Fabrics for Women and Children’s clothing

In the purchase of their apparel most women seek primarily for “look rightness and serviceability”. For outer apparel look – rightness is probably the first consideration. In the purchase of underclothing and children’s wear, serviceability is commonly the first consideration, although look – rightness is nearly always a factor, too. Serviceability is a combination of the suitability of fabric and the quality of garments construction. Some basic categories are hosiery, sleepwear, undergarments, blouses.

Apparel fabrics for Women and Children

Differences in weight automatically limit some fabrics to particular seasons and use. In summer thin fabrics, such as voile, eyelet, batiste, sheer, creeps, and chiffons, in winter, for heavier materials such as wood tweeds, homespuns, velvet, corduroy, and fur like fabric.

Some stiff fabrics look better when a crisp appearance is required; soft and clinging fabrics are appropriate when slinky, draped effect is desired; rich and luxurious fabrics look best in the evening; washable fabrics appear to advantage when worn in the house, in the garden, and for sports.

1. Women’s Skirts

   Women’s skirts are cut on straight, the bias, or circularly from the same fabrics that are used for dresses and suits. The fit or, more particularly the hang of skirt is important. A skirt should not wrinkle below the waistband and should be even at hem. The principles for selection of appropriate outer garments for adults are essentially the same for girls. Coats and dresses must be style – right for the occasion. All girls, especially up to 10 years, need a roomy garment with large armholes and curved underarms, to permit raising the hands above the head without pulling out the seams or distorting the fabric. Tucks, pleats, and shirring are important because they allow for chest expansion.

2. Women’s Sweaters

   The sweater, a knitted of the garment for the upper part of the body, has long been a staple for both casual and dressy wear. There are two main or classic types: the pullover or slip -on and the cardigan. Either type may have long or short sleeves, or either type may be in a classic or contemporary style.

   The classic sweater, not usually bulky, has a round neck without a collar. Contemporary styles are usually bulky and may have cable stitch and cowl necks. Until the development of the non – cellulosic man-made fibers, wool was the major fiber used for sweaters, with cotton an important fiber for children’s wear. But today the acrylics, particularly Orlon and Acrilan, are in the first place, with blends second and wool third.

   The reason for the great popularity of the synthetic is that they can be cleaned in the home laundry machine at the setting for fine fabrics, and they need no reshaping. Wool sweaters, unless labelled “machine washable,” have to be hand washed, reshaped, and dried most carefully. Also, man-made fibers are usually less expensive than comparable wool products and are better than wool in resistance to abrasion.

   The degree of softness of sweaters made from man-made fibers depends on the fiber denier (weight and fineness) the finer the denier the softer the fabric. The acrylics provide a wool – like bulkiness by crimping short filaments so that they resemble wool fibers.Thus they provide more warmth than nylon. Nylon, which is crimped also but is less bulky, has a smooth texture and a slightly shiny surface.

   It is more readily distinguishable from wool that is acrylic fiber. Acrylic fiber pills more than nylon laundering and more particularly in rubbing against other garments or furniture. On other hands, nylon is more easily snagged by sharp objects and fingernails. Sweaters are also made of 100% polyester.

3. Blouses

   The degree of softness of sweaters made from man-made fibers depends on the fiber denier (weight and fineness) the finer the denier the softer the fabric. The acrylics provide a wool – like bulkiness by crimping short filaments so that they resemble wool fibers. Thus they provide more warmth than nylon.

   Nylon, which is crimped also but is less bulky, has a smooth texture and a slightly shiny surface. It is more readily distinguishable from wool that is acrylic fiber.

   Acrylic fiber pills more than nylon laundering and more particularly in rubbing against other garments or furniture. On other hands, nylon is more easily snagged by sharp objects and fingernails. Sweaters are also made of 100% polyester.

4. Coats and Suits

   When women buy coats they look for style, color, fabric, fit, comfort, and price. To one woman, color and style may be most important; to another, comfort and price are paramount. And to still another, fabric, color, and fit may be the major considerations.

   The weight of outer garments is governed by the season. Spring coats are lighter in weight than fall coats, and winter coats, of course, are of the heaviest fabrics.

   Coats of cashmere or cashmere and wool and wool blends, camel’s hair, single and bonded cloths, poplin, faille, worsted sharkskin, wool Shetland (single or bonded) are used in spring and fall.Suits and pantsuits of gabardine, whipcord, tweed faille, covert, serge, corduroy, knitted fabrics are also used in spring and fall seasons.

   Coats made of fur like fabrics, wool tweed (single and bonded), cashmere ottoman (wool/nylon bonded to cotton and other blends), covert (wool/nylon bonded to acetate tricot), cashmere, Melton, wool broadcloth are used in winter season. Suits and pantsuits of knitted fabric (wool and blends), flannel, tweed boucle.

5. Selection of Undergarments

   Women’s undergarments consist of soft, lightweight attractive, minimum – care articles that are not bulky and that conform to the lines of the outer garment. Undergarments should not stick or cling to the outer garments, nor creep up or twist.

   A garment should easy to slip on, should stay in place, should not restrain any movements, should fit smoothly and should not be irritating. Fabrics commonly used for underwear generally fall into two main classifications:

   • Rayon, acetate, nylon, other synthetics elastic fibers (rubber and spandex) in mixtures or blends, and
   • Any kind of lightweight cotton or blend in plain weaves or knitted. Common fabrics used for nylon lingerie include nylon tricot (sometimes called jersey)mesh, crepe, and satin. The materials for babies are, generally speaking, standard; cotton is used more than that any other material because it washes readily and does not irritate the skin.

6. Sleepwear

   Gowns, pajamas, and coat-and-gown or coat-and-pajama sets can be tailored or lace-trimmed. Some common fabrics used for gowns and pajamas are rayon, acetate, silk or nylon crepe, silk pongee, cotton, pelisse, batiste, some chiffons and georgettes, cotton knits, and nylon and rayon tricot.

7. Hosiery

   While cotton hosiery (especially lisle) and wool hosiery are important for sports, children’s, and men’s wear, the great majority of women today wear nylon most of the time.

   Cotton, Orlon acrylic and stretch nylon, cotton and spandex and 100% stretch nylon are used for women’s and girl’s socks, and for boy’s and men’s socks as well.

   There are two types of hosiery: full-fashion knit and circular knit. Full fashioned are knitted flat stitches are taken off (two stitches are knit as one to decrease the number) so that the fabric is narrowed at the ankle.

   Circular – knit hosiery is commonly called seamless because no back seam is present. Full – fashioned hosiery, a better fitting fabric than circular knit, retains its shape better during wear and after washing.

   For men, in particular, the circular – knit hosiery is preferable, because there is no seam over the ball of the foot to irritate tender skin areas. Women’s seamless stocking have gained in popularity because they eliminate the problem of crooked seams and because they fit smoothly on the foot.

   Tights are also fashionable and practical. They are generally made of a sweater like knitting of 100% stretch nylon for women and children ( cotton may be used for girls).