PRODUCTION, USES AND CARE OF DIFFERENT FABRICS

Fabrics are produced from fibre and each fibre is made by different processes

PRODUCTION OF COTTON

1. GINNING: The removal of seeds from the fibres. The hair left on the seeds after ginning are called
linters

2. BAILING: Cotton are pressed into bails and sent into factories

3. SORTING AND CLEANING: The bad fibres are separated and washed to remove impurities

4. CARDING: The short fibres are removed while the long ones are formed into thick ropes called silvers

5. COMBING: The silver is passed over a revolving drum set with teeth which lays the silver side by side

6. DRAWING: The fibres are hoisted lightly

7. SPINNING: This is the rolling and twisting of twisted fibres into threads or yarns

8. DYEING: The yarn can be bleached or dyed into various colour of choice

9. WEAVING: This is the last stage where the threads or yarns are woven into fabrics

USES OF COTTON

1. They are used for clothing and underwear

2. They are used for bedsheets, pillow cases, table clothes etc

3. They are used for bandages, cotton wool, medical gauze etc

4. Used for aircraft tyres, tents etc

5. Used for carpets, book binding etc

CARE OF COTTON

1. Washing in hot water has no negative effect because they are strong fibres

2. Scrub and rub the fabric very well

3. Follow the labelled directions on the fabrics

4. Bleach white cotton when necessary

5. Dry in the sun

6. Iron very well.

PRODUCTION OF LINEN

1. RETTING: This is the process of soaking the flax stems to soften the fleshy part to make it rotten
partially and leaving the woody hardcore

2. BREAKING: This is the breaking down of the hard-woody part and impurities from the fibre

3. SCUTHING: The beating out of the linen fibres to remove more impurities after breaking

4. COMBING: This is the passing of fibres through special series of combs to separate long fibres from
short ones

5. SPINNING: This is the process of twisting at high speed

6. The yarns can be dyed before or after weaving

USES OF LINEN

1. Linen can be made into different kitchen articles such as kitchen linen, tea towels, table covers, tray
covers etc.

2. It can be made into dress for wears too. Examples are suits, dresses etc.

CARE OF LINEN

The care for linen is the same as the care for cotton.

PRODUCTION OF WOOL

1. CLIPPING: These are fibres from the sheep. That is, cutting the hair. The hair is packaged into bales
and moved to factories.

2. SORTING: This is process of grading and separating fibre according to their length

3. SCOURING: The process of washing to remove dirt and oil

4. CARDING: This is done by passing the matted wool between the wire rollers which separates the long
fibres

5. COMBING: It helps to separate the long fibre from the short fibre

6. SPINNING: This is the process of twisting fibres into yarns

7. WEAVING: The process of making fabrics from the yarns

8. DYEING: It(fabrics) can be dyed before or after weaving

USES OF WOOL

1. It can be used for sweaters, socks, vests, soft furnishings etc

2. It is used for baby wears, flannel etc

3. It can also be used for blankets

CARE OF WOOL

1. Wash with warm soapy water

2. Squeeze gently to remove water and not twist

3. It absorbs a lot of water after washing, so it is necessary to support wool when drying

4. Do not dry under direct sunlight

5. Press with a cool iron

6. Study the care labels, if available before laundering.

PRODUCTION OF SILK

1. The cocoons are put in hot water to melt the gum and reveal the threads

2. The ends of the threads are exposed by crushing the surface of the cocoons

3. The ends of the threads from many cocoons are pricked together at the same time to form threads
thick enough for handling

4. The twisted threads are reeled into folded coil of yarn, still surrounded by gum. The raw silk is folded
together for weaving

5. Patterns may be introduced during or after weaving

6. Bleaching is done

7. Then weighing done afterwards.

MANUFACTURING WOOL FABRICS

1. CLIPPING— Cutting hair from sheep and packing into bales.

2. SORTING—Grading and separating fibres according to length.

TYPES OF WOOL YARN

1. Worsted yarn (long fibres).

2. Woolen yarn (short fibres).

MANUFACTURING OF RAYON FIBRE

1. The wool pulp is purified.

2. Chemical treatment of cellulose.

3. Production of rayon fibres through spinneret.

4. Spinning of fibres into yarn.

MANUFACTURING OF ACETATE

1. Cellulose is purified

2. Formation of cellulose acetate

3. Dissolving of cellulose acetate

4. Spinning of cellulose acetate into fibres

MANUFACTURING OF NYLON

Nylon is gotten by a complex series of chemical reactions involving coal, petroleum, water and air. It can
be made into long or short yarn

SIMPLE FABRIC FINISHES

Fabric finishes are treatments given to improve the appearance and handle of fabrics after construction.
Examples are--:

1. Lustre/sheen finishes (reduce wrinkles)

2. Drip-dry finishes

3. Grease resistant finishes

4. Moth- proof finishes