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Study guides · Stuff Every Textile Scout Should Know

Stuff Every Textile Scout Should Know: the Study Guide

Practice facts for the Textile merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.

Knowing Textile Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.

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Chapter 1: Emergencies and First Aid

What are raw, unfinished textiles called?

Short answer: Greige goods

Greige goods are textiles that are raw and unfinished. After manufacturing, materials are processed and finished.

Groan of the day: These goods are not finished, so don't press the issue.

Sources: Textile

What is the most common fibre blend?

Short answer: Cotton and polyester

The most common blend is cotton and polyester. A regular blended fabric is 65% polyester and 35% cotton.

Groan of the day: This blend is a real team player.

Sources: Textile

Which fabric construction uses loops of yarn?

Short answer: Knitting

Knitting is a popular fabric manufacturing method. Yarns are used to make fabric by weaving, knitting, crocheting, and other methods.

Groan of the day: Knitting is a loop-y idea.

Sources: Textile

What does finishing a fabric do?

Short answer: Enhances the value of treated fabrics

Finishing techniques enhance the value of treated fabrics. Finishing includes bleaching, dyeing, printing, and mechanical and chemical treatments.

Groan of the day: Finishing touches make fabric feel finished.

Sources: Textile

What is tie-dyeing?

Short answer: Tying off areas of cloth and dyeing the rest

Tie-dyeing creates patterns by tying off areas of cloth and dyeing the rest. Batik uses wax designs instead.

Groan of the day: Tie-dye is a knotty business.

Sources: Textile

What is batik?

Short answer: Drawing wax designs on cloth and dyeing between them

Batik involves drawing wax designs on cloth and dyeing in between them. The wax resists the dye.

Groan of the day: Batik is a waxy way to make patterns.

Sources: Textile

What is a nonwoven fabric?

Short answer: Fabric made without weaving or knitting

Nonwoven is a popular fabric manufacturing type. It is made without weaving or knitting yarns.

Groan of the day: Nonwoven is not woven, no strings attached.

Sources: Textile

What are piece goods?

Short answer: Textiles sold in cut pieces as specified by the buyer

Piece goods were textile materials sold in cut pieces as specified by the buyer, also known as yard goods.

Groan of the day: Piece goods are sold piece by piece.

Sources: Textile

Why is fibre identification testing important?

Short answer: To determine fibre content and classify products

Fibre identification is a necessary test for determining fibre content and classifying products. Labelling fibre content is a regulatory requirement.

Groan of the day: Identifying fibres is a testing matter.

Sources: Textile

What is a staple fibre?

Short answer: A relatively short natural fibre

Natural fibres are relatively short staple lengths. Synthetic fibres are produced in longer lengths called filaments.

Groan of the day: Staple fibres are short but sweet.

Sources: Textile

What is a filament?

Short answer: A long continuous fibre length

Synthetic fibres are produced in longer lengths called filaments. Silk is the only natural filament fibre.

Groan of the day: Filaments go to great lengths.

Sources: Textile

What is a spindle used for?

Short answer: Spinning fibres into thread

The earliest tool for spinning was the spindle. A whorl was later added to improve the thickness and twist of thread.

Groan of the day: Spindle facts keep things turning.

Sources: Textile

What is a cellulosic manufactured fibre?

Short answer: A fibre made from natural plant polymers

Rayon is classified as a semi-synthetic fibre, made with natural polymers. It is a cellulosic manufactured fibre.

Groan of the day: Cellulosic fibres are partly natural, partly made.

Sources: Textile

What is a synthetic fibre?

Short answer: A fibre made by chemical synthesis

Synthetic or manmade fibres are manufactured with chemical synthesis, unlike natural fibres from plants or animals.

Groan of the day: Synthetic fibres are made, not born.

Sources: Textile

What is worsted yarn?

Short answer: A finer yarn spun from longer combed fibres

Worsted refers to a finer yarn spun from longer fibres which have been combed to be parallel.

Groan of the day: Worsted is the best of the yarns, so to speak.

Sources: Textile

Why can textiles be a landfill concern?

Short answer: They make up a significant percentage of landfill waste

Textiles constitute a significant percentage of landfill waste. Recycling research aims to reduce this waste.

Groan of the day: Landfills are not a good fit for old fabric.

Sources: Textile

What is a geotextile used for?

Short answer: Reinforcing embankments

Geotextiles are technical textiles used for reinforcement of embankments.

Groan of the day: Geotextiles really hold the ground.

Sources: Textile

What are technical textiles designed for?

Short answer: Functional properties beyond appearance

Technical textiles are designed and chosen for technical characteristics beyond their appearance, such as protection or filtering.

Groan of the day: Technical textiles are serious about function.

Sources: Textile

What is a smart textile?

