The characteristics or properties of a fabric refer to how it looks, feels, reacts to heat or water and how it wears.
When choosing a household textile it is important that it has the right properties for its function. The properties and characteristics of textiles include:
hardwearingcool strong insulating
rough stretchy 27.9 light heavy textured pre-shrunk absorbent resilient
waterproof delicateclosely woven smooth
Finishes can be added to textiles to improve their properties also. crease resistant stain resistant Moth-proofed fade resistant colourfast
Choosing household textiles When choosing household textiles you need to consider: 1. Properties: choose those that are fit for purpose, e.g. towels must be absorbent and soft. 2. Cost: the amount of money you have to spend will influence the type and quality of soft furnishings.
3. Durability: the fabric must be able to withstand a reasonable amount of wear and tear. 4. Ease of cleaning: household textiles should be easy to clean e.g. machine washable. 5. Colour, pattern, texture and style: textiles should complement the décor and colour scheme of the room ( design features, see p. 306).
Soft furnishings
The function of soft furnishings is to: • Influence the style and character of a room • Express our personal tastes • Make a room attractive by adding colour, texture and pattern to a room • Add interest, warmth and comfort to the home ( interior design, see p. 301)
drapes well warm
390
washable soft
flame resistant
Strand 3: Textiles and Craft Section 1: Focus on Fabrics
