Textile Science: Fabric Types

Fabric Definition

• Fabric is the product of textiles, made from yarns and/or fibers with enough strength, flexibility, and cover to be shaped into garments.
• It's typically created by combining yarns (in woven or knitted fabrics), but can also be made from only fibers (non-wovens).

Fabric Types

• Woven: Made by interlacing two sets of yarns.
• Knitted: Made by looping and intermeshing yarns.
• Non-Woven: Sheets or webs of fibers bonded together mechanically, thermally, or chemically.
• Miscellaneous: Includes bonded, felted, tufted, braided, and laced fabrics.

Woven Fabrics

• Made from the interlacement of two sets of yarn.
• Often require sizing before weaving and careful yarn preparation
• Production capacity is generally lower compared to knitted fabrics.
• Production cost tends to be higher compared to knitted fabrics.
• About 48% of fabrics are produced through weaving techniques.
• Have lower elastic properties and higher dimensional stability compared to knitted fabrics.

Knitted Fabrics

• Produced by looping and intermeshing yarns.
• Typically don't require sizing.
• Less yarn preparation is necessary.
• Production capacity is higher compared to woven fabrics.
• Production cost tends to be lower compared to woven fabrics.
• About 52% of fabrics are produced through knitting techniques.
• Exhibit higher elastic properties with lower dimensional stability compared to woven fabrics.

Non-Woven Fabrics

• Not true fabrics as they lack internal structure.
• Often produced through felting or bonding methods.
• Generally stronger than non-woven fabrics.
• Often used for interlinings, hats, and other handicrafts.
• Do not incorporate shedding, filling insertion, and beating-up processes.

Miscellaneous Fabrics

• Includes bonded, felted, tufted, braided, and laced fabrics.
• Interlaced yarns, usually with loops "sewn" through a main backing fabric.
• Often have a coating for support.
• Don't require shedding, filling insertion, or beating-up.

Weaving Machines

• The process of interlacing warp and weft threads to create fabric is performed on a loom.
• Loom types vary by the method of weft insertion. Examples include hand looms, power looms (with various weft insertion mechanisms like shuttleless, projectile, air jet, water jet, and rapier).

Uses of Woven Fabrics

• Apparel
• Bed linens
• Tablecloths
• Tapestries
• Upholstery fabrics
• Curtains
• Towels
• Floor coverings (carpets, rugs)
• Filters
• Tents
• Umbrellas
• Parachutes
• Fireproof/waterproof fabrics
• Space-age garments

Woven Fabrics - Specific Types

• Dress fabrics
• Denim
• Terry toweling
• Velvets/velveteens
• Corduroys
• Leno fabrics
• Jacquard fabrics
• Brocades
• Damasks
• Woven carpets

Woven Fabric Specifications

• Ends per inch: Number of warp yarns
• Picks per inch: Number of weft yarns
• Warp count: Number of warp yarns per inch
• Weft count: Number of weft yarns per inch
• Warp & Weft crimp %: The amount of yarn compression
• Fabric weight: Fabric weight per unit area
• Weave design: The pattern of the weave.