comparison of fabrics. This makes us know the true quality of a fabric by differentiating it from its substitutes. The following slides gives a complete information upon different types of fabric at a glance. It gives information about the weaves of the fabric, its characteristics and the uses, the important part of comparison. CHARACTERISTICS OF TEXTILE FABRICS Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Acetate A synthetic or manufactured fiber with a silky luxurious appearance. Characteristic Dries easily and resists absorbing moisture. Care Most acetate fabrics will need to be dry cleaned for their care. Some newer pieces of clothing are being made with acetate knits. Some of these newer pieces are able to be washed. Use Frequently used fabric in clothing and home furnishing uses. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Batiste ( Bah-teest) The softest of the lightweight opaque fabrics. Made of cotton, wool, polyester, or a blend. A balanced plain weave. Characteristic Very thin and light but not transparent. Delicate hand. Has a graceful drape, and is often mercerized to add lustre. Care Wash batiste in a in a gentle or delicate cycle. Avoid bleach. Use End uses include apparel and furnishings. Excellent for underliner, and lining for linen clothing.. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Bedford cord A cord cotton-like fabric with raised ridges in the lengthwise direction. A heavy fabric with a lengthwise ribbed weave that resembles corduroy. Characteristic High strength and a high durability. Care Can be hand washed and dry cleaned. Use Often used for upholstery, work clothes, suitings, coatings, riding breeches, and uniforms. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Boucle (boo-klay) A knit or woven fabric made from a rough, curly, knotted boucle yarn. Characteristic Has a looped, knotted surface. Bulky. Care Need to be hand washed or dry cleaned in order to prevent them from becoming damaged. To prevent shrinkage, it should be laid flat to dry. Use Used in sportswear and coats. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Broadcloth (Brawd-kloth) A plain weave tightly woven fabric, characterized by a slight ridge effect in one direction, usually the filling. The most common broadcloth is made from cotton or cotton/polyester blends. Characteristic Extremely sturdy, smooth, supple and soft. Closely woven with smooth finish. Care Only dry cleaning can be done. Use Used in furniture and luxury car interiors, shirts, dresses, particularly the tailored type in plain colors, blouses, summer wear. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Brocade A thick and heavy, exquisite jacquard type fabric with an all- over raised pattern or floral design that is woven. Characteristic Highly lustrous, silky, and relatively soft fabric. Care Requires special care. To preserve the qualities of brocade fabric, it is recommended that it be dry cleaned. Use Common end-uses include formal applications such as upholstery, draperies, and eveningwear. It is excellent for making clothing, accessories, and decorations Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Challis A plain weave fabric with a slightly brushed surface. The fabric is often printed, usually in a floral pattern. Challis is most often seen in fabrics made of cotton, wool, or rayon. Characteristic Soft and very light-weighted. Silky and drapes well. Care Hand wash only. Do not wring. Dry flat. Use Used in women's and children's dresses and blouses, kimonos, neckties, and sportswear. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Chambray A plain woven fabric that can be made from cotton, silk, or manufactured fibers, but most commonly cotton. Incorporates a colored warp (often blue) and white filling yarns. Characteristic Strong fabric with a smooth surface. Soft and comfortable with a slight lustre. Soft coloring which causes it to appear faded. Care Tumble dry or hang dry. Use Used in childrens wear, mens wear, blouses, aprons, napkins, bed skirts and curtains. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Chiffon A plain woven lightweight, extremely sheer, airy, and soft silk fabric, containing highly twisted filament yarns. Made from rayon and other manufactured fibers. Characteristic Elegant and sheer, transparent and thin with a very slightly rough feel to it. Light-weighted, but strong. Care Dry cleaning recommended . Tumbling not recommended . Do not sprinkle water on dry chiffon as it will mark . Iron while damp cool iron. Use Used mainly in evening dresses and scarves. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Chintz A plain-weave fabric, which has been glazed to produce a polished look. Usually made of cotton. Characteristic Shiny and lustrous. Has a polished look. Easy to maintain this fabric. Care Dry clean only . Do not rub or twist or tumble. Iron while damp try from reverse side. Use Most commonly used in blouses, dresses, draperies, and slipcovers. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Corduroy A fabric, usually made of cotton, utilizing a cut-pile weave construction. Characteristic Warm, durable, washable and absorbs and releases moisture quickly. Stiff and thick. Care Could be hand washed or dry cleaned . Do not wring or twist . No not iron on right side . Use cool iron on wrong side or under a damp cloth Use Perfect for sport jackets and trousers. Also used for decorative purposes in upholstery and curtains. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Cotton A unicellular, natural fiber that grows in the seed pod of the cotton plant. Characteristic Durable, strong and a very good absorbent. Very comfortable to wear due to its soft hand. Care Wash or dry clean depending on the weave or knit-. Generally can be washed, tumbled and ironed. Use Used in shirts, dresses, furniture and almost all other types of garment or household furnishing. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Crepe Cloth made from a highly twisted yarn giving a dull, wrinkled, crinkled or puckered appearance. Characteristic Crinkled and puckered surface with rough feel and appearance. Care Hand wash. Roll in towel to absorb moisture. Do not tumble. Iron on reverse or under damp cloth. Use Depending on weight, it is used for dresses of all types, including long dinner dresses, suits, and coats. