Fabric Construction - Woven

Woven fabrics
How much do you already know
about woven fabrics?
Choose a number from 0=Not
confident to 10=Very confident
below
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Learning Objectives:
• Be able to identify a woven
fabric
• Be able to name properties &
characteristics of woven
fabrics
Learning Outcomes:
• Be able to tell me how to
create at least two different
weaves
• Have a good sample of each
weave
• Made detailed revision notes
Success Criteria:
A*-A: Be able to create
different weave samples with
no promoting from the
teacher. Be able to speak and
write fluently about woven
fabrics in the lesson listing
all properties and fabric
characteristics confidently.
B: Be able to create
different weave samples and
display a sound knowledge of
their properties and
characteristics.
C: Be able to create
different weave samples in
the lesson with at least two
properties and
characteristics for each.

• Spinning is the
twisting together of
fibres to make a
yarn. The more a
yarn is twisted the
stronger it will be.
Weaving
• A shuttle takes the
yarn from one side to
another.
• Woven fabrics are not
stretchy and tend to
fray when cut.

Properties
1. Edges do not fray
until cut, as they
have a selvedge
1. They can be woven
at different
densities and have
different weights
4. The fabric is at its strongest on the grain
line
5. The fabric can stretch on the bias (diagonal)
of the fabric.

Woven Fabric Construction.
DRAW this diagram into your workbooks

Woven Fabric Construction.
DRAW this diagram into your workbooks
Make notes in workbooks
WEFT
The
horizontal
yarn is called
the WEFT
yarn ‘weft
goes left!’ T

Woven Fabric Construction.
DRAW this diagram into your workbooks
WARP
Make notes in workbooks
The vertical
yarn is called
the WARP
yarn ‘warp
goes up and
down!’ T
The WARP
yarn is also
called the
GRAIN
LINET

Woven Fabric Construction.
DRAW this diagram into your workbooks
Make notes in workbooks
At the edge of a woven
piece of fabric the
warp yarns wrap
around the weft yarns,
this is called the
SELVEDGE
Selvedge

Woven Fabric Construction.
DRAW this diagram into your workbooks
Make notes in workbooks
If you put a tape
measure diagonally
across the fabric you
are finding the BIAS.
BIAS

• Plain weave –
Types of weave
Have a go!
This is the simplest
weave where one
weft yarn passes
under and over one
warp yarn, e.g.
poplin, calico.
Teacher Demo

Types of weave
Have a go!
•Twill weave – Weft
yarns pass under or over
2–4 warp yarns.
Herringbone is a variation
on a twill weave. The
fabric has a distinctive
diagonal pattern, e.g.
denim.
Teacher Demo

•Satin weave –
Types of weave
Have a go!
The weft yarns pass
over between 4–7
warp yarns to give
smooth and shiny
fabrics, e.g. damask.
Teacher Demo

Peer Assessment Challenge
Pass your work to a friend
• Yellow Hat: What has gone well?
• Black Hat: What has not worked so well?
• Green Hat: How could it be improved?
• Write your comments in their books, leaving space
for sticking the woven samples in.

Pile weaves
• Pile weaves can be made by
inserting extra warp threads
into a plain weave backing.
The loops can be cut (e.g.
velvet) or left uncut (e.g.
terry towel).
• The extra yarns increase the
surface area of the fabric
which makes it more
absorbent.
• Pile weave fabrics include
velvet, terry towel, corduroy.

Woven fabrics
How much do you know NOW
about woven fabrics?
Choose a number from 0=Not
confident to 10=Very confident
below
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Questioning
• Name two properties of woven fabrics
• Name a fabric constructed using a plain,
satin and twill weave
• What is the name of the piece of equipment
used to weave fabric in industry?
• How are fibres made strong before
weaving?
• What is a pile weave?
• What products can be made with a pile
weave?