Materials encountered in the needle trade are of every concievable construction, weight, finish and fibre or chemical composition. They fit into several principal categories.
1. Woven fabrics. These made on a loom by interlacing the warp and filling threads. There are three basic weaves - plain (most common), twill and satin. Woven fabrics usually have more warp yarns than filling yarns. They are usually stronger warpwise than fillingwise.
2. Knitted fabrics. Fabrics of this type are made by interlocking series of loops on a knitting machine. The major characteristic of knitted fabrics is extreme elastiсity. Knittted fabrics stretch principally coursewise.
3. Coated fabrics. These are usually woven fabrics that have been given a heavy surface coating with some agent to make water-repellent.
4. Plastic film, rubber sheeting, paper, felt, cork and others are gomogeneous materials.
Fabric finishing processes have a great influence on the sewability of fabrics.
