Book Description
This illustrated fabric dictionary explores the fascinating and satisfying characteristics of the multitude of fabrics available today. Comprehensive lists of fabrics for many uses are given, and over 600 names and terms are illustrated and/or explained. It provides a place for actual fabric swatches, and gives information about mounting swatches. Cerlox binding allows the book to lie flat when open. A comprehensive overview starts the book; it explains how to use the glossary, fiber families, fabric weights, and end-use categories. A section called “Fabric Files” follows, with notes on mounting swatches, alphabetically-listed fabric files, and references and resources. This book is an excellent resource for use on the job for those in textiles, textile marketing, and the fashion industry because of its clever layout and wealth of information.


The publisher, Prentice-Hall Career & Technology
A comprehensive reference of over 125 alphabetical "Fabric Files" listing Fiber content, yarn, construction, weights and uses, names and other critical information in a format which allows users to build their own library of swatches.


From the Back Cover
Fabric Glossary offers a unique dual aid for anyone studying, working with, or interested in textiles. It is a fabric dictionary, covering some 600 textile terms, to address the most-frequently asked question, "What is it called?" It distinguishes fabrics, one from another, by name, construction details, and origin, all visually enhanced with clear photos. Many of these show the fabric "dissected" to reveal significant or essential aspects of structure. At the same time, it serves as a superb swatch book, allowing for the mounting of actual samples of fabric, which are the best possible illustrations of any individual material. Fabric Glossary is also designed as a companion in textiles study to Fabric Reference, which covers the technical specifics that contribute to each "name fabric;" links to Fabric Glossary are given at all stages in Fabric Reference, and indexed there as well. Both of these books are notable in that either (or both) of them would be used even more after a course of study is completed—in almost any area of work involving fabrics!


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
This Fabric Glossary Third Edition, has been designed to be a vital complement to the wealth of technical information on textiles found in Fabric Reference, although it can be enjoyed on its own. It adds a perspective to textile science by leading directly from a detailed discussion of fibers, yarns, fabric constructions, and finishes to application of all these by its focus on the fabrics themselves, and in particular, their names. The study of textiles should lead to more assured navigation among the hundreds of names and terms encountered by anyone working with cloth. Fabric Glossary offers a unique guide—a ready and well-illustrated source of this most used and most appealing part of textile study. It provides a full treatment of individual "name" fabrics, their characteristics, and background, with present-day variations and uses. It is these names we must be familiar with when we move outside the classroom or laboratory: in fabric manufacturing and distribution; textile, fashion, and interior design; apparel and furnishings merchandising, including visual merchandising; costuming from the theater to the "living museum"; and of course, communication in any of these fields. Fabric Glossary offers instant instruction and clarification, whether used as part of or aside from formal textile study courses. It is well suited to business staff training and can be of help to dry cleaners; it is of interest in museums and libraries, or to textile craftspeople and home sewers. Its main purpose, however, is to link the mass of detail on how fabrics behave and why found in textbooks such as Fabric Reference to actual materials by name. This is the ultimate question asked by those fascinated but confounded by fabrics: "What is it called?" In using Fabric Glossary, the index can guide you to the File you need, or you may start with the lists of fabrics established as suitable for use in such categories as lingerie, suits, workwear, slipcovers, or accessories. These Fabric Files have been selected to illustrate all stages of fabric makeup: fibers typically used, characteristics of yarn and fabric construction, plus the effect of finishing procedures, including coloring by dyeing and printing. There is an indication in each File of the weight range and uses of the material, and something of the origins of that fabric—the natural fiber family it belongs to, plus whatever I have been able to discover of the derivation of its name. This can help in understanding its character, and can also be of immense importance in promotional work, or in marrying fabric with garment or interior design. It also reflects my interest in the history of textiles. I yearn to spend much more time in this study of the past, whereas my working life until now has concentrated on the behavior of current fabrics, with a few minor excursions at Seneca College into teaching History of Textiles and textiles as a Liberal Studies subject ("Clothing the 'Naked Ape' "). So Fabric Glossary and Fabric Reference together provide the background to understand more fully the selection of fabrics, with their behavior in use and care, and to appreciate the truly wonderful diversity of useful and pleasing materials developed by human ingenuity. They are "companion books" for all who study, are interested in, work with, or inform others about textiles.

FROM THE PUBLISHER