Fabric Studies Notes
Subject Overview
Fabric Studies builds the practical ability to identify fabrics found in national and international markets and select the right one for a product based on function, performance and maintenance. Working alphabetically through basic fabrics, students study each one's appearance, identification methods, construction or finishing technique, performance, maintenance, end-use, and stitching/
Subject at a glance
2
Units
9
Topics
2
Credits
2
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
2 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Appearance
- identification methods
- basic construction or finishing technique
- performance
- maintenance and end-use of basic fabrics studied in alphabetic order (e.g. alpaca, batiste, broadcloth)
- points to consider while stitching
- using and washing each fabric
Cotton and linen
Quickly, yellow flame
Burning paper; soft grey ash
Wool and silk
Slowly, curls away from flame
Burning hair; crushable black bead
Polyester
Melts and shrinks from flame
Sweet chemical smell; hard bead
Nylon
Melts and drips
Celery-like smell; hard grey bead
Study guide
This unit studies basic fabrics in alphabetical order, covering appearance, identification, construction or finishing, performance, care and end use, and tips on stitching, using and washing each. Build a swatch book with notes for each fabric.
Studying swatches of international representational fabrics from the resource centre to understand drapability, texture and appearance firsthand
- Drape
- How a fabric hangs and folds
- Hand
- How it feels: soft, crisp, dry
- Body
- Fullness and substance
- Lustre
- How it reflects light
- Loft
- Bulk and springiness
Study guide
You handle international swatches from the resource centre to understand drape, texture and appearance directly. Handling fabrics trains your hand to judge quality.
Why Fabric Studies Matters
Knowing fabrics is the basis for selecting materials correctly, an important skill for designers, merchandisers and quality controllers.
How to Prepare for Fabric Studies
- Collect swatches and label them with fibre, weave and use.
- Learn to identify fabrics by touch and appearance.
- Test drape and handle for each fabric.
Fabric Studies: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify a fabric?
Examine its fibre content, structure (woven, knit), weight, drape, lustre and how it feels, and confirm with tests such as the burn test when needed.