Yarn to fabric: We wear different types of clothes depending on the weather. Have you ever thought that the clothes we wear are made of what and how they are made? The material from which the fabric is made is called fibres. Yarn is nothing but a spun thread. Therefore, the yarn is used in making fabrics with the help of looms. To learn more about the process of making fabric from yarn, check out the article below.

Define Yarn

Yarn is a ‘spun thread’ that is used for weaving fabrics. In most simple words, yarn is a long thread that is used for making fabrics. Yarn is made from fibres by the process of spinning. Yarn can be made from fibres by using a hand spindle, spinning wheel, and spinning machines.

Properties of Yarn

Some important properties of Yarn are as follows:

1. Elasticity
2. Plasticity
3. Breaking point
4. Breaking extension
5. Elongation

Types of Yarn

There are three types of yarn; they are:

1. Staple yarn: Staple yarns, also known as spun yarns, are the product of fibres that are available in short discrete lengths. All herbal fibres besides silk are stapled fibres.

2. Simple and Complex yarn: Simple yarns are characterised through the uniform length and regular surface. Complex yarns are choppy yarns that can be thick and skinny or have curls, loops, twists or even in another way coloured regions alongside their length.

3. Single or plied yarn: A plied yarn consists of two or more single yarns twisted together.

Making of Yarn from Fibres

Yarn is a kind of long, twisted thread. Yarn is made from fibres by the process of spinning. In the process of spinning, fibres from a mass of cotton (wool or silk, etc.) are drawn out and twisted. This brings the tiny fibres together to form a long and twisted thread called ‘yarn’. Thus, spinning converts fibres into yarn. We can demonstrate the principle of making cotton yarn from cotton fibres as follows:

Hold a lump of cotton fibres (rui) in the left hand. Now, start pulling out cotton fibres gently with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand while twisting the cotton fibres continuously. We will get cotton yarn.

Yarn can be made from fibres by using three devices; are as follows:

1. Hand spindle (Takli)
2. Spinning wheel (Charkha)
3. Spinning machines

A simple device used for spinning cotton and making yarn is a hand spindle. The hand spindle is called ‘takli’ in Hindi.

Another hand-operated device that is used for spinning cotton and making yarn is the spinning wheel. The spinning wheel is called ‘charkha’ in Hindi. The use of the spinning wheel (charkha) was popularised by the father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, as part of the independence movement of our country.

Yarn to Fabric Process

Fabrics are made from ‘yarn’ by two main processes; They are

I. Weaving and
II. Knitting

Weaving

Weaving is a process of making fabric by arranging yarns passing in one direction with other yarns at right angles to them. Thus, weaving involves two sets of yarns that are taken and weaved together by alternatively moving the vertical and the horizontal yarn. By adding coloured yarns and changing the arrangement of weaving in these two sets of yarns, a different pattern can be made in the fabric.

‘Looms’ are used to weave yarn to create fabrics (A device for making fabrics by weaving yarn or threads is called a loom). In Hindi, the loom is known as ‘kargha.’ Handlooms and power looms are the two types of looms. Handloom refers to a loom that is worked by hand. The loom that uses electricity, on the other hand, is known as a ‘power loom.’

Process of Weaving

Take two square sheets of different coloured paper, each \(10\,{\text{cm}}\) by \(10\,{\text{cm}}\) (blue and violet). Take another sheet (say, green) and mark a \(1\,{\text{cm}}\) margin all around it. Fold it in half and mark the lines \(1\,{\text{cm}}\) apart with a pencil. Cut along these lines, leaving a margin on all sides, and then unfold this paper. Cut \(10\) strips of \(1\,{\text{cm}}\) width from the remaining sheets.

Weave them into the green one by passing through alternate cuts. When all \(10\) strips are weaved, you will see a woven paper mat.

Flow Chart of Weaving

Knitting

Knitting is the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of single yarn with knitting needles or machines. Knitting is done both by hand (with knitting needles) and on machines.  In weaving, two sets of yarn (or threads) are used at the same time to create a fabric. This is not the case with knitting. A single yarn is used to create a fabric in knitting. The simplest example of making fabrics by knitting is the making of sweaters. A sweater is made by the process of knitting by using a single ‘woollen yarn’ with the help of knitting needles (in our homes) or on machines.

Many of our clothing items, such as socks, vests (baniyan), and underwear, are made of machine knitted fabrics. Pulling a yarn (or thread) from a pair of torn socks reveals that a single yarn emerges continuously as the fabric of the socks unwinds. This demonstrates that knitted fabrics are made of a single yarn that runs through the fabric.

Flow Chart of Knitting

Uses of Weaving and Knitting

Weaving and knitting are used for making different kinds of fabrics. These fabrics are then used for making various types of clothes, sweaters, shawls, socks, and vests, etc.

Difference Between Weaving and Knitting

The main difference between knitting and weaving are as follows:

Knitting	Weaving
Knitted fabrics are made by a set of loops connected from a series of yarns.	Fabrics are made by weaving two types of yarn.
This method uses a set of yarns.	This method uses two sets of yarn.
This process does not require sizing.	Sizing is required before weaving.
No yarn preparation is required.	Yarn preparation is very important.
More textile manufacturing capacity.	The output of the weaving is less than that of knitting.
The production cost of knitting is less than the weaving cost.	The production cost of weaving is higher than knitting.
Knitting is done by loop formation.	Weaving is done by shade formation.

Summary

Yarn is a ‘spun thread’ that is used for weaving fabrics. Yarn is made from fibres by the process of spinning. In the process of spinning, fibres from a mass of cotton (wool or silk, etc.) are drawn out and twisted. Yarn can be made from fibres by using three devices as Hand spindle (Takli), Spinning wheel (Charkha) and Spinning machines. Fabrics are made from ‘yarn’ by two main processes that are weaving and knitting.

Weaving is a process of making fabric by arranging yarns passing in one direction with other yarns at right angles to them. Knitting is the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of single yarn with knitting needles or machines. Knitting is done both by hand (with knitting needles) and on machines.

Learn How to Make Wool from Fibres

Frequently Asked Questions on Yarn to Fabric

Q.1. What is yarn to fabric?
Ans: Yarn to fabric is a process of making fabric by weaving warp and weft yarn. It is mainly used to make fabrics.

Q.2. How is yarn converted to fabric?
Ans: Yarn can be converted into fabric by several means. Weaving and knitting are the two main processes used to make fabric from yarn. Weaving is a process of making fabric by arranging yarns passing in one direction with other yarns at right angles to them. Knitting is the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of single yarn with knitting needles or machines. Knitting is done both by hand (with knitting needles) and on machines.

Q.3. What is the preparation of yarn to fabric?
Ans: Yarn can be converted into fabric by several means. Weaving and knitting are the two main processes used to make fabric from yarn. Weaving is a process of making fabric by arranging yarns passing in one direction with other yarns at right angles to them. Knitting is the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of single yarn with knitting needles or machines. Knitting is done both by hand (with knitting needles) and on machines.

Q.4. What are the properties of yarn?
Ans: Some important properties of Yarn are as follows:
1. Elasticity
2. Plasticity
3. Breaking point
4. Breaking extension
5. Elongation

Q.5. How are fabrics created from yarns?
Ans: Yarn can be converted into fabric by several means. Weaving and knitting are the two main processes used to make fabric from yarn. Weaving is a process of making fabric by arranging yarns passing in one direction with other yarns at right angles to them. Knitting is the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of single yarn with knitting needles or machines. Knitting is done both by hand (with knitting needles) and on machines.

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