CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE:Textile fibres

Are used for making clothing materials and fabrics that are used for.

• covering and protecting body from extreme weather conditions to maintain body temperature.
• keep us dry when wet e.g towels.
• to look attractive

• Fabrics are made from yarn.
• Yarn is from fibres twisted together woven/spun to make threads,

NB:- Source of fibres

• natural
• man made
• artificial

Classification of fibres

Def:- hair like unit of raw materials from which cloths are made, e.g – cloth

• wool
• silk
• polyester
• Natural fibres
• Man made fibres

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

Natural fibre

From parts of plants e.f

• cotton
• flax
• animals e.g sheep and silkworm

Go through many processes then are spun or twisted together making yarn that makes fabric e.g cotton, linen, wool.

• Man made fibres
  1. Produced through chemical treatment of raw materials e.g petroleum extracts and by products of coal.
  2. They are treated chemically to form fine filament/threads, are twisted together and stretched giving them strength and elasticity.

Classification using a diagram

 Properties of common textile fibres

Natural fibres

• Cottone.g gingham, lawn, calinq and flannelette, jinju, poplic, khaki, toweling and corduroy –
• it is easy to handle,
• inexpensive,
• strong and hard wearing so widely used

Uses:

• for warm wear it is a good conductor of heat, – for making beddings,
• underwear, it doesn’t generate static electricity,
• towels and sportsmen it absorbs sweat
• curtains,
• hospital bed sheets stands high temperature,
• upholstery clothing of all kinds,
• used for making sewing embroidery threads,
• uniforms because it stands frequent washing and stain removal.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

Desirable properties 

It is absorbent so used for making clothes worn next to the body e.g

• underwears,
• nightdresses,
• sportswear
• doesn’t generate static electricity,
• absorbed moisture evaporates fast so makes the fabric dry faster. Therefore it is suitable for  hot climate because it is cool,
• withstands mild alkalis, detergents and stain removing agents,
• some are warm because they are treated to make them fluffy in order to trap air,
• a good conductor of heat,
• it is strong a strong when wet so can’t be scrubbed,
• it is mothproof,
• can be mixed with other fibres to lower the cost and improve wearing quality because it is strong hard weaving and expensive.
• it stands high temperature so suitable for use in hospitals,
• it takes dyes readily.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

Undesirable properties

• develops mildew when left damp for long,
• gets dirty easily,
• it creases though when blended with rest it becomes more crease resistant,
• destroyed by storing aids,
• shrinks if not treated,
• lacks luster
• burns readily when exposed to a flame, – weakened by long exposure to sun.

Physical identification

• when burnt flares up yellow flame produced leaves grey ash and smells like paper.

NB:- Behaves differently when mixed with others.

• Linen

From inside stalk of flax plan:  Examples: Damack, toweling, a dress fabric, canvas.  It is stronger

Uses:

• for table linen table mats, tray clothes,
• for handkerchiefs and church linen,
• for button and embroidery thread since it is strong and durable, – quality classes, face towels, scarves.

Desirable properties of linen

• strong than cotton
• highly absorbent,
• it is cool to wear because moisture evaporate faster so suits summer dresses and bed sheets.
• it is smooth that makes if shiny and attractive,
• it is a good conductor of heat so suits warm weather,
• it is resistant to sunlight than cotton so suits making curtains,

Undesirable properties

• creases easily though can be treated to become crease resistant,
• grays more readily,
• develops mildew stains if left damp for long, – weakened by acids and alkalis.

Physical identification of linen

• flares up,
• burns with yellow flame, – leaves grey ash.

3) Wool

From fleece of merino sheep.  Can also be from goats, camels and rabbits.

Uses:

for making warm clothing e.g sweaters, suits, jackets, shawls and blankets, overalls.

NB:- Needs special care e.g

• washing with warm soapy water and maintaining temperature even for making.
• using a mild detergent,
• drying flat to prevent stretching,
• attacked by moths so keep away by using mothballs.

Desirable properties of wool

• has good elasticity – stretches well and goes to original shape and size,
• is absorbent – absorb water to 50% without feeling wet,
• it is warm because of the overlapping scales around fibres,
• it is wrinkle resistant,
• is soft, non-inflammable and dyes well.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

Undesirable properties of wool

• damaged by alkalis so should be washed by mild soap,
• damaged by rubbing and high temperature,
• shrinks easily and felts,
• it shouldn’t be soaked during laundering because it is weak,
• can pull out of shape,
• gets mildew stains if stored while damp,
• attacked by moth and silver fish.

Physical identification of wool

•  smoulders and turns into black bead
•   gives smell of burnt hair/feathers.

4) Silk e.g taffeta, chiffer, georgette, orguza, velvet

• from silkworm,
• it is soft, warm and strong
• has long threads and fine,
• it is expensive.

Uses:

• dress fabrics, furnishings, shirts, blouses and neckties

Desirable properties of silk

• it is soft and drapes well,
• Has a lovely sheen and pleasant to handle therefore suits luxurious underwear,
• A good insulator, warm in winter and cool in summer,
• very strong and fine,
• elastic so wears well and therefore suitable for sewing thread,
• sheds creases easily so suitable for travel,
• dyes easily, absorbent.

