3.2 Textile Fibres

• Key terms: textiles, fibre, strand, yarn
• Classification of textile fibres: natural (animal, plant) and man-made (regenerated, synthetic)
• Characteristics of the main fibres
• Methods of identifying fibres (microscopic, physical, burning, chemical)
• How fibre characteristics affect the use of fabric

• identify sources of textile fibres
• carry out identification of different textile fibres used for household articles
• analyse the characteristics of different textile fibres used for household articles
• examine the use of different textile fibres in the home
• appreciate different textile fibres used at home

“How do the different characteristics of fibres affect the use of the fabric?”

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1. Textile fibres: sources and classification
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   The key textile terms, where fibres come from, how they are classified into natural and man-made, their characteristics, and how those characteristics decide what each fabric is used for.
2. Identifying textile fibres
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   The methods of identifying textile fibres - physical, microscopic, burning and chemical tests - what each reveals, and the safety to observe.
3. Natural and man-made fibres
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   The classification tree in working detail: animal and plant versus regenerated and synthetic, and why regenerated is not the same as synthetic.
4. Cotton: Kenya's plant clothing fibre
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Where cotton comes from, how it behaves, why Kenya grows it, and why it makes towels and shirts but not raincoats.
5. Linen and sisal: two other plant fibres
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Linen from flax for cool table cloth, and Kenya sisal for rope, sacks and mats - same plant family of fibres, different jobs.
6. Wool: warmth from the fleece
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Wool as a protein fibre: why it is warm, why it shrinks, and why it makes blankets rather than summer shirts or towels.
7. Silk: the silkworm filament
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Silk as a long protein filament: lustre, drape and strength for fine articles, and why it is the wrong fibre for towels and ropes.
8. Polyester: easy-care synthetic
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Polyester from oil: crease-resistant, quick-drying and strong - why school uniforms love it and towels do not.
9. Nylon and acrylic
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Nylon for strength and stretch (ropes, nets, stockings) and acrylic as a wool-like synthetic for cheap knitwear and blankets.
10. Identifying fibres by look and feel
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    The physical test in practice: cool or warm, dull or shiny, crisp or springy - a first clue, never a proof, especially with blends.
11. The burning test, done safely
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Plant smells of paper, animal of hair, synthetic melts - how to run the classic test with tongs, tiny samples and supervision.
12. Matching fibres to household articles
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    The inquiry question applied: choose cotton, wool, silk, linen, sisal, polyester, nylon or acrylic for a job because of a characteristic, not a slogan.