1. Natural Fibres/Fabrics
Natural Fibres and Fabrics
Natural Fibres/Fabrics

2. Plant fibres made from cellulose Animal fibres made from protein
Natural Fibres and Fabrics
Natural Fibres
Plant fibres made from cellulose
Animal fibres made from protein
Cotton
Flax
Wool
Silk
Cashmere
Angora

3. Staple fibres = short fibres
Natural Fibres and Fabrics
Flax
A fibre is a thin hair-like structure that is either short or long.
Cotton
Wool
Angora
Staple fibres = short fibres
Short fibres are called STAPLE FIBRES, they need to be spun into yarns.
The yarns tend to have a slightly hairy appearance because of the short fibres.
Most natural fibres are staple fibres
Cashmere

4. Filament fibres = long fibres
Natural Fibres and Fabrics
Cocoon
Fabric
Fibre
Silk Worm
Filament fibres = long fibres
Most animal fibres are staple fibres. SILK is the exception. Silk fibres are very long – up to 1km.
Silk fibres
Long fibres are called filament fibres. These give a smooth finish to fabrics. Silk is a filament fibre. The silk worms produce very long fibres .

5. Yarns Natural Fibres and Fabrics
Yarns are made by twisting together fibres – this is called ‘spinning’.
A fibre is a thin hair-like structure that is either short or long.
Long fibres=filament fibres
Short fibres = staple fibres

6. P P P General properties of natural fibres Natural Fibres and Fabrics
From renewable sources
Biodegradable
Recyclable
Absorbent
Strong
Poor resistance to biological damage, e.g. Moths, mould P
All natural yarns have to be processed to make them suitable to be used as yarns and fabrics.
Once they are harvested they must be:
Cleaned
Straightened
Spun into a yarn
Will biodegrade P
Why natural fibres are more environmentally friendly.
Can be recycled P
From renewable sources

7. From Fibre to Fabric Natural Fibres and Fabrics Fibre grown
Fibre harvested
Garment Manufacture
Fibres cleaned
Fibres spun into yarn
Yarn woven into fabric
Fibres straightened
Finishing
Weaving

8. Cotton Natural Fibres and Fabrics Properties Used for Disadvantages
Strong
Absorbant
Cool and comfortable to wear
Hardwearing
Creases easily
Durable
Inexpensive
Environmentally sustainable
Cotton comes from the fine hairs on the seeds in a ripe seed pod on the cotton plant.
Used for
Clothing
Soft furnishings
Knitting yarns
Disadvantages
Creases easily
Burns easily
Shrinks

9. Cotton Some cotton fabrics Natural Fibres and Fabrics Denim
Velvet – often used for curtains.
Canvas – very strong, used for tents. Also used for painting on.
Calico – plain unbleached cotton, often used in furnishing and also in the fashion industry to make toiles
Some cotton fabrics
Poplin – used in high quality garments (like shirts.)
Drill – used for clothing. Khaki is a type of cotton drill. Heavyweight drill is used for cooks’ uniforms
Corduroy – used to make trousers. jackets, shirts and skirts.
Denim

10. Linen Natural Fibres and Fabrics Properties Used for Disadvantages
Very hardwearing
Cool next to the skin – very comfortable
Strong (stronger when wet)
Highly absorbant
Creases easily
No drape
Smooth finish
Linen comes from the fibrous stems of the flax plant. This is grown mainly in Western Europe.
Used for
Lightweight summer clothing
Soft furnishings
T-towels and table linen.
Disadvantages
Creases badly
Can be expensive

11. Other vegetable fibres
Natural Fibres and Fabrics
Other vegetable fibres
Kapok
Kapok fibres come from the seeds of a tropical tree. The fibres are difficult to spin, but are used as fillings for mattresses, pillows and toys.
Hemp
Hemp fibres come from the hemp plant. Hemp is part of the cannabis family, but the version used to grow fibres has very little of the drug in.
Bamboo
Bamboo fibres are used to make fabric. The fabric is soft and naturally antibacterial.

