What is Weaving (Weave)?

Weaving, or the act of creating fabric by interlacing threads or yarns, is a traditional and ancient craft that has been practiced by various cultures around the world for thousands of years. The process involves crossing horizontal threads (weft) through vertical threads (warp) to create a woven fabric. The method of interlacing can vary, leading to different types of weaves and patterns.

Fabric are manufactured in wide varieties and design. And the different design and effect is produced on the fabric with the help for various mechanism which is helpful to from different weaves and lots of design which enhances the look of apparels. The present paper was aimed at investigating the different types of weaves and also overview the fabrics come under the different weave categories.

What are the Types of Weaving (Weaves)?

Here are the main types of weaves (weaving):

1. Plain Weave

Most simple and most common type of construction Inexpensive to produce, durable, Flat, tight surface is conducive to printing and other finishes. The simplest of all patterns is the plain weave. Each weft yarn goes alternately over and under one warp yarn. Each warp yarn goes alternately over and under each weft yarn. Some examples of plain weave fabrics are crepe, taffeta, organdy and muslin. The plain weave may also have variations including the following:

  • Rib Weave: the filling yarns are larger in diameter than the warp yarns. A rib weave produces fabrics in which fewer yarns per square centimeter are visible on the surface.
  • Matt Weave or Basket Weave: Here, two or more yarns are used in both the warp and filling direction. These groups of yarns are woven as one, producing a basket effect.

> Method of Construction: Each filling yarn goes alternately under and over the warp yarns

> Household Uses: Draperies, tablecloths, upholstery.

> Different Types of Fabric Come Under this Category:

  • a) Chiffon: A very soft and filling plain woven Silk texture consisting of the Finest Singles which are hard twisted and woven in the gum condition. The cloth is afterward degummed.
  • b) Georgette: A cotton Crepe fabric made in imitation of silk georgette, with hard twisted warp and weft yarn. A good Cloth is woven plain with right and left twist thread arranged in 2 and 2 order in warp and weft.
  • c) Shantung: Coarse Silk fabric with Slubs. Mostly Tussah Silk but can be Polyester, nylon and viscose.
  • d) Seersucker: It is created by holding some warp yarns at tight tension, some at slack tension. Those at Slack Tension puff up to form a sort of Blis-ter-effect, often slack and tight yarn of different colour.

2. Basket Weave:

A variation of the plain weave usually basket or checkerboard pattern Contrasting colors are often used Inexpensive, less durable than plain weave. Basket weave is the amplification in height and width of plain weave. Two or more yarns have to be lifted or lowered over or under two or more picks for each plain weave point. When the groups of yarns are equal, the basket weave is termed regular, otherwise it is termed irregular.

There two types of weave come under this category i.e. regular and irregular weave.

a) Regular Basket Weave: This is commonly used for edges in drapery, or as a bottom in very small weave repeats, because the texture is too loose-fitting for big weave repeats; moreover, yarns of different groups can slip, group and overlap, spoiling the appearance. This is why only basket weaves 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 exist.

b) Irregular Basket Weave: This is generally a combination of irregular warp and weft ribs.


> Method of Construction: Two or more warps simultaneously interlaced with one or more fillings.

> Household Uses: Wall hangings, pillows.

> Examples of Basket Weave:

  • a) Monks Cloth: Heavy cotton Cloth in a coarse basket weave, chiefly used for draperies.

  • b) Oxford: Oxford weave fabric consists of two, thin warp yarns woven to very soft, thicker yarn in the filling direction. The unbalanced construction of the fabric causes the thin yarns to break and leave tiny holes. The primary use of oxford weave fabric is in cotton shirting. It is also used in other forms of apparel.


3. Twill Weave

Creates a diagonal, chevron, hounds tooth, corkscrew, or other design. The design is enhanced with colored yarn is strong and may develop a shine. Twill weave is characterized by diagonal ridges formed by the yarns, which are exposed on the surface. These may vary in angle from a low slope to a very steep slope. Twill weaves are more closely woven, heavier and stronger than weaves of comparable fiber and yarn size. They can be produced in fancy designs.

> Method of Construction: Three or more shafts; warp or filling floats over two or more counterpart yarns in progressive steps right or left.

> Household Uses: Upholstery, comforters, pillows.

> Types of Fabrics:

1) Denim: A Strong Warp Face Cotton Cloth used for overall, Jeans skirts etc. Largely made in 3/1 twill weave. Generally warp yarn is dyed brown or blue and crossed with white weft.

2) Gabardine: A Warp Face cloth mostly woven 2/2 twill, 27/2 tex warp, 20/2 tex cotton weft. Here cotton weft is yarn dyed but the wool warp may be dyed in piece.