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Damask A glossy jacquard fabric, usually made from linen, cotton, rayon, silk, or blends. The patterns are flat and reversible. Characteristic Reversible fabric with woven pattern. Sheds dirt. Care May be boiled. Will look best if starched. Iron at hottest possible setting for fibre. Use Often used in napkins, tablecloths, draperies, and upholstery. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Denim True denim is a twill weave cotton-like fabric made with different colored yarns in the warp and the weft. Due to the twill construction, one color predominates on the fabric surface. Characteristic Gives a mottled look. Comes in heavy and lighter weights. Durable. Care Will run colour . Likely to stretch in wear and shrink in wash . Iron while damp . Use Pants, caps, uniforms, bedspreads, slipcovers, draperies, upholstery, sportswear. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Double Cloth A fabric construction, in which two fabrics are woven on the loom at the same time, one on top of the other. In the weaving process, the two layers of woven fabric are held together using binder threads. The woven patterns in each layer of fabric can be similar or completely different. Characteristic Have two right sides or faces and no wrong side. Reversible and has high thermal protection. Low absorption. Care Extreme care required. Use Used in Haute Couture coats and jackets, bedspreads upholstery. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Felt A non-woven fabric made from wool, hair, or fur, and sometimes in combination with certain manufactured fibers, where the fibers are locked together in a process utilizing heat, moisture, and pressure to form a compact material. Characteristic Matted appearance. Very soft Care Do not wash . Will shrink dramatically . Use Often used for card tables and baize on snooker tables. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Flannel A medium-weight, plain or twill weave fabric that is typically made from cotton, a cotton blend, or wool. Characteristic The fabric has a very soft hand. Brushed on both sides to lift the fiber ends out of the base fabric and create a soft, fuzzy surface. Care Dry clean only . Iron under a damp cloth. Use End-uses include shirts and pajamas and kids clothing. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Gabardine A tightly woven, twilled, worsted fabric with a slight diagonal line on the right side. Known as a year-round fabric. Polyester, cotton, rayon, and various blends are also used in making gabardine. Characteristic Clear finish, tightly woven, firm, durable. Wears extremely well. Inclined to shine with wear. Hard to press properly. Care Dry clean only Use Used for raincoats and sportswear, suitings Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Gauze A thin, sheer plain-weave fabric made from cotton, wool, silk, rayon, or other manufactured fibers. Characteristic Very lightweight and sheer. Care Washable. Use End-uses include curtains, apparel, trimmings, and surgical dressings. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Georgette A sheer lightweight fabric, often made of silk or from such manufactured fibers as polyester, with a crepe surface. Characteristic Characterized by it's crispness, body and outstanding durability. Sheer and has a dull face. Care Dry clean silk or wool . Wash man made to the weakest fibres on the care label . Iron for the fibre type. Use End-uses include dresses and blouses. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Gingham A medium weight, plain weave fabric with a plaid or check pattern. Characteristic Finely checked or striped fabric. Care Generally can be washed, tumbled and ironed. Use End-uses include dresses, shirts, and curtains. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jersey Fabric The consistent interlooping of yarns in the jersey stitch to produces a fabric with a smooth, flat face, and a more textured, but uniform back. May be produced on either circular or flat weft knitting machines. Characteristic Stretchable, light-weighted and smooth. Care Dry clean. Low tumble. Do not wring. Iron on reverse. Use used for knitwear or T Shirts. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Linen A fabric made from linen fibers obtained from inside the woody stem of the flax plant. One of the oldest textile fibers. Characteristic Stronger and more lustrous than cotton. Very cool and absorbent, but wrinkle very easily, unless blended with manufactured fibers. Care Dry clean. Iron on reverse side . Prone to crease very badly . Ironing while damp may help. Use Often used for tablecloths, sheets, and curtains. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Muslin An inexpensive, medium weight, plain weave, low count (less than 160 threads per square inch) cotton sheeting fabric. Characteristic Cool, comfortable and cheap fabric. Care Warm wash . Iron while damp. Use In its unfinished form, it is commonly used in fashion design to make trial garments for preliminary fit. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Nylon The first completely synthetic fiber developed. Characteristics High strength and excellent resiliency. Superior abrasion resistance and high flexibility. Elastic, easy to wash and is quite lustrous. Returns easily to it's original shape and is non absorbent. Fast drying, resistant to some dyes. Care Warm hand wash or dry clean . Cold rinse. Drip dry. Sensitive to heat: do not require ironing Use Used in women's hosiery, knitted or woven lingerie, socks and sweaters. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Organdy A stiffened, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric, with a medium to high yarn count. Characteristic Crispness is due to a finish with starch and calendaring which washes out. Wrinkles badly unless given a wrinkle-free finish. Stiff transparent delicate fabric Care Hand wash in cool soapy . Iron on right side while damp Use End-uses include blouses, dresses, and curtains/draperies. