Clothing and textiles

Types of fibres

Natural fibres:

  • Cotton → soft, breathable, absorbs sweat

  • Linen → strong, cool, wrinkles easily

  • Wool → warm, elastic, can shrink

  • Silk → smooth, expensive, delicate

Man-made fibres:

  • Polyester → durable, wrinkle-resistant

  • Nylon → strong, lightweight

  • Acrylic → wool substitute

  • Rayon → semi-synthetic (from wood pulp)

Fabric construction

  • Weaving

    • Plain weave → simple, strong (e.g. cotton)

    • Twill → diagonal lines (e.g. denim)

    • Satin → smooth surface

  • Knitting

    • Stretchy (used for T-shirts)

Fabric finishes

  • Waterproof

  • Flame-resistant

  • Crease-resistant

  • Stain-resistant

Laundry process

  1. Sorting (colour, fabric type)

  2. Washing

  3. Rinsing

  4. Drying

  5. Ironing

Care labels

  • Symbols for washing, bleaching, ironing, dry cleaning

Stain removal

  • Grease → detergent

  • Blood → cold water

  • Ink → alcohol

Basic tools

  • Tape measure

  • Fabric shears

  • Pins & pin cushion

  • Needles

  • Thimble

Sewing machine parts

  • Needle

  • Presser foot

  • Bobbin

  • Feed dog

  • Hand wheel

Hand stitches

  • Running stitch

  • Back stitch

  • Hemming

  • Overcasting

Seams

  • Plain seam

  • French seam

  • Open seam

Edge finishes

  • Hemming

  • Binding

  • Facing

Fastenings

  • Zippers

  • Buttons

  • Hooks & eyes

Body measurements

  • Bust

  • Waist

  • Hip

  • Shoulder

  • Back length

Pattern symbols

  • Grain line

  • Notches

  • Fold line

Layout

  • Straight grain vs cross grain

  • Economical fabric use

Steps in making a garment

  1. Taking measurements

  2. Choosing pattern

  3. Cutting fabric

  4. Sewing

  5. Finishing

Fitting problems

  • Too tight

  • Too loose

  • Uneven hem

Elements of design

  • Line

  • Shape

  • Colour

  • Texture

Principles of design

  • Balance

  • Proportion

  • Harmony

  • Emphasis

Figure types & clothing

  • Tall → avoid vertical lines

  • Short → use vertical lines

  • Wide → avoid bulky fabrics

Factors affecting choice

  • Climate (important in Caribbean ☀)

  • Occasion

  • Age

  • Budget

Wardrobe planning

  • Mix and match

  • Basic garments

Stages

  1. Fibre production

  2. Yarn production

  3. Fabric production

  4. Finishing

  5. Manufacturing

Careers

  • Designer

  • Tailor

  • Pattern maker

  • Textile technologist

When buying clothing

  • Check:

    • Fabric quality

    • Stitching

    • Labels

Rights of consumers

  • Good quality

  • Value for money