4. Satin Weave

  • - Smooth, soft luster 
  • - Excellent drapability 
  • - Floats snag easily

> Method of Construction: Floats one warp yarn over four or more weft yarns, then tied down with one thread, resulting in a smooth face. Common Fabrics: Satin, satin-weave fabrics out of fabrics such as cotton & Charmeuse.
> Household Uses: Draperies, quilts

> Examples of Fabric:

  • a) Satin: Used for ribbons, trimmings, dresses, linings etc, and originally was an all silk fabric with a fine rich glossy surface formed in a warp satin weave. The warp is much finer and more closely set than the weft, and the latter which only shows on the under side is frequently composed of cotton. Double faced Satins are made on the reversible warp backed principle, with one side differently colour from the other.
  • b) Sateen: A cotton fabric is made in 5 thread weft face sateen, and woven like cotton. It is sold in bleached, mercerized or printed condition.
  • c) Charmeuse: It is a light weight fabric woven with a satin weave ,where the warp threads cross over three or more of the backing (weft) threads. The front side of the fabric has a satin finish-lustrous and reflective-whereas the back has a dull finish.

5. Jacquard Weave

Jacquard patterns, when carefully analyzed, may be seen to contain combinations of plain, twill, and satin weaves, even in the same crosswise yarn. Many decorative fabrics are made by the jacquard technique. Yarns woven into unlimited designs, often intricate, multicolor effect. Expensive, but the design dont fade or wear out. Durability depends on the fiber used. The Jacquard loom was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard.

> Method of Construction: Warp is individually controlled with each pick passage creating intricate designs

> Household Uses: Upholstery, wall hangings

> Types of Jacquard Fabric:

  • a) Brocade: Originally a heavy rich silk fiber ornaments with raised figures formed by extra threads or by embroidery. Mostly used for upholstery fabrics and draperies.
  • b) Damask: Fabric with a weft sateen figures on a warp satin, twist or plain grained, made of silk, cotton, rayon and linen yarns Damasks are reversible. Cotton and linen damasks are made either with four yarn float or a seven yarn float in the satin weave. The Longer floats are more lustrous, but the shorter floats are more durable.

6. Leno or Gauze Weave

In leno or gauze weave pairs of warps are twisted over each other with each passing of filling yarn. The leno weave is the modern descendant of a technique called twining that was used thousands of years ago for making fabrics. In leno-weave fabrics, the warp yarns are paired. A special attachment, the doup or leno attachment, crosses or laps the paired warp yarns over each other, while the filling passes through the opening between the two warp yarns. Leno-weave fabrics are made in Open, gauzelike constructions.

> Method of Construction: A pair of warp threads is twisted over each other with each passing of filling yarn in a figure or an hourglass twist, creating a geometric pattern

> Household Uses: Thermal Blankets, curtains


7. Pile Fabric Weave

Extra sets of warps or fillings are woven over ground yarns of plain or twill weave to form loops. Pile fabrics have been defined as fabrics(s) with cut or uncut loops which stand up densely on the surface Pile fabrics may be created by weaving or through other construction techniques, such as tufting, knitting, or stitch through. To create the loops that appears on the surface of woven pile fabrics, the weaving process. Piled fabric are classified as Uncut Pile and Cut Pile Fabric.

7.1 Uncut Pile

  • - Loops are possible on both sides of fabric
  • - Soft and absorbent, relatively inexpensive
  • - Can snag if loops are caught

> Method of Construction (Wire Method or double cloth Method): Generally a plain or twill weaves with a third dimension--additional warp yarn or filling yarn is introduced into the basic structure and forms a loop at regular intervals.

> Common Fabrics: Frieze, terry cloth

> Household Uses: Upholstery, towels, carpet, area rugs

7.2 Cut Pile

  • - Soft and warm, resilient, absorbent
  • - May have a nap that must be matched
  • - May be expensive and need professional cleaning

> Method of Construction: Similar to uncut pile, but loops have been cut.

> Household Uses: Upholstery, stage draperies.

> Different Types of Cut Pile Fabric:

a) Corduroy: Corded velveteen Structures in which a weft pile forms longitudinal lines or chords, strong heavy clothes being used for trouser-rings, smoking jackets and lighter fabrics for dress materials.

b) Velvet: A cut warp pile fabric with a short, soft, dense pile.

c) Velveteen: A Short heavily wefted cotton fabric uniformly covered with a short dense pile of fibers which formed after the cloth has been woven by cutting certain picks of weft that float somewhat loosely on the surface.


Acknowledgement:

First of all I would like to express profound gratitude to the management of the SGS India Private LTD., Gurgaon for giving encouragement and guidance to work on this Article.


References:

Variation of weaves from Textile Manufacturing Technique by Rai University.