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Yarn is a long continuous length of the interlocked fibres, and is suitable for the use in the production of textiles, sewing, knitting, weaving, embroidery or ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn that is intended for sewing either by hand or machine. Some of the common fibres that are usually used to make yarns are wool, cotton, silkworms, etc. Different types of yarns are produced for a different purpose. A different type of yarn is used for crocheting, a more woolly kind, while another different kind of yarn is used for embroidery, not everything but also not very thick like wool. Different sources of fibres and the respective processing techniques involved are discussed in detail here along with some important questions.
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Keyword Takeaways: Fibre, Yarn, Fabric, Natural Fibres, Synthetic Fibres, Spinning, Sewing, Knitting, Weaving
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What is Yarn?
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Yarns are referred to as the continuous, strands that are produced from a short and staple fibres. These materials differ based on their sizes and texture and form a suitable for knitting, weaving or otherwise intertwining to form textile fabrics. Moreover, they are made from both natural and synthetic fibres.
Properties of Yarn
Following are the properties of yarn:
- Plasticity
- Elasticity
- Elongation
- Strength variation in yarn
- Processing efficiency of yarn
- Twist variations
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Types of Yarn
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There are mainly three types of Yarns, which are,
- Stapled
- Simple or complex
- Single or plied or cord
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Generally, yarns are twisted tightly by the rollers in order to hold the fibres together. The size, number and the weight of the yarn differ based on the types of fibres from which they are produced. Furthermore, these yarns can be produced both from the natural or synthetic fibres.
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Fibre to Yarn
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Fibres can be sourced naturally from plants or animals or could be produced synthetically. Cotton and jute are the two major sources of plant-based fibres. Ginning is a traditional process of producing cotton fibres from cotton bolls and then spinning these to form yarns. Jute fibres are prepared from rotting the stem of the jute plant and then spun into yarn.
Two major sources of animal fibres are wool from sheep and silk from silkworms. The sheep are reared and selectively bred. Once they develop thick hair, they are sheared (hair removal), soured (cleaning of dirt from sheep hair), sorted based on their texture, dyed, and rolled into wool. Silkworms are reared and the cocoons are reeled to produce smooth and elastic fibres which are later spun into yarns. Synthetic fibres, on the other hand, are man-made with the help of certain chemicals, for example, polyester, nylon, acrylic, etc.
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Yarn to Fabric
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Strands of long and flexible fibres twisted together to form yarn. These are further processed by techniques such as knitting or weaving to produce the final fabric. Based on the source of fibre from which the yarn is spun, the size, number, weight, and properties of the strands greatly vary. The fabrics made from further processing also vary in terms of their length, fineness, elasticity, and strength.
Let us now understand the two prominent methodologies used to produce fabrics.
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Knitting
Have you observed your grandmother taking yarns of wool and making sweaters for you? Well, this is known as hand knitting. Using a single yarn to make the entire fabric piece is termed knitting. For large-scale fabric manufacture, knitting is carried out on machines. The basic principle lies in employing continuous strands of yarn and forming interlocking loops. This allows them to be stretched than the hand-knitted type. The overall process involves using different knitting techniques based on the number of yarns used or the characteristic property of the final fabric. Different types of needles and spools are used as tools to give the fabric its pattern and ornamental design.
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The basic steps involved in a commercial knitting process are listed as follows:
- Casting the yarn
- Feeding the yarn
- Fixing a design
- Knitting
- Making rolls of fabric
- Quality check
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Weaving
Combining two different sets of yarn to form fabric is called weaving. A loom is a device that is used to interlace these two sets of yarns by placing them at right angles to each other.
Two key methods are adopted to weave yarn:
- The set which is weaved longitudinally i.e., lengthwise to the clothing is called ‘warp’.
- The set which runs across the clothing is called ‘weft’.
Weaving is broadly divided into three types:
- Plain weave: This is the most basic version of weaving wherein a crisscross pattern is made by sewing the yarn one on top of the other. A classic example is a blanket that we use in our homes.
- Twill weave: The yarns are weaved diagonally in the form of parallel ribs. This weaving allows the fabric to stay wrinkle-free and increases its durability.
- Satin weave: Four or more weft yarns float over a single warp yarn or vice versa giving the fabric a one-sided lustrous and smooth texture. Fabrics of shorts, gowns, and fancy furnishings are made using this type of weaving.
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Things to Remember
- Fibres are thin thread-like structures that when twisted or grouped form yarn. This yarn, in turn, is processed to produce fabric.
