the fabric.

Weight Classifications

Categorization of fabric weights, including sheer, light, medium, bottom weight, and heavy weight.

Fabric Names

Names that indicate fiber content, yarn type, weight, and construction method.

Stretch in Woven Fabrics

Woven fabrics typically do not have significant stretch, except in the bias direction.