Fabric Study & Basic Colour Theory

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Grade 9 chapters on Fibre Study and Basic Colour Theory.

Fibre

The basic building block of textiles, spun into yarn to create fabrics.

Textile

A material made by weaving, knitting, or bonding fibres together.

Natural Fibre

A fibre derived from plants, animals, or minerals, e.g., cotton or wool.

Synthetic Fibre

A man-made fibre produced from petrochemicals, e.g., polyester or nylon.

Cotton

A soft, breathable, absorbent plant fibre that is hypoallergenic and biodegradable.

Linen

A strong, durable, breathable fibre from flax plants that softens with use.

Wool

An insulating, moisture-wicking, flame-resistant animal fibre obtained from sheep.

Silk

A luxurious, strong, lightweight animal fibre with natural sheen, produced by silkworms.

Polyester

A strong, durable, wrinkle-resistant synthetic fibre produced from PTA and EG polymerization.

Nylon

A strong, elastic, lightweight, abrasion-resistant synthetic fibre made from adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine.

Acrylic

A soft, lightweight, warm synthetic fibre that mimics wool and resists moths and chemicals.

Spandex

An extremely elastic, durable synthetic fibre made from polyurethane, used in stretchable clothing.

Polymerization

The chemical process of linking monomers into polymers to create synthetic fibres.

Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA)

A monomer combined with ethylene glycol to produce polyester.

Ethylene Glycol (EG)

A monomer reacted with PTA during polyester production.

Adipic Acid

One of the monomers used to synthesize nylon fibres.

Hexamethylenediamine

The diamine monomer that reacts with adipic acid to form nylon.

Acrylonitrile

The monomer polymerized to create acrylic fibres.

Polyurethane

The polymer base used to manufacture spandex fibres.

Biodegradability

The capacity of a material to decompose naturally by biological agents.

Moisture-Wicking

The ability of a fibre to draw moisture away from the skin to the fabric surface.

Primary Colours

Red, blue, and yellow—hues that cannot be created by mixing other colours.

Secondary Colours

Green, purple, and orange—produced by mixing two primary colours.

Tertiary Colours

Colours formed by mixing a primary colour with an adjacent secondary colour, e.g., teal or vermillion.

Colour Wheel

A circular diagram displaying the relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colours.

Complementary Colours

Pairs of hues opposite each other on the colour wheel (e.g., red & green) that intensify each other.

Analogous Colours

Neighbouring hues on the colour wheel that create harmonious, low-contrast palettes.

Monochromatic Scheme

A palette built from one hue and its varying tints and shades.

Hue

A pure colour on the colour wheel, without added white, black, or grey.

Tint

A hue to which white has been added, creating a lighter version of the colour.

Shade

A hue to which black has been added, making the colour darker.

Tone

A hue modified by adding both black and white (grey) to reduce intensity.

Retting

The soaking process that loosens flax fibres from stalks in linen production.