Natural Fibers and their sources

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Fibers and Fabrics

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http://video.pbs.org/video/1767367995/
Textile Short Clip

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 Basic component of fabric is fibers
 Fibers
Tiny strands that, when twisted together
make up yarns

4. Natural Fibers
 Natural fibers come from plants or the hair of
animals.
 Cotton, linen, wool,and silk are the most
common natural fibers.
 Quality varies on the type of plant or animal
and the growing conditions.
 They have unique characteristics that cannot
be copied by science.

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Common Characteristics
 Natural fibers
 Absorb moisture
 Allow air to reach your skin
 Comfortable all year round
 Warm in winter, cool in summer
 Require more care than other fabrics

6. Cellulose
Fibers Cotton
Linen Ramie

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 Cotton
 Most common plant fiber
 Comes from seedpod of
cotton plant
 Linen
 Another common plant fiber
 Comes from stalk of flax
plant

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Ramie
 Ramie
 Comes from stems of china grass

9. Protein Fibers
Camel
Sheep
Silk Worm
Cocoons

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 Wool
 Comes from fleece of sheep, yak, alpaca,
camel, goat and some rabbits

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Silk
• Made by the silkworm, fibers come
from cocoon that the silkworm spins

12. Characteristics of Natural Fibers
 Cotton is a natural cellulosic fiber obtained
from the cotton plant.
Advantages- strong, launders well,
inexpensive, comfortable, wide variety of
uses
Disadvantages- shrinks in hot water, mildews
if out in damp storage, wrinkles easily
Uses- outer wear, underwear,
home furnishing

13.  Linen is a natural fiber from the flax
plant
Advantages-strongest of natural fibers,
durable, lint free, stands high
temperatures
Disadvantages-expensive, wrinkles easy
unless treated, has color loss
Uses- Clothing (suits, handkerchiefs)
Home furnishings (draperies, tablecloths)
Egyptian flax
linen fabric

14.  Ramie comes from a plant often grown in
China and India. Often called “China
Grass.”
 Advantages-strong, durable, dries quickly, absorbs
moisture
 Disadvantages-wrinkles easily, stiff and wire like,
and coarse
 Uses- cords, can be combined with other fabrics to
make home furnishings, and combined with other
natural and manufactured fibers in wearing apparel

15.  Wool is made from the fleece of sheep,
camels, alpaca and other animal hair
Advantages-warmest of all fibers, wrinkle
resistant, durable, combines with other fibers
successfully
Disadvantages-expensive, shrink and mat
when moisture applied, absorbs odors
Uses-clothing (outerwear, sweaters) home
furnishings(blankets, rugs, upholstery)

16.  Silk is obtained by the unwinding of a
silkworm’s cocoon.
Advantages- strong but lightweight, soil
resistant
Disadvantages- dry-cleaning, yellows with
age, can be expensive
Uses-Clothing (wedding dresses, blouses)
home furnishings (lampshades, wall
hangings)

17.  Jute is used to make rope and burlap.
 Hemp is used to make rope, cording for
jewelry making, clothing and accessories.
Other uses of Natural Fibers

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Activity
 Develop a new super-fabric;
 It is made by blending any combination of
existing fibers, retaining only the best
characteristics of each one, into the most
versatile clothing material known
 List 5 qualities you find most valuable
 List fiber combinations that will result in
such a product