fabric

There are three common ways of making fabric. Each one creates material with its own properties, which must be understood when sewing.

1. Weaving, where warp threads go over and under woof threads (e.g. the denim used to make jeans).
   Unless the threads are themselves elastic, woven fabric doesn't stretch. It is prone to fraying if not hemmed or cut with pinking shears.
2. Knitting or crocheting, where each row of threads is looped over the threads in the next row (e.g.the cotton jersey used in T-shirts).
   Knit fabrics stretch easily, and are best sewn with a serger rather than a sewing machine. Fine knits curl up, but do not unravel when cut with standard scissors.
3. Felting, where fibres are matted together under pressure (e.g., well, felt).
   Felts have very little tensile strength, and are rarely used for sewing, except as material for appliques.

If you ever get to go to London's trendy nightclub "Fabric" you might notice something odd about the sinks in the toilets. The unusually shallow sinks only dispense a fine mist of warm water. Its not that they care about your hygiene or that they thought you would appreciate the tepid drizzle. It's actually to prevent you from filling up your water bottles from the sink.

Clubbers on pills need water - without them they dance, sweat, de-hydrate and die... the poor things. Fortunately drinking plenty of water is an easy way of preventing any harm. Club managers know that clubbers need water so they make the `free' water undrinkable and uncollectable, forcing clubbers to buy their tiny overpriced bottles from the bar. Clubbers often find it a surprise to learn how commercial their favourite pastime is.

Fab"ric (?), n. [L. fabrica fabric, workshop: cf. F. fabrique fabric. See Forge.]

1.

The structure of anything; the manner in which the parts of a thing are united; workmanship; texture; make; as cloth of a beautiful fabric.

2.

That which is fabricated

Framework; structure; edifice; building

Anon out of the earth a fabric huge Rose like an exhalation. Milton.

(b)

Cloth of any kind that is woven or knit from fibers, either vegetable or animal; manufactured cloth; as, silks or other fabrics

3.

The act of constructing; construction.

Tithe was received by the bishop, . . . for the fabricof the churches for the poor. Milman.

4.

Any system or structure consisting of connected parts; as, the fabric of the universe

The whole vast fabric of society. Macaulay.

© Webster 1913.

Fab"ric, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fabricked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fabricking.]

To frame; to built; to construct.

J. Philips.

© Webster 1913.