12. Wool Natural Fibres and Fabrics Properties Used for Disadvantages Warm
Absorbent
Low flammability
Comfortable
Does not crease easily
Used for
Warm outer wear
Lightweight wool for suiting and knitwear
Soft furnishings, carpets and blankets
Wool comes from the hair of the sheep. This is known as a fleece. Under a microscope, the wool fibres can be seen to be scaly.
Disadvantages
Can shrink when washed
Takes a long time to dry
Some people find wool itchy

13. Silk Natural Fibres and Fabrics Properties Used for Disadvantages Soft
Absorbent
Comfortable
Cool and warm
Soft, smooth sheen, lustrous finish.
Drapes well
Silk fibre comes from the cocoon of the silk worm. The outer later is made of short staple fibres and the inner layer is made of long filament fibres.
Used for
Luxury clothing
Soft furnishings
Knitwear
Disadvantages
Expensive
Can be weaker when wet and may not wash well.
May crease easily

14. Other animal fibres Natural Fibres and Fabrics Mohair Angora
This is from the Angora goat. It is considered a luxury fibre. Hair from older goats is used on carpets and heavy outerwear. Fine hair from young animals is used on finer clothing.
Angora
Angora hair is from the angora rabbit. It makes very soft, silky yarn.
Camel hair
Collected from the undercoat of camels when they moult. It is often used to make coats.
Cashmere
This comes from a goat’s fine undercoat. Cashmere is strong light and soft.

15. Linen Silk Wool Cotton Physical properties: Aesthetic properties Uses
Cool to wear
Highly absorbent
Very hardwearing
Creases easily
Aesthetic properties
Good handle
Natural lustre
Good strength
Uses
Lightweight clothing(dresses, shirts,
trousers, blouses)
Furnishing fabrics, soft furnishings,
towels, table linen, sheets
Fabric names
Duck
Huckaback
Advantages
Stronger when wet
Durable, smooth finish
Slight sheen
Comfortable to wear
Hard wearing
Disadvantages
Creases badly
Can be expensive
Silk
Both warm and cool next to the skin
Very absorbent
Very comfortable next to the skin
because it is so fine and soft
Luxury goods
Dresses, shirts blouses underwear
and soft furnishings
Chiffon
Damask
Dupion
Crepe
Organza
Taffeta
Soft
Lustrous
Drapes well
Comfortable
Easy to print on
Expensive
May crease easily
Not always washable
Wool
Warm to wear
Low
Elasticity
Warm clothing
Lightweight wool for suiting and knitwear
Soft furnishings, carpets, blankets
Felt
Gabardine
Harris tweed
Warm
Does not crease easily
Comes in a wide range of fabrics
Produces excellent knitted fabrics
May shrink if not washed with care
Can be itchy next to the skin
Takes a long time to dry
Cotton
Comfortable next to skin
Absorbent
Hardwearing
Versatile
Easy to enhance
Clothing
Yarn for knitting
Soft furnishing
Calico
Denim
Corduroy
Drill
Poplin
Muslin
Strong when wet
Durable
Environmentally sustainable
Reasonably inexpensive
Burns easily
Shrinks

16. Key facts to remember The exam: Natural Fibres and Fabrics Key words:
Staple fibres
Filament fibres
Cotton
Wool
Silk
Linen
Angora
Mohair
Cashmere
Sustainable
Key facts to remember
Natural fibres are very versatile and widely used in textile products.
TWO types of fibre, staple and filament.
TWO main sources of natural fibres, plant and animal.
Natural fibres have a wide range of properties, these need to be thought about so that the fabric selected is fit for the purpose it is used for.
Natural fibres are from sustainable sources.
The exam:
Exam questions are likely to be about the properties of the different natural fabrics and why you would or would not choose them for a particular purpose.
You should be able to name the fabric and the fibre it is made from.