Linen & Raw Wool

 Raw Wool to Finished Fabric

Wool is a protein fiber that has many desirable qualities, such as its softness and fire resistance. The process of how wool is taken from a raw material to the finished product is quite interesting.  First and foremost  the sheering process must take place to obtain the raw material (sometimes called fleece) and then it can be shipped to the factory to be processed. Once the fleece arrives at the factory it is inspected to see the diameter and thickness of the material so the use of the fabric can be determined, this process is called classing. Next the fleece is scoured in order to clean off any dirt, dust, or other materials from the farm. It is cleaned in hot water and then dried to move to the next step. The wools from separate batches are then mechanically blended together to get more regular in the size of the fibers. When these different batches are mixed together they can form knots and have a rough appearance, so they are carded to get out the knots. This process also helps to align the fibers so it looks as seamless as possible. The thinner, longer fleeces are also combed to maintain the soft smooth finish. Now that the material is smooth, it is spun mechanically by spinning the ends of the fabric together. The thickness and strength of the fibers can be altered in this stage. The fabric is then taken and woven on the looms that are computerized to make whichever design or pattern desired. the wool is then dyed and finished to be sent out for use.


How Linen is Made
Linen fabrics are cellulosic in nature as they are made from the flax plant. The most amount of growth of the flax plant is actually in Europe, between France and Amsterdam. The flax plant has a pretty quick turn around time as it it planted in March and harvested in July. The plant grows to about 4' and blooms with blue and white flowers, but only for one day. Unlike other plants you cannot be cut, it must be uprooted from the ground in order to preserve the plant. Once the plants have been uprooted they lay on the field for several weeks to expose them to moisture to further bond the fibers. The plants are regularly turned in a process known as retting to help keep them dry. Once it is completely dry it is removed in bales from the fields. The fibers are separated from the roots and combed. They are then turned into a fine fiber that is ready for spinning and weaving. When they are spun, they can be spun into different thicknesses and weights. Some fibers are spun wet in order to give them a softer more lustrous appearance while others are spun dry to get a tougher fiber. These fabrics can receive several different finishing treatments such as dyeing, bleaching, washing, fire retardant etc. 







Reaources:
How Is Wool Turned Into Fabric? (oureverydaylife.com)
(378) Mill Tour - Raw Wool to Finished Fabric - YouTube
(378) How Linen Is Made - YouTube


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Supima Cotton & Rayon Fiber

Image
Supima Cotton Cotton is generally a short staple fiber but, Supima cotton is a rare extra long staple fiber cotton, measuring at least 34 millimeters. This type of cotton is primarily found on family farms in California and the American Southwest. It was developed nearly 100 years ago in Arizona. Its name, which means superior pima, to pay tribute to the special quality seeds used to produce this cotton. This cotton is referred to as "the worlds finest cotton" this is due to the excellent strength and color last of this cotton.  It is used by big cotton producers since it offers such great strength ad holds color well. With having 35% longer fibers, it helps make this cotton softer than short fiber cotton. The twists with this cotton come out cleaner and smoother with less pilling happening. Having such a soft fiber that is strong allows it to be nicely draped.  When growing a high end cotton the process of growing the crops is best to be clean and sustainable. Most farmers w...
Read more

Week 12: Carpet Padding

Image
 Carpet padding is an important detail to flooring because it can help carpets and rugs last longer, protect the flooring underneath, and even make it more comfortable to walk on.  There is carpet padding and carpet cushions.  They are similar but different in their materials and usage.  Pads are more of the felt options.  The three major cushion categories are fibrous cushions, rubber and latex, and foam cushions. Fibrous cushions are made from natural fibers and are needle punched into the padding.  The most prominent fibers used is hair and jute.  This is an inexpensive option, but they do not last the longest.  Since they are made from natural fibers they age and crumble more quickly than a manufactured cushion. Rubber and latex cushions are the most flexible option out of the three.  They can made out of natural rubber or from synthetic polymer.  This is not the largest part of the market though because of how many people are allerg...
Read more

Chapter 5 Blog: Bamboo Fabric and Cotton Processing

Image
  Fiber Identification by Burning Fibers all have different compositions and they all react to fire in different ways. The ways that these fibers react can tell us what type of fiber it is. For instance cotton will burn but it will not melt, it will start to smell like burning wood. It does not leave a dark ash or smoke it is a white color. Since cotton is a natural cellulose fiber, all other natural cellulose fibers will burn with the same characteristics. Natural protein fibers, such as wool and silk, will burn but not melt, very strong burnt hair smell, when its removed from the fire it will stop burning, and leaves dark black beads once it has been burned. Rayon is partially a cellulose fiber and partially an artificial fiber but, it burns the same way as the cellulose fiber where it won't melt and smells like burning wood.  Polyester is an artificial fiber and burns very differentially than natural fibers. This fabric will start to shrink, melt, and burn from fire. Once i...
Read more