Textiles in the Home

1. Textiles in the Home

2. Uses of Textiles Clothing Curtains Shoes Luggage Seat belts carpets

3. Characteristics or properties of textiles Characteristics or properties of a fabric means how it looks, feels, reacts to heat or water, how it wears. It is a special quality which is typical of the object e.g. silk is smooth. When choosing a fabric it is important that it has the right properties for its function. Examples of fabric properties: light, heavy, strong, warm, cool, burns easily or not, absorbent, waterproof, washable, stretchy, creases, hard wearing, textured, delicate.

4. Household textiles Used to add colour, pattern, texture, warmth, comfort and style to the home. Used for: upholstery, cushions, carpets, rugs, curtains, blinds, bed linen, blankets, duvets, pillows, towels, kitchen cloths, oven gloves, table linen. A textile item should have properties to suit its properties e.g. a rucksack should be strong, lightweight and waterproof.

6. Choosing Household Textiles What should you consider? Properties Cost Durability Colour, pattern, texture Ease of cleaning

8. Soft Furnishings • These are room furnishings made from textiles e.g. curtains, cushions. Soft furnishings add warmth, comfort and style to a room.

9. Curtains - Choosing Cost Function Room style/décor Type of window Length required Width required (usually 2 X window width) Lining required (ordinary, blackout, thermal, interlining).

10. Curtains Functions Privacy Prevent draught Insulate Decorative Keep out light Desirable properties Drape well Cleanable/washable Pre-shrunk Fire resistant Resist fading Durable

12. Upholstery Upholstery means the outer covering (textile) of sofas, armchairs, stools etc. and the padding inside it. The outer covering can be made of leather, tweed, dralon, cotton, linen, corduroy. In the past the foam used as padding gave off toxic fumes if it went on fire All foam used now must be Combustion Modified Highly Resilient (CHMR) foam for safety.

13. Upholstery labels Cig/Match Resistant Swing Label GreenFilling material(s) and covering fabric(s) meet the requirements for resistance to cigarette and match ignition in the 1988 safety regulations. Swing Labels - Red.A Triangular label stating that the cover fabric is not match resistant but that the item is lined with the appropriate barrier cloth.

14. Upholstery labels…..continued • Carelessness Causes FireThis labels covers filling only and states'To comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (FIRE) Safety Regulations 1988.All fillings have been tested by our suppliers to ensure compliance with the relevant ignitability test.'

15. Bed clothes Bed linen: Sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, valances. Made from cotton, polyester-cotton, linen. Polyester cotton is cheapest, easiest to wash, dry, iron. Blankets: Made from wool , acrylic, cotton or a mixture of these. Acrylic is cheaper and easier to clean but not as warm as wool. Duvet: Made of insulating material like down or feathers or polyester wadding sandwiched between 2 layers of fabric. Warmth of a duvet measured in tog rating, 15 tog down to 4.5 tog.

16. Towels, these are usually made from cotton. The looped weave makes them more absorbent. • Dishcloths, usually made from cotton or man-made fibres. Disposable cloths such a J-cloths are made from a non-woven man-made fibre. They are hygienic and they wash and dry quickly.

18. Carpets Invented 1000’s of years ago in Persia (Iran), Turkey, India. First carpets made by hand from silk or wool. Today made by machine, the pile can be woven into backing or stuck with glue. Modern carpets can be made from wool, acrylic, nylon, cotton or a blend of these. The pile can be long, short, looped or embossed. Carpets are graded by how hardwearing they are: light domestic, medium domestic, heavy domestic.