Learning Objectives
- Understand the difference between natural and synthetic fibres
- Learn how cotton and jute fibres are obtained from plants
- Know the process of making yarn from fibres
- Understand weaving and knitting to make fabric
Key Concepts
What Are Fibres?
Fibres are thin, thread-like strands that are used to make fabric. Fabrics are made from yarn, and yarn is made from fibres. So the process is: Fibre → Yarn → Fabric. Fibres can be natural (from plants and animals) or synthetic (man-made from chemicals).
Natural Fibres
Plant fibres: Cotton comes from the cotton plant (cotton bolls). Jute comes from the stem of the jute plant. Other plant fibres include flax (linen), hemp, and coir (from coconut husk).
Animal fibres: Wool comes from the fleece (hair) of sheep. Silk comes from the cocoons of silkworms. These are also natural fibres.
Synthetic Fibres
Synthetic fibres are made by humans from chemicals. Examples include nylon, polyester, rayon, and acrylic. They are usually strong, durable, and easy to wash. Polyester clothes dry quickly and do not wrinkle easily.
Cotton — From Plant to Fabric
Cotton plants are grown in warm climates. The cotton bolls (fruit) burst open to reveal fluffy white cotton fibres. These fibres are picked (this is called ginning) and cleaned. The fibres are then spun into yarn using spinning. The cotton fibres are separated from the seeds in a cotton gin.
From Yarn to Fabric
Spinning: The process of making yarn from fibres. Fibres are twisted together to form yarn. This can be done on a spinning wheel (charkha) or spinning machines.
Weaving: The process of arranging two sets of yarn (warp and weft) at right angles to make fabric. This is done on a loom.
Knitting: The process of making fabric by interlocking loops of a single yarn using needles. Sweaters and socks are made by knitting.
History of Clothing
In ancient times, people used animal skins, bark of trees, and large leaves to cover themselves. Later, they learned to twist fibres into yarn and weave them into fabric. The invention of the spinning wheel and loom made cloth-making faster and easier.
Summary
Clothes are made from fabrics, which are made from yarns, which are made from fibres. Fibres are either natural (cotton, jute, wool, silk) or synthetic (nylon, polyester). Cotton fibre comes from cotton plants, and jute fibre comes from jute plant stems. Spinning converts fibres to yarn. Weaving and knitting convert yarn to fabric.
Important Terms
- Fibre: A thin thread-like strand used to make yarn
- Yarn: A long twisted thread made from fibres, used to make fabric
- Fabric: Material made by weaving or knitting yarn
- Spinning: The process of making yarn from fibres by twisting
- Weaving: Arranging two sets of yarn at right angles to make fabric
- Knitting: Making fabric by interlocking loops of yarn
- Ginning: Separating cotton fibres from seeds
- Loom: A device used for weaving yarn into fabric
Quick Revision
- Fibre → Yarn (spinning) → Fabric (weaving/knitting)
- Natural fibres: cotton, jute (plants); wool, silk (animals)
- Synthetic fibres: nylon, polyester, rayon, acrylic
- Cotton comes from the cotton boll of the cotton plant
- Jute is obtained from the stem of the jute plant by retting
- Weaving uses two sets of yarn (warp and weft) on a loom
- Knitting uses one yarn to make interlocking loops
- The charkha (spinning wheel) was popularised by Mahatma Gandhi