This document discusses natural fibers used to make fabrics. It describes the basic components of fibers and yarns. The main natural fibers discussed are cotton, linen, wool, silk, and ramie. For each fiber, it provides details on its source, advantages, disadvantages, and common uses. It also discusses the characteristics and uses of jute and hemp fibers. The document concludes with an activity asking the reader to design a "super fabric" by blending existing natural fibers to maximize desirable qualities.

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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