CHAPTER – 3

FIBRE TO FABRIC

• Fibres: There are two types of fibres:
(a) Natural Fibres: The fibres which are obtained from plants and animals. Example:
cotton, jute, silk and wool.
(b) Synthetic Fibres: Man-made fibres which are not obtrained from plant and animals
sources. Examples: rayon, nulon, polyester, etc.
• Fibres from plant sources:
(a) Cotton: cotton is grown in black soil and warm climate.
(b) Jute: jute is obtained from stem of jute plant.
• Fibres from animal sources:
(a) Wool: wool cloth is spun from yarn made from the fibres of the thick fleece of sheep.
(b) Silk: silk thread is obtained from the saliva of an insect called silkworm.
• Processing of wool: It involves four steps:
(a) Shearing: The process of removal of wool from the sheep’s skin.
(b) Grading: The process of separating fleece from damaged wool.
(c) Carding: The process after the wool has been washed and dried, it is passed through
the rollers (that have teeth).
(d) Spinning: The process by which fibrs are gathered together and drawn into a long
rope and then twisted to make yarn.
• Fabrics are made from yarns, which in turn are made from fibres.
• Making Fabric from Yarn: It is done by two processes:
(a) Weaving: The process by two sets of yarns are arranged together to form fabric. It is
done on looms.
(b) Knitting: The process by which a single yarn is used to make fabric. It is done by hand
or machines.