Undesirable properties of silk

• sensitive to alkalis, therefore suits mild detergents during laundry,
• it is weak when wet so shouldn’t be carelessly when washing,
• it is very strong, its elastic, grease resistant and drapes well, damaged by alkali and acids,
• non-inflammable,
• resistant to mildew, fungi and moth,
• affected by strong sunlight,
• not easy to remove sweat stains and therefore garments have to be prevented from perspiration.

Physical identification

• smoulders and runs into a black bead,
• the bead is crushable,
• smells like burning hair.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

MAN-MADE FIBRES (ARTIFICIAL FIBRES)

Viscose rayon

• it is used for various kinds of fabrics,
• mixed with other fibres e.g wool, cotton to improve qualities, to make outer wear, underwear, linings, table linen and household furnishings,
• used for a variety of clothes, furnishing carpets and other household items.

Desirable properties of viscose rayon

• highly absorbent, bends to retain moisture so takes long to dry,
• a good conductor of heat so cool to wear,
• weaker when wet,
• flammable,
• soft and drapes well,
• mothproof,
• mildew proof though develops when wet,
• strong (very),
• takes dyes,
• mellows and rots when exposed to light,
• weakened b acids but not alkalis,
• weak when wet and damaged by long exposure to the sun,
• creases badly and doesn’t shed crease.

Physical identification of viscose rayon

• burns,
• leaves grey ash,

SYNTHETIC FIBRES (Are made from petroleum products and natural gases) Nylon

• from chemicals, air, waste and coal,
• used in form of continous filament and shape of fibre
• staple fibre used alone/blended with others e.g wool/cotton.

Desirable properties of nylon

• not affected by alkalis/weak acids,
• thermoplastic can be permanently pleated,
• doesn’t shrinks/stretch, – needs little/no ironing,
• doesn’t conduct heat,
• dyes easily,
• acting in those made of spun nylon, crease
• resistant so mixed with others to increase resistance,
• smooth,
• resists abrasion and when blended with rest it increases their resistance,
• it is very finer, extremely strong, elastic and light weight,
• affected by household bleaches,
• very strong when dry and wet,
• it is veviatide can be produced in a variety of texture, thickness and finishes,
• not absorbent,
• hangs to the body,
• resistant to moth and mildew,

NB;- stockings, dress fabric, furnishings, lingeries and outwear. e.g of nylon, jersey and satin.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

Physical identification 

• if burnt it runs away from flame,
• melts into a hard bead,
• under microscope it looks like glass rods stretched with parallel wavy lines.

5) Polyester

Desirable qualities of polyester

• very strong with slightly less strength when wet,
• easy to launder and dries quickly,
• needs no ironing/little,
• crease resistant but can be permanently pleated,
• smooth, soft and drapes well,
• not damaged by dry cleaning agents, alkalis and acids of not too much,
• not damaged by light and sunlight so suits curtains,
• mothproof and resistant to mildew,
• flame resistant,
• has a high affinity of dyes.

Undesirable properties of polyester

• high temperature damage it and therefore use low ironing temperature,
• bright / dull depending on desired effect,
• produces static electricity,
• resistant to abrasion, heat and sunlight and allusive acids,
• frays easily,
• can be blended with other fabrics,
• only absorbent if blended with other fibres,
• stain and dirt are easily removed.

Uses: to make dress fabrics, suiting materials and household furnishings e.g jersey, terylene suiting, polyester

Physical identification

• when burnt it is forced into a hard bead,
• difficult to light but eventually burns with a yellow flame,
• give an aromatic smell

Asbestos eg drinsotile

From natural rock;

• non inflammable,
• resistant to chemicals, insect and micro-organisms.

Uses:

• make theatre curtains,
• protective clothing e.g overalls for fire officers,
• insulator in manufacture of electric appliance

Acrylics

Desirable properties 

• drapes well,
• easy to sew
• warm and soft,
• shrink resistant,
• doesn’t stretch,
• soft and luxurious,
• has a low ability to absorb moisture and therefore dries faster,
• resistant and sheds off creases easily,
• not harmed by bleaches,
• not affected by sun so suits curtains,
• can be permanently pleaded and so can be blended with rest to make them easy to be pleaded, – light in weight,
• not affected by mildew, moths and makes other fibres mothproof if blended with them, – resistant to soiling,
• easy to dye,
• can be blended with other fabrics to add desirable qualities.

Undesirable properties

• clings to the body because it produces static electricity,

Uses:

• making warm clothes, sweater, blankets and coats and household furnishings e.g carpets and rugs,

Physical identification

burns leaving a tar like black bead and shrivels away from the flame,

dissolves in concentrated nitric acid.

CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

ALL HOMESCIENCE NOTES FORM 1-4 WITH TOPICAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

PRIMARY NOTES, SCHEMES OF WORK AND EXAMINATIONS