Textile Design: Constructed Textiles

Understanding of Constructed Textiles

• Constructed textiles refer to fabrics that are constructed or formed on a machine or by hand from yarns.

• Three main types exist: weaving, knitting and felting.

• In weaving, two sets of yarns (the warp and weft) are intertwined on a loom.

• Knitting involves intermeshing loops of yarn either by hand or machine.

• Felting is a process that uses heat, moisture and pressure to bond fibres together.

Weaving

• The loom holds the warp or longitudinal yarns under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the crosswise yarns or weft.

• Different types of weaves include plain weave, satine weave, and twill weave.

• Plain weave is the simplest and most common type of weave.

• Satine weave has more warp threads on the surface, reflecting more light and giving a shiny surface.

• Twill weaves have a diagonal pattern, and are used for sturdier, heavier fabrics.

Knitting

• Knitting involves forming a fabric by creating interlocking loops of yarn.

• Two primary types of knitting are weft knitting and warp knitting.

• Weft knitting creates loops in the crosswise direction of the fabric. It can be made by hand or machine.

• Warp knitting creates loops in the longitudinal direction of the fabric. It's generally machine made.

Felting

• Felting is a non-woven fabric construction method.

• Heat, agitation, and moisture cause the scales on wool fibres to open up and then bind together, forming a dense fabric.

• Traditional felting methods include wet felting and dry felting.

• Wet felting uses soap and water to help interlock the fibres.

• Dry felting or needle felting uses special barbed needles to interlock wool fibres.

• Felting is used to create items like rugs, hats, and traditional felt shoes.

Properties and Applications

• Different constructed textiles have properties suited to specific applications.

• For example, the tight interlocking loops in knitted fabrics make them stretchy, which suits sportswear and casual wear.

• Woven fabrics are stable and hold their shape well, making them perfect for heavier garments like jackets and dress pants.

• Textiles created by felting are strong, water-resistant, and warm, useful for outdoor clothing, rugs and craft projects.