Core Concepts
Fiber Classification
Natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk, linen) vs Synthetic fibers (polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex).
Yarn Count
Measurement of yarn fineness: Tex (grams per 1000 meters), Denier (grams per 9000 meters), Ne (number of 840-yard lengths per pound).
Weaving Patterns
Plain weave, twill weave, satin weave — the three fundamental ways of interlacing warp and weft threads.
Fabric GSM
Grams per Square Meter — a measure of fabric weight and density. T-shirt: 150-200 GSM. Denim: 300-400 GSM.
Worked Examples & Applications
Yarn Count Conversion: Ne to Tex: Tex = 590.5 / Ne. Example: 30 Ne cotton yarn = 590.5/30 = 19.68 Tex. Finer yarns have higher Ne numbers but lower Tex values.
Weave Comparison: Plain weave: 1 over, 1 under (most common, strongest, least pliable). Twill weave: diagonal pattern (2 over, 1 under) — durable, drapes well. Satin weave: 4 over, 1 under — smooth surface, lustrous, less durable.
Practice Questions
Q: What is the difference between Tex and Denier? A: Both measure yarn fineness. Tex = grams per 1000m. Denier = grams per 9000m. Denier is typically used for synthetic fibers.
Q: What are the three basic weave patterns? A: Plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave.