1. Wool (Animal/protein fibre)
Grade 10 Term 3 Week 4 Lesson 3
Wool (Animal/protein fibre)

2. Origin of Wool Hair of many animals - sheep, goats and rabbits
Mohair comes from mohair goats and is very expensive

3. Natural crimp in wool makes it elastic and warm to wear
Wool fibre is covered with scales. This makes it a flexible fibre. If fibre is roughly handled when it is washed the scales can lock and the fabric will shrink and felt

4. Desirable properties of Wool
It is flexible and elastic –will move with the body
Warm and comfortable to wear –air trapped in hollow centre of wool
Very absorbent – never feels clammy on skin
Will not wrinkle easily and creases will hang out- wool returns to its original form.

5. Less desirable properties of cotton
Cannot be washed with soap –damaged by alkalis
Wool is protein fibre – will be attacked by moths and silverfish.
Will turn yellow if left in sun for too long
Not very strong – even weaker when wet

6. Different types of wool
Virgin or pure new wool – wool that is being used for the first time
Wool –is a mixture of new wool and wool that has been used before
Recycled wool –scraps of new or used wool that are shredded back into fibres
Lamb’s wool-is fine, soft wool form the first shearing of young animals

7. Wool mark
100% Pure wool
Blend -60% wool

8. Care and maintenance of wool
Not easy to care for wool items
Must be gently hand-washed in warm water
Avoid hot water – the wool will shrink
Garment must not be rubbed – it will mat together
Must dry on a flat surface
Can also be dry-cleaned

9. Care label

10. Super wash wool
Wool is treated with a resin to seal the scales so that they cannot move – garments can be washed in the machine and they will not shrink.

11. Uses of Wool

12. Silk (Animal/protein fibre)

13. Origin of Silk
Silk is a fibre exerted by a silkworm when it builds its cocoon
Silk is also known as “the queen of fibres”
Only natural filament fibre

14. Desirable properties of Silk
Very luxurious
Strong and abrasion resistant
Resistant to moulds, fungi and silver moths
Absorbent and comfortable to wear
Will not shrink or stretch
Slightly elastic

15. Less desirable properties of silk
Damaged by insects
Stains easily
Can be damaged by sunlight and bleach
Very costly to buy
Requires special care when cleaned- must be dry-cleaned

16. Uses of Silk

17. Maintenance and care of Silk
Can be hand washed with mild soap
Can not be wrung out
Dry carefully – in shade on a hanger
Iron at a very low temperature
Expensive items must rather be dry cleaned