Identifying Fibers and Fabrics

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If you shop the remnant racks or flat-fold tables, or you shop in a venue other than a full- service fabric store with labeled bolts, how do you know what fiber you're getting in that fabric you love? Without an inkling of fiber content, it's difficult to know how to sew, press and care for your finished project.

Testing 1, 2, 3... Move the swatch into the flame and quickly Textile chemists and laboratory experts are out of it. If the fabric is flaming, blow it out. able to identify certain fibers by their As you test, make note of the following for burning characteristics, and you can do the identification: same tests to determine the content of your UFOs. The burn test works for both • While in the flame, does the fabric melt natural and man-made fibers, but it cannot readily, smolder, or extinguish itself? be used with certainty to identify blended • When removed from the flame, what fibers within a fabric. happens to the fabric? • Does the fabric form a melted bead, or Ready, Set... does it leave ash? It's important to do a burn test in a well- • Does the burnt fabric produce a distinct ventilated area to avoid inhaling potentially odor or smoke color? toxic fumes. At minimum, open some windows, or better yet, do the test outside The answers to these questions will help on a calm day and avoid inhaling the fumes with the identification. from the burning fibers. Fiber ID • Pre-wash the mystery fabric to remove The first narrowing process involves any finishes that may affect the burn discerning animal, vegetable or synthetic characteristics. Cut fabric swatches for fiber categories. testing approximately 2" square. • Use long tweezers to hold the swatches In general, animal fibers (wool, mohair, silk, you burn. etc.) burn and curl away from the flame and • Use a non-flammable container to place smell like burning hair. They're self- under the burning swatch—a large extinguishing when removed from the ashtray or glass dish will work, as will a flame and leave a dull black hollow bead metal baking pan. that's easily crushed. • Use a lighter, an unscented candle or a Vegetable fibers, like cotton, rayon, linen, fireplace starter to create a small flame. hemp, jute, etc., burn but don't pull away • Keep water nearby in the event of a from the flame. They smell like burning flare-up, or do the testing near a sink. paper, leaves or wood, and leave a fine gray • If you have long hair, tie it back out of ash. Some glow before they actually go out. the way of the flame. Synthetic fibers, like acetate, acrylic, nylon, Finding Fire polyester and spandex, melt and burn, curling away from the flame. All exude a Firmly grip the mystery swatch with the chemical smell of some sort and leave tweezers and gently ease one edge into the various melted beads. See the chart for open flame. Avoid putting metal tweezers specific fiber characteristics. into the flame, as the heated metal can cause burns. Identifying Fibers and Fabrics

4.107 Page 2 Nylon Silk Cotton melts and burnsmelts and burns rapidly flame flame/yellow steady vinegar burnt fish/acrid ignite to slow burning paper melts and burns black bead hard melts and burns soft dark ash brittle dark bead burning paperburns rapidly black smoke celery odorburns slowly/self-extinguishing flame; drips persistent chemical sweet burning hairmelts and burns ash fine gray burning leavesself-extinguishing black bead hard black bead hard soft irregular bead burning rubber fiber drips melted ash soft gray fiber drips black smoke melted burning hair/feathers doesn't flame shrink from black ash bead hollow irregular flame shrinks from

Fiber Burn CharacterAcetate Acrylic Smoke/SmellCotton Linen ResidueNylon Polyester Rayon Notes Silk Spandex Wool 11/08