Textiles and Clothing Part 6

[Sidenote: Warping]

The yarn coming from the spinning frame is sometimes dyed before weaving. The warp is formed by winding as many threads as the width of the fabric is to contain on a slowly revolving drum, called a "beam," in the same relative position in which they are to appear in the finished cloth. From its position on the beam at the back of the loom, each thread is brought through its particular loop or eye with the heddle, then pa.s.ses through its own slot in the reed, and down to the roller or "cloth beam" that is to take up the woven cloth. This is called "drawing in the warp." If there is a piece of cloth coming from the loom, the work is very simple, for the ends of the new warp are tied to the ends remaining from the warp that has been woven out.

The shuttle with its bobbin, containing the yarn of the filling, is much the same as is used in the hand looms, except for form and size, which varies according to the requirements and size of the warp being used. At first only one shuttle was used, but in 1760 Robert Kay invented a mechanism by which several shuttles containing different grades or colors of yarn might be used. Each throw of the shuttle across the width of the goods is called a "pick."

[Sidenote: The Harness]

In making a cloth with plain weave, that is, with every thread interlacing with every other, as in darning, only two harnesses are required, but the modern loom may have up to about twenty-four harnesses so that an infinite variety of weaves may be obtained. Various cams and levers move the harness frame and so raise or lower the threads required for the design.

[Sidenote: Jacquard Loom]

The Jacquard loom is arranged on a different principle. In this loom, all kinds of fancy weaves may be obtained as in table linen, tapestries and carpets. Each warp thread is supplied with a separate hook and by means of perforated card the desired threads are raised or depressed at each throw of the shuttle. The cards are worked out by the designer. A set of a thousand or more cards may be required to produce the desired design. Jacquard looms are sometimes to be seen at fairs and expositions weaving handkerchiefs with some picture design.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JACQUARD HAND LOOM Weaving Ingrain Carpet at Hull House.]

WEAVES

The great variety of weaves found in the textiles of to-day are modifications of a few fundamental weaves invented in the earliest times.

The chief fundamental weaves are:

(1) Plain weave.

(2) Twills.

(3) Sateen.

To which may be added the derivatives--

(4) Rib weave.

(5) Basket weave.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM OF FANCY KNIT GOODS]

These do not include the many fancy weaves, too numerous to cla.s.sify, and the open work weaves, made in the Leno loom, in which some of the threads are crossed. Knit goods are made by the interlooping of a single thread, by hand or on circular knitting machines and lace by an a.n.a.logous process, using several systems of threads. Felt is made up of matted fibers of fur and wool and has no thread structure.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WEAVE DIAGRAMS]

[Sidenote: Plain Weave]

The plain weave is the most common, nearly all light weight goods being thus woven. In plain weaving, each thread of both warp and filling pa.s.ses alternately over and under the threads at right angles. This makes a comparatively open cloth, requiring the smallest amount of yarn for the surface covered. This weave is used in nearly all cotton goods, as in muslins, sheetings, calicoes, ginghams, and thin woolen goods.

Even in the plain weave variety is obtained by having some of the threads larger than others, either in warp or filling or both, thus producing stripes and checked effects.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SECTIONS OF WEAVES

_a_--Plain weave; _b_--Prunella twill; _c_--Ca.s.simere twill; _d_--Swansdown twill.]

[Sidenote: Twills]

After the plain weave the twill is the most common, being much used for dress goods, suitings, etc., as well as some of the thicker cottons. In this weave the intersections of the threads produce characteristic lines diagonally across the fabric, most often at an angle of 45. The twill may be hardly visible or very p.r.o.nounced. The simplest twills are the so-called "doeskin" and "prunella." In the doeskin the filling threads pa.s.s over one and under two of the warp threads and in the prunella twill over two and under one. The most common twill is the ca.s.simere twill in which both the warp and filling run over two and under two of the threads at right angles.

[Ill.u.s.tration: DIAGRAM OF RIB AND BASKET WEAVE AND DOUBLE CLOTH]

[Sidenote: Uneven Twills]

A twill made by running both warp and filling under one and over three threads is called a swansdown twill and the reverse is known as the crow weave. In these the diagonal twilled effect is much more marked. Various twills are often combined with each other and with plain weave, making a great variety of texture. Numerous uneven twills are made, two over and three under, etc., etc.

[Sidenote: Sateen Weave]

In the sateen weave, nearly all of either the warp or the filling threads are on the surface, the object being to produce a smooth surface fabric like sateen. With this weave it is possible to use a cotton warp and silk filling, having most of the silk appear on the surface of the fabric.

[Ill.u.s.tration: TEXTILE DESIGN

_A_--On cross-section paper; _B_--Graphic diagram.]

[Sidenote: Rib and Basket Weaves]

The rib and basket weaves are derivatives of the plain weave, two or more threads replacing the single strand. In the rib weave, either the warp or the filling threads run double or more, thus making a corded effect. In the basket weave, both warp and filling are run double or treble, giving a coa.r.s.e texture. This weave is sometimes called the panama weave.

[Sidenote: Double Cloth]

In the thicker fabrics like men's suitings and overcoatings, there may be a double series of warp threads, only one series appearing on the face of the goods, and in the still thicker fabrics, there may be a double set of both warp and filling threads, making double cloth, the two sides of which may be entirely different in color and design.

[Sidenote: Velvet]

In weaving plush, velvet and velveteen, loops are made in the filling or warp threads which are afterwards cut, producing the pile.

BLEACHING, DYEING, PRINTING, FINISHING

When the cloth comes from the loom it is by no means ready for the market. Nearly all kinds are washed and pressed and in some cla.s.ses of goods the finishing process is very elaborate.

BLEACHING AND DYEING