Fibre to fabric(G6)

Handout

I. Short answer questions.

1. Write a few lines on the history of clothing.

Evidence suggests human beings began wearing clothing around 100000 to 500000 years
ago. Swing needles made of bone and ivory dating back to around 40,000 years have been
found. Swing machines were invented in the 19th century, which led to the popularization of
ready-made cloths. Synthetic fibre, which is cheaper and more durable than natural fibre was
invented in the 20th century.

2. Define fibre.

Fibres are thin thread-like structures twisted together to form a yarn.

3. State a few properties of cotton and jute fibres.

Cotton

 Cool to wear
 Durable

Jute

 Lustrous
 cheap
4. Describe the climatic conditions and the types of soil s required for growing cotton
and jute.

Cotton

Cotton plant is a shrub found in deep black soil or alluvial soil. It requires high
temperature(21- 30 degreeC) and an annual rainfall of 50-100cm.

Jute

Jute requires hot and humid climate with temperature ranging from 24degreee C to 35 degree
C and heavy rainfall of 120 to 150cm. sandy or clayey loam is best suited for the growth of
jute.

5. Name a few plant fibres with their sources.

 Cotton-cotton plant

 Linen-flax plant

 Jute- jute plant

 Hemp- hemp plant

 Coir-coconut plant

 Silk cotton- kapok tree

6. Why are the stalks of jute plants soaked in water after harvesting?

The fibres are naturally glued together by a sticky substance. The stem rots due to soaking in
water and the sticky substance holding the fibres is removed.

II. Distinguish between the following.

1. Fibre and fabric

Fibre fabric

Fibres are thin thread-like structures A fabric made by weaving fibres is called
twisted together to form a yarn. a cloth.

Yarns are knotted, felted, woven to form All cloths are fabrics but not all fabrics
fabric. are cloths.

2. Knitting and weaving

Knitting Weaving
 It is a process of making garments by
interlocking loops of wool.
It is carried out on needles or a machine.
When two distinct sets of yarns are
interlocked at right angles to form a
fabric, it is called weaving.
It is carried out on a machine called
loom.

3. Ginning and retting

Ginning Retting
It is a process of removing seeds from The process of extracting jute fibres from
cotton fibre. its stem by rotting the stem in water to
remove the sticky substance is called
retting.
Seeds are used for making oil. After retting is complete, the bark is
peeled and the fibre is removed.

4. Spinning wheel and loom

Spinning wheel Loom

Spinning is done by a spinning wheel or Weaving is carried out on a machine
charkha. called loom.
It is used to make yarn. It is used to make fabrics.

5. Handloom and power loom

Handloom Power loom

If the loom is hand operated, it is called If it is electricity-operated it is called
handloom. power loom.
Fewer amounts of fabrics are produced. More amounts of fabrics are produced.

C. Long answer questions.

1. Explain the process of converting cotton into its fibre.

The mature bolls split open to reveal fluffy white fibres. The bolls are harvested by
handpicking or machines.

This harvested cotton, also called seed cotton, is sent to a gin. It is a machine that separates
cotton fibre and seeds, moisture is reduced by a dryer and foreign materials such as leaves
and sticks are removed.

Fibre obtained after ginning is referred to as raw cotton or lint and is compressed into bales
banded with steel straps, wrapped for protection, and shipped to storage yards, or textile
mills, or to foreign countries, at mills, raw cotton is processed to produce yarn, which is
woven or knitted to produce cloth or fabric.

2. Explain the process of converting jute its fibre.

Jute fibres are obtained from the stem of the plant. The fibres are present inside the bark. The
plants are cut close to the ground. The stalks are tied in bundles and immersed in ponds or
stagnant water for about 20 days. This is done to soften the jute fibres inside the bark, the
fibres are naturally glued together by a sticky substance. The stem rots due to soaking in
water and the sticky substance holding fibres is removed. The fibres are pounded with
wooden hammers to loosen them. The process of extracting jute fibres from its stem by
rotting the stem in water to remove the sticky substance is called retting.

After retting is complete, the bark is peeled and the fibre is removed.

The fibre is then stripped, rinsed, washed, cleaned and dried in the sun. It is then pressed into
bales or tied in small bundles.

This raw jute in the form of bales if processed in jute mills to produce jute yarn, sacks, bags,
and other useful products.

3. Write a note on silk cotton fibre. Do you find any similarity in the fruit of silk cotton
and cotton?

Similar to cotton, silk cotton is a silky seed-hair fibre obtained from the fruit of the kapok
tree. Being one of the largest trees, the kapok tree bears cotton-like kapok fruits, which burst
open to release fibres, the fibres are short, elastic light and water-repellent. They cannot be
spun like cotton but are used in upholstery as stuffing.

4. Write a short note on coir, hemp and flax fibres mentioning their uses.

Hemp

The long or short fibres obtained from the stem of the hemp plants are separated, spun and
woven into fabric or used as paper, building materials, ropes, carpets, etc.

Linen

Linen fibre is obtained from the stem of the flax plants. It has been used in the textile
industry.

Coir

Thick and strong coir fibre obtained from the outer covering, or husk, of coconut is used in
rugs, sacks, brushes, ropes, floor coverings, and for stuffing in mattresses and pillows. After
the process of retting, the husk is separated from the nut by beating with mallets, it is then
processed and spun into fibres.