Fashion Designer Materials & Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'selvage' on a piece of woven fabric?
- A decorative border sewn onto fabric edges
- The finished lengthwise edge produced during weaving (Correct answer)
- The crosswise cut end of a fabric bolt
- A type of embroidery along the fabric edge
Correct answer: The finished lengthwise edge produced during weaving
The selvage is the self-finished edge running parallel to the warp yarns, produced automatically during the weaving process to prevent fraying.
Question 2: Which textile process involves matting wool fibers together using moisture, heat, and pressure without weaving?
- Knitting
- Felting (Correct answer)
- Bonding
- Laminating
Correct answer: Felting
Felting causes wool's scaly fiber surface to interlock and mat permanently when agitated with heat and moisture, creating a dense non-woven fabric.
Question 3: What does 'GSM' measure in fabric specification?
- Grain strength measurement
- Grams per square meter, indicating fabric weight (Correct answer)
- Grade of stretch and mobility
- Global standard marking
Correct answer: Grams per square meter, indicating fabric weight
GSM (grams per square meter) is the standard unit for measuring fabric weight, which affects drape, opacity, and suitability for different garment types.
Question 4: Which sewing technique is used to join two layers of fabric by folding the seam allowances inside and stitching close to both folded edges?
- French seam
- Flat-fell seam (Correct answer)
- Welt seam
- Overlocked seam
Correct answer: Flat-fell seam
A flat-fell seam encloses all raw edges by folding and stitching twice, producing two visible rows of stitching commonly seen in denim jeans.
Question 5: Tencel (lyocell) is a sustainable fabric primarily made from which raw material?
- Recycled plastic bottles
- Wood pulp from eucalyptus trees (Correct answer)
- Bamboo grass stalks
- Corn starch derivatives
Correct answer: Wood pulp from eucalyptus trees
Tencel/lyocell is produced from wood pulp, primarily eucalyptus, processed in a closed-loop solvent system that recycles over 99% of the chemicals used.
Question 6: What is 'drape' in the context of fabric evaluation?
- The process of hanging fabric to remove wrinkles
- The way a fabric hangs and flows under its own weight (Correct answer)
- A technique for creating gathered fullness
- The opacity rating of a sheer fabric
Correct answer: The way a fabric hangs and flows under its own weight
Drape describes how a fabric falls and flows when suspended, a critical property that determines which garment silhouettes it is suitable for.
Question 7: Which interfacing application method uses heat to bond the interfacing to fashion fabric?
- Sew-in interfacing
- Fusible interfacing (Correct answer)
- Weft-insertion interfacing
- Tailor's canvas application
Correct answer: Fusible interfacing
Fusible interfacing has a heat-activated adhesive on one side that bonds permanently to fashion fabric when pressed with a steam iron.
Fashion Designer Materials & Techniques 3
What is a 'selvage' on a piece of woven fabric?