- The two main sources of fibres: Natural (plants or animals) and Synthetic.
- Knitting and weaving are the two techniques by which the yarn is converted to fabric.
- Knitting can be done by hand or with the help of machines,
- Weaving is done by using warp and weft and is divided into three types: Plain, Twill, and Satin.
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Sample Questions
Ques: Differentiate between fibre, yarn, and fabric? (3 marks)
Ans:
| Fibre | Yarn | Fabric |
|---|---|---|
| These are very thin thread-like structures | Strands of threads twisted together to form yarn. | Processing of yarn using techniques like knitting and weaving produces fabric. |
| These are very fine, long, and flexible. | They are extremely long, have good strength. | The Source of the fibre and the way of processing the yarn give the fabric its final appearance and texture. |
| A few examples based on the source are: Natural- Cotton, Silk Synthetic: Acrylic, rayon | Fibres are spun into yarn. The properties vary based on fibre source. | Knitted fabrics: Jersey, rib Weaved Fabric: Chiffon, satin |
Ques: What are the different types of fibres? Explain with examples. (3 marks)
Ans: Fibres are broadly classified as :
- Natural Fibres
- Synthetic Fibres
Natural fibres are primarily obtained from two sources: Plants (for examples cotton and jute) and Animals (for example wool and silk). Cotton fibres are turned into yarn by the process of Ginning whereas Jute fibres are obtained by decaying the plant stem, drying them, and further spinning them into yarn. Wool is made from animal fibre by rearing and breeding sheep whereas silk is obtained from silkworms. Synthetic fibres are produced by adding chemicals. For example, nylon and polyester.
Ques: With the help of a flow diagram explain how the fabric is produced from yarn? (3 marks)
Ans: The following diagram illustrates the production of fabric from yarn:
Rolls of yarn are twisted tightly followed by using either of the techniques of knitting or weaving to produce fabrics. These fabrics are further treated in textile industries, bleached or dyed to give the fabric its shiny, smooth texture.
Ques: Differentiate between Knitting and Weaving? (3 marks)
Ans:
| Knitting | Weaving |
|---|---|
| Single yarn is used to make the entire piece of fabric. | Minimum two sets of yarn are used to make the fabric. |
| A continuous strand of yarn Is used to make interlocking loops. | Two sets of yarn are interlaced at right angles to each other. |
| There are two basic types of knitting: Weft and warp. | Weaving is of three types: Plain, twill, and satin. |
Ques: Identify the weaving types and describe them briefly? (3 marks)
Ans:
- This is Plain weaving. This type of weaving involves interlacing horizontal weft strands over the vertical warp strands. The final fabric is very airy and light without compromising on material stability. Examples are chiffon and georgette.
- This is Twill weaving characterized by the diagonal lines. In this type of weaving one warp strand is weaved over two or more weft strands or vice versa to get a diagonal pattern. This weave is not stiff and is made with heavy yarn. Wool is the most commonly used material for this kind of weaving.
- This is Satin weaving wherein four or more weft yarns float over a single warp yarn or vice versa. This type resembles the twill, however, the interlacing does not form diagonal patterns. The final fabric is smooth and has a one-sided lustrous surface. Examples are satin and brocade.
Ques: What gives the fabric its texture and appearance? (2 marks)
Ans: Fabric is formed from strands of yarn that are either knitted or weaved together. The yarn is a cluster of thin thread-like structures called fibres that come from various sources (natural or synthetic). Based on the fibre source and the subsequent yarn processing method, the appearance and texture of the final fabric material vary. The fabric piece hence differs in terms of its strength, durability, lustrous or smooth texture, weight, and uniformness.
Ques: What are the properties of yarn? (4 marks)
Ans: Following are the properties of yarn:
- Plasticity
- Elasticity
- Elongation
- Strength variation in yarn
- Processing efficiency of yarn
- Twist variations
Ques: What do you mean by a single yarn? What are synthetic fibre? (3 marks)
Ans: Single yarn, also referred to as one-ply, is comprised a single strand that holds fibres together with the least amount of twists. There is either the use of one filament which is monofilament, in case of filaments, or more than one filament that is grouped together with the least amount of twist or sometimes even no twist. S- twist or Z-twist is more common in this type. Synthetic fibres are also to produce yarns, such as rayon, nylon, and polyester. These man-made fibres are usually made from cellulose derived from plant plup or wood. Synthetic fibres have the advantages of a wide variety of colors, being waterproof, stain resistant, and more durable.
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