Length
2 weeks
Unit Description
Students study fibre origins, fabric structures, care labels, fabric behaviour, cost, and sustainability. They build a swatch book and learn to choose materials that match purpose, budget, and care needs.
Historic Notes
Textiles are among the oldest technologies. Plant fibres such as linen and cotton, animal fibres such as wool and silk, and later manufactured fibres changed trade, labour, class identity, and daily life. Industrial textile mills made fabric more available but also created harsh working conditions and environmental impacts.
Contemporary Uses
Fabric choice shapes comfort, cost, durability, care, performance, and environmental impact. Designers use natural, synthetic, regenerated, recycled, technical, and blended textiles for clothing, sportswear, protective gear, costume, upholstery, and wearable technology.
Learning Targets
- I can distinguish fibre, yarn, fabric, and finish.
- I can compare natural, synthetic, and regenerated fibres.
- I can read a care label and predict care needs.
- I can choose fabric for a project based on use, cost, skill, and impact.
Key Notes
Fibre Categories
- Natural plant: cotton, linen, hemp.
- Natural animal: wool, silk.
- Regenerated: rayon/viscose, modal, lyocell.
- Synthetic: polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex.
Fabric Structures
- Woven: stable, often frays, has grainline.
- Knit: stretchy, loops, needs stretch-aware seams.
- Nonwoven/felt: fibres bonded, may not fray.
Choosing Fabric
Ask:
- What does the item need to do?
- Does the pattern require woven or knit?
- How much stretch is needed?
- Can the student sew this fabric successfully?
- What is the cost per metre and total cost?
- How will it wash, wear, repair, and eventually be reused?
Hands-On Assignment: Fabric Detective Swatch Book
Task
Create a swatch book with at least 12 labelled samples. Include fibre guess, structure, hand/feel, stretch, opacity, fraying, care suggestions, possible uses, and approximate cost rating.
Cost
Very low. Use scraps, donated garments, thrifted textiles, and store samples if available.
Worksheet
- Define fibre, yarn, fabric, and finish.
- Compare cotton and polyester for a hoodie lining.
- Explain why grainline matters.
- Choose a fabric for beginner pajama pants. Explain your choice.
- Read a garment label and record fibre content and care instructions.
- Which fabric in your swatch book is most sustainable? Explain your reasoning carefully.
Quiz/Test
- Name two natural fibres and two synthetic fibres.
- What is a regenerated fibre?
- Why do knits need different construction choices than wovens?
- Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of polyester.
- A student wants to make fitted shorts from quilting cotton. Identify one possible issue.
- Design scenario: Choose fabric for a low-cost tote bag and justify your choice.
Answer key (model answers; accept accurate equivalents): 1 natural e.g. cotton, wool; synthetic e.g. polyester, nylon. 2 a fibre made by processing a natural source (e.g. wood pulp) into a new fibre, such as rayon/viscose, modal, lyocell. 3 knits stretch and run, so they need stretch-aware stitches/seams and edges that won't pop or fray the same way as wovens. 4 advantage: durable, wrinkle-resistant, cheap, quick-drying; disadvantage: less breathable, can feel plasticky, sheds microplastics, melts with high heat. 5 quilting cotton has little stretch and limited drape, so fitted shorts may be tight, stiff, or split at stress points. 6 accept any low-cost durable woven (e.g. thrifted canvas/denim/sheet) with reasoning about strength, cost, and washability.
Rubric
| Criteria | Emerging | Developing | Proficient | Extending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swatch range | Few samples | Basic range | 12+ varied samples | Thoughtfully varied with useful contrasts |
| Identification | Many gaps | Some correct terms | Mostly accurate | Accurate and detailed |
| Fabric reasoning | Minimal | General | Clear link to purpose/cost | Sophisticated tradeoff analysis |
| Presentation | Hard to follow | Some labels | Organized and readable | Professional reference tool |
References and Further Learning
Watch
- Introduction to Polymers and Synthetic Fibers — A short explainer on how synthetic fibres are built from polymers (Khan Academy).
- Synthetic Polymers — Animated basics on the polymers behind fibres such as polyester and nylon (FuseSchool).
Read
- Clothing and Health (1916) — A free historical textbook on textile materials, where they come from, and how cloth is cared for (Internet Archive / Helen Kinne & Anna M. Cooley).
Explore
- Fashion – Explore the Collections — The world's largest dress collection, useful for seeing how fibre and fabric choices shaped real garments across five centuries (Victoria and Albert Museum).
_Links were verified at publication; if one moves, search the title._