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Organza A crisp, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric, with a medium to high yarn count , made of silk, rayon, nylon, or polyester. Characteristic Fine, sheer, lightweight, crisp fabric. Has a very wiry feel. Crushes or musses fairly easily, but it is easily pressed. Dressy type of fabric, sometimes has a silvery sheen Care Dry clean or wash with great care. Drip dry if washed Use Used primarily in evening and wedding apparel for women, evening dresses, trimming, millinery, underlinings for delicate, sheer materials. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Polyester A strong and durable synthetic fabric Characteristic High strength, excellent resiliency, and high abrasion resistance. Low absorbency allows the fiber to dry quickly. Lightweight, strong and resistant to creasing, shrinking, stretching, mildew. Readily washable and is not damaged by sunlight or weather. Care Wash warm and cold rinse normal spin. May be tumbled but choose low heat. Iron cool as the fabric is thermoplastic Use Often the material of football shirts and is the microfibre in fleece garments. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Poplin A fabric made using a rib variation of the plain weave. The construction is characterized by having a slight ridge effect in one direction, usually the filling. Characteristic Light-weighted and thin. Comfortable to wear. Care Generally can be washed, tumbled and ironed Use Used in casual wear. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Plisse Thin cotton fabric with puckered stripes or pattern in an overall blister effect caused by selective shrinkage. Characteristic : Puckered and plain striped effects usually either warp or in the weft direction. Has tendency to shrink Care: Hand wash only Do not iron for better durability Use: Used in apparel, casual wear, draperies Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Rayon A manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose, derived from wood pulp, cotton linters, or other vegetable matter. Characteristic Drapability and dyeability are excellent. Fairly soft. Has a tendency to shrink but does not melt in high temperatures. Resistant to moths and is not affected by ordinary household bleaches and chemicals. Care Dry cleaning recommended as it weakens the fabric. Use Used in clothing, hose. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Satin Fabric A traditional fabric utilizing a satin weave construction to achieve a lustrous fabric surface. Characteristic Usually has a lustrous surface and a dull back. Made in many colors, weights, varieties, qualities, and degrees of stiffness. Care Treat with care and follow the care label for fibre type - Iron on dull side - Easy to damage with sharp objects - Water will mark the fabric. Use Satin is a traditional fabric for evening and wedding garments. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Seersucker A woven fabric which incorporates modification of tension control. In the production of seersucker, some of the warp yarns are held under controlled tension at all times during the weaving, while other warp yarns are in a relaxed state and tend to pucker when the filling yarns are placed. The result produces a puckered stripe effect in the fabric. Characteristic It is skin friendly, comfortable and durable. It is thin and light- weighted. Care It can be easily washed and needs no ironing. Use Seersucker is traditionally made into summer sportswear such as shirts, trousers, and informal suits. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Silk A natural filament fiber produced by the silkworm in the construction of its cocoon. Most silk is collected from cultivated worms; Tussah silk, or wild silk, is a thicker, shorter fiber produced by worms in their natural habitat. All silk comes from Asia, primarily China. Characteristic Soft fabric with lustrous look. Care Dry clean. - If washed treat with care silk can be damaged by rubbing - Do not wring - Hang to dry - Iron while damp - Clean often as ingrained stains may not come away. Use Used for sarees and traditional costumes. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Taffeta A lustrous, medium weight, plain weave fabric with a slight ribbed appearance in the filling (crosswise) direction. Characteristic Provides a crisp hand, with lots of body. Smooth with a sheen on its surface. Have a crispness and stiffness. Care Dry cleaning recommended. Use Used in formal wear, dressy evening wear, suits and coats, slips, ribbons, blouses, dresses. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Tulle A lightweight, extremely fine, machine-made netting, usually with a hexagon shaped mesh effect. Characteristic Very fine soft netted fabric in a hexagonal shape Care Iron as for fibre being careful not to catch and tear fabric. Use End-uses include dance costumes and veils. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Velvet A medium weight cut-pile constructed fabric in which the cut pile stands up very straight. Characteristic Crush resistant and water resistant. High lustre and smooth hand. Drapes well. Care Dry cleaning is recommended. Drip dry . Do not wring or spin. Use Used in eveningwear, lounge wear, used extensively for party wear and curtaining . Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Voile A crisp, lightweight, plain weave cotton-like fabric, made with high twist yarns in a high yarn count construction. Similar in appearance to organdy and organza. Characteristic Sheer and very light weight. Drapes and gathers very well. Care Do not wring or twist . Hang to dry . Iron while damp. Use Used in blouses dresses and curtains. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Wool Usually associated with fiber or fabric made from the fleece of sheep or lamb. Characteristic Very resilient. Resistant to wrinkling. Renewed by moisture and well known for it's warmth. Care Dry clean recommended . Hand wash or machine wash on wool setting. Do not wring . Dry flat. Cool iron Use Used in clothing, blankets, winter wear. Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T Jyothirmai . S. Asst. Professor ,F&T