Fibre to Fabric Chapter Notes | Eureka Plus Class 6: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Introduction

• In different parts of our country, the clothes people wear depend on the weather. When it's hot, folks choose loose, light cotton clothes. Women might wear saris, salwar kameez, or ghagra cholis, while men opt for trousers, shorts, dhotis, lungis, or pyjamas paired with kurtas or shirts. 
• In colder regions, like the north, people prefer woolen clothes or layer a couple of cotton garments for warmth. India is renowned for its diverse fabrics, which are commonly known as cloth. Exploring a cloth market unveils a variety of fabrics distinguished by their texture, shine, thickness, color, and the materials they're made of.

Fibre

Fabric comes from certain types of fibers. Long ago, people made fabric from flax and cotton fibers.

• Animals' Hair: Sheep, goats, and camels provide hair that's used to make woolen fabric.
• Silk Production: Silk fabric is created from fibers produced by caterpillars of silk moths.

Natural and Synthetic Fibres

Fibres are materials that can be spun into threads or yarns. They can be obtained from natural sources like plants and animals or can be manufactured using chemical substances. Natural fibres come from nature, while synthetic fibres are created by humans using technology.

Natural Fibres

• Fibres obtained from plants and animals are known as natural fibres.
• Examples of natural fibres include cotton, flax, jute, wool, and silk.
• Natural fibres are derived directly from living organisms.
• They have been used for centuries by humans for making textiles and clothing.

Synthetic Fibres

• With advancements in technology, fibres can now be produced from chemical substances.
• These fibres made from chemical substances are called synthetic fibres.
• Synthetic fibres are artificial and are not naturally occurring.
• Examples of synthetic fibres are polyester, nylon, and acrylic.
• Synthetic fibres are designed to have specific properties for various applications.

Plant Fibres

Plants provide us with various types of fibers that are essential for making different products. Let's explore some common plant fibers like cotton, jute, coir, and flax, understanding their growth, processing, and usage.

Cotton

• Cotton plants thrive in warm regions with moderate rainfall, particularly in areas with black soil.
• The fibers of cotton grow around the seeds within a cotton boll, becoming soft, strong, and absorbent upon drying.
• After separation from the seeds, cotton fibers are spun into yarn and then woven into various textiles like cotton fabric, denim, and terry cloth.
• Denim, for instance, is commonly used for making jeans, while terry cloth is utilized in bath towels.

Jute

• Jute plants flourish in warm and humid climates, mainly cultivated in countries like India, Bangladesh, and China during the rainy season.
• After flowering but before seed formation, jute plants are harvested. The stems are then bundled and soaked in water for around 20 days to facilitate fiber separation.
• These fibers, known for their strength and affordability, are woven into fabrics used for making sacks, curtains, carpets, bags, and ropes.
• Jute products are biodegradable, making them ideal for applications like planting bags for tree saplings or using jute mats to prevent soil erosion.

Coir

• Coir fibers are derived from the husk of coconuts, offering a coarse and sturdy material.
• The finer white coir fibers from green coconuts are resistant to saltwater and are thus used for making fishing nets.
• Brown coir, obtained from mature coconuts, finds applications in making mats, ropes, brushes, and even in filling mattresses and packaging.
• Rubberized coir, created by spraying brown coir pads with latex, is employed in automobile interiors for padding.

Flax

• Flax fibers are extracted from the outermost layer of flax plant stems, known for their softness, flexibility, and strength.
• Linen, a fabric made from flax fibers, is commonly used, along with the fibers being employed in making mats, ropes, and high-quality paper for printing currency notes.

Yarn to Fabric

Fibers go through a series of steps before they turn into fabric. The process involves separating fibers from plants, turning them into yarn, and weaving the yarn into fabric.

• Ginning: This is when fibers are separated from plant parts. In the past, this was done by hand, but now machines do this work.
• Spinning: Clean fibers are transformed into yarn through spinning. Several fibers are twisted together to create a single yarn or thread. Large spinning machines help with this process.
• Weaving: Two sets of yarn are interlaced to produce fabric. This step is known as weaving. Hand-operated machines, called handlooms, can also be used for weaving.
• Handloom Fabric: Fabric woven on handlooms is called handloom fabric. It is widely available in markets across the country and serves as a significant source of income for many weavers. India boasts a rich tradition of handloom designs and textiles.
• Knitting: When a single yarn is woven into fabric, it is referred to as knitting. Unlike weaving, which involves interlacing two sets of yarn, knitting involves creating fabric from a single yarn. 

Identifying Fabrics

• Fabric identification is about recognizing fabrics by their feel and burn behavior.
• Obtain small fabric samples from a tailor to compare textures.
• Cotton fabric feels soft and burns with a sooty flame.
• Silk is known for its smooth texture.
• Synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester are smooth and melt when burned.

Fabrics for Different Purposes

• The choice of fabric depends on its properties and uses.
• Cotton is soft, comfortable, and absorbs moisture well, making it ideal for keeping cool in summer.
• Synthetic fabrics like nylon are lightweight and soft but do not absorb moisture, so they're not suitable for hot weather.
• Wool has tiny air-trapping pockets between its fibers, which insulate and keep the body warm.
• These air pockets prevent body heat from escaping and cold air from directly touching the skin.

History of Natural Fibres

Flax

• The fibers from the stem of the flax plant have been used for making fabric for a very long time.
• It is believed that fabric production using flax dates back to ancient Egypt, possibly before 5000 BCE.
• India ranks as the third-largest producer of flax.

Cotton

• Cotton fibers came into use slightly after flax.
• The production of cotton fiber began around 3000 BCE in Egypt and India.
• The first paper was crafted from cotton fiber in China.
• The United States of America, India, and China are significant producers of cotton fabric.

Wool

• Wool has been utilized alongside cotton for centuries.
• There are various types of wool used for making different items.
• Australia stands out as one of the largest producers of wool globally.

Silk

• Silk fiber was first discovered in China around 2600 BCE.
• Due to its exquisite sheen and texture, silk is often referred to as the "Queen of Fabrics."
• The practice of rearing silkworms for silk production is known as sericulture.
• Japan has emerged as one of the major silk producers in the modern world.