Fibre Types

Question 1

Where do natural fibres come from?

Answer 1

Natural fibres come from animals or plants;

Plant fibres include cotton, linen, jute, sisal and more unusual fibres such as bamboo or coconut

Animal fibres include wool, silk and hair such as mohair (goat) or angora (rabbit)

Question 2

Give one positive aspect of natural fibres?

Answer 2

Natural fibres are renewable and biodegradable

Question 3

Where do synthetic fibres come from?

Answer 3

Synthetic fibres are made mainly from coal and oil, refined into polymers.

Question 4

Give one negative and one positive aspect of synthetic fibres?

Answer 4

They are non-renewable and do not degrade easily.

They can be cheaper to produce than some natural fibres.

Question 5

List synthetic (refined) fibres?

Answer 5

polyester, nylon, elastane, acrylic, spandex

Question 6

Where to regenerated fibres come from?

Answer 6

They are made from cellulose fibres that come from plants such as wood pulp; a chemical is added to extract the cellulose fibres hence why they are classed as semi-synthetic fibres. So they are part natural, part synthetic.

Question 7

List some regenerated fibres.

Answer 7

viscose, acetate, tensel, lyocell and bamboo

Question 8

Are regenerated fibres good for the environment?

Answer 8

Some of the manufacturing processes for some of these fibres are highly toxic to environment but they come from all come from renewable sources and some like Lyocell (also known as Tencel) is biodegradable although consume a lot of energy to produce.

Question 9

What do you know about viscose?

Answer 9

Designed as a substitute to silk. Suitable for summer dress, skirts, soft shirts, upholstery and bedding

Question 10

What do you know about rayon?

Answer 10

Drapes well can also be used a substitute to silk - cheaper. Dresses, shirts, and saris. Has a sheen to it.

Question 11

What do you know about acetate?

Answer 11

Lower-cost alternative to silk - wedding dresses, graduation wear, some types of evening attire, and women’s underwear.

Question 12

What do you know about lyocell (tencel)?

Answer 12

Feels like cotton. Dress shirts, towels to underwear.

Question 13

What is polyester sometimes used for?

Answer 13

used for products like outdoor clothing and rucksacks

Question 14

What is acrylic sometimes used for?

Answer 14

used for jumpers, blankets, carpets, tracksuits

Question 15

What is elastane sometimes used for?

Answer 15

• very stretchy - sports gear of many types, bike shorts, swimwear, sports bras

Question 16

What is nylon sometimes used for?

Answer 16

outdoor textiles like tents and rucksacks

Question 17

What are the positives about synthetic fibres?

Answer 17

quick drying, strong, easy to care for, water resistant, crease resistant and some can be stretchy

Question 18

List non woven fibres

Answer 18

felt, bonded fabrics

Question 19

How if felted fabric made?

Answer 19

is made from wool fibres matted together using moisture, heat and pressure

Question 20

What are felted fabrics used for and what are their properties/characteristics?

Answer 20

used for hats, slippers, coats and in handcrafts

it has little strength, drape or elasticity and is expensive but is warm and does not fray;

Question 21

How are bonded fabrics made?

Answer 21

made from webs of synthetic fibres bonded together with heat or adhesives

Question 22

What are bonded fabrics used for and what are their properties/characteristics?

Answer 22

neoprene for wetsuits would be an example, interlining and J cloths, wet wipes and surgical gowns are all made from bonded fabrics. Gore-Tex is another example of a bonded fabric.

they are cheap to produce, easy to sew, crease-resistant, do not fray or stretch and are stable to washing and dry-cleaning - but are not as strong as woven or knitted fabrics and are prone to tearing;

Question 23

What is cotton made from?

Answer 23

Cotton fibres come from the cotton plant seed fibre

Question 24

What is sorts of garments/textiles are sometimes made out of cotton?

Answer 24

is a very versatile fibre and can be used to make a wide range of textile products like;

T-shirts, underwear - things close to the skin

Jumpers, baby clothes,

Bedsheets, blankets, towels

Dresses, shirts, blouses, jeans,

Bags

Tents, fishing nets, rope, thread

Medical supplies

Question 25

What does wool come from?

Answer 25

Sheep wool is the most common animal fibre used in the fashion and textile industry can come from the hair of many other animals like; Angora Rabbits, Mohair Goats, Cashmere Goats, Merino Goats

Question 26

Where does silk come from?

Answer 26

Silkworms

Question 27

What are the benefits of wool?

Answer 27

It's natural, breathable, and resilient, and has good insulation and thermo-regulating properties. It reacts to changes in body temperature to keep the wearer warmer when it is cold and cooler when it is warm. It is flame resistant too. It's a renewable source. Biodegradable

Question 28

What are the benefits of cotton?

Answer 28

Soft, comfortable and hypoallergenic Machine washable absorbent Dyes very well A fairly inexpensive fabric Breathable Doesn’t retain smells like synthetic fibres might Made from a sustainable resource Easy to handle and sew Absorbs water easily & is stronger when wet A renewable source Biodegradable

Question 29

What are the less positive aspects of cotton?

Answer 29

Will lose colour gradually with each wash (fade) especially if washed at hotter temperatures Will shrink in hot washes Wrinkles easily will often require ironing Difficult to reshape clothes Burns easily Prone to pilling, rips and tears