Short answer: A fabric with sensing or responsive functions

Smart textiles incorporate sensing, communication, or responsive functions, such as wearable health monitoring garments.

Groan of the day: Smart textiles are a bright idea.

Sources: Textile

What does serviceability mean for a textile product?

Short answer: Its ability to meet consumer needs

Serviceability refers to a textile product's ability to meet the needs of consumers, including durability and comfort.

Groan of the day: Serviceability means the fabric serves you well.

Sources: Textile

What is lanolin, found coating raw wool?

Short answer: A wax mixture that is waterproof and dirtproof

Wool strands are coated with a wax mixture called lanolin, sometimes called wool grease, which is waterproof and dirtproof.

Groan of the day: Wool you believe it? Lanolin keeps it dry.

Sources: Textile

What is carbon fibre mostly used in?

Short answer: Composite materials with resin

Carbon fibre is mostly used in composite materials, together with resin, such as carbon fibre reinforced plastic.

Groan of the day: Carbon copy that strength!

Sources: Textile

What is Ingeo blended with cotton used for?

Short answer: Clothing that wicks away perspiration

Ingeo is more hydrophilic than most other synthetics, allowing it to wick away perspiration, and is blended with fibres such as cotton.

Groan of the day: Ingeo keeps you dry, no sweat.

Sources: Textile

What is coir, and what is it used to make?

Short answer: Coconut fibre used for twine and mats

Coir is coconut fibre used in making twine and also in floormats, doormats, brushes, mattresses, floor tiles, and sacking.

Groan of the day: Coir is a mat-ter of coconut.

Sources: Textile

What is hemp fibre mainly used to make?

Short answer: Twine, rope, and cordage

Hemp fibre is coarser, harsher, strong, and lightweight, and is used primarily to make twine, rope, and cordage.

Groan of the day: Hemp rope is knot bad at all.

Sources: Textile

What is alginate, made from seaweed, used for in textiles?

Short answer: A holding fibre that dissolves when cloth is finished

A water-soluble fibre known as alginate is used as a holding fibre; when the cloth is finished, the alginate is dissolved, leaving an open area.

Groan of the day: Alginate makes a clean getaway.

Sources: Textile

What is bacterial cellulose used for?

Short answer: Material for textiles and clothing

Bacterial cellulose can be made from industrial organic and agricultural waste and used as material for textiles and clothing.

Groan of the day: Bacteria are sewing up a storm.

Sources: Textile

The cheat sheet

The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.

  • Fibre is the smallest fabric component. Fibres are spun into yarn, and yarns are used to make fabrics.
  • Most natural fibres are short staple lengths, but silk is the only natural fibre that is a filament.
  • Textile comes from the Latin adjective textilis, meaning woven, from the verb texere, to weave.
  • Greige goods are textiles that are raw and unfinished. After manufacturing, materials are processed and finished.
  • Nylon is a fibre used to imitate silk. It is used in the production of pantyhose.
  • Spandex is a polyurethane product that can be made tight-fitting without impeding movement.
  • Aramid fibre is used for flame-retardant clothing, cut-protection, and armour.
  • Olefins are hydrophobic, allowing them to dry quickly. Olefin is used in activewear and linings.
  • The most common blend is cotton and polyester. A regular blended fabric is 65% polyester and 35% cotton.
  • A small amount of spandex adds stretch to fabrics. Wool can add warmth.
  • A blend is fabric or yarn produced with a mixture of two or more types of different fibres or yarns.
  • Fibres are typically spun into yarn. The fibres are twisted or laid out to make a long, continuous strand.

Pop quiz

Think of your answer first, then peek.

  1. What is the smallest component of a fabric?
    • Fibre
    • Loom
    • Yarn
    Show the answer

    Fibre. Fibre is the smallest fabric component. Fibres are spun into yarn, and yarns are used to make fabrics.

  2. What is a fabric made from a mixture of two or more fibre types called?
    • A sliver
    • A blend
    • A filament
    Show the answer

    A blend. A blend is fabric or yarn produced with a mixture of two or more types of different fibres or yarns.

  3. What are piece goods?
    • Raw unfinished textiles
    • Textiles made only from wool
    • Textiles sold in cut pieces as specified by the buyer
    Show the answer

    Textiles sold in cut pieces as specified by the buyer. Piece goods were textile materials sold in cut pieces as specified by the buyer, also known as yard goods.

  4. What is a major ecological concern about textile production?
    • Untreated wastewater discharge
    • Too many natural fibres
    • Too little dye
    Show the answer

    Untreated wastewater discharge. The discharge of untreated effluents into water bodies is responsible for most environmental harm from the textile sector.

  5. Which fibre is used to imitate wools such as cashmere?
    • Olefin
    • Acrylic
    • Aramid
    Show the answer

    Acrylic. Acrylic is a fibre used to imitate wools, including cashmere, and is often used in place of them.

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