Ribbed fabric is not a specific material, but the name of any fabric with a pattern of voluminous stripes. In everyday life, this word often refers to knitwear knitted by machine using the “English rib” principle, where the front and back loops alternate in a 3×3 or 4×4 pattern.
It is very popular in light industry - women's clothing (tight-fitting dresses, cardigans, pullovers), warm and comfortable children's clothes, as well as various products used in the interior for decorative purposes: covers for chairs and pillows, bedspreads.
Weave Features
Ribbed fabrics can be very different, but they are produced in only two ways: knitted and woven, but with different types of weaving. Knitted materials are not woven, but are knitted by alternating two main stitches and yarn over variations.
Woven fabrics are based on twill or plain weaves, each with many variations in the thickness and density of the warp and weft threads. In fact, a rib is a weft thread protruding above the warp, but placed differently.
According to a number of production features, the hem can be longitudinal or diagonal, at an angle of 45°. But, nevertheless, it is always denser than fabrics with a smooth surface.
Possible compositions
In modern weaving production, ribbed fabrics are made from natural, artificial and synthetic threads in any combination. All-natural compositions, especially wool and cotton, are considered classics, but time has shown that they are less comfortable than analogues with a synthetic share of up to 30%.
Synthetic additives:
- simplify care and storage;
- prevent the destruction of woolen fabrics by pests;
- reduce shrinkage of cotton and creasing of silk;
- reduce the price of the finished product.
Many ribbed fabrics, which began their journey as completely natural, gradually became blends, or even completely lost their natural component. For example, ribbed silk fabric - reps - has turned into pure synthetics. However, completely unnatural imitations cannot replace the original; after all, polyester will never become silk.
Poplin composition
In addition to cotton, poplin may include:
- Synthetic fiber . Not the best option. Products are cheaper and their quality is lower. The material becomes electrified, loses its shape and rolls up.
- Wool . The material is strong, durable, soft, warm and pleasant, but things made from it are more expensive and can stretch.
- Silk . The material is expensive and is used for the production of luxury clothing and bed linen.
- Cotton - 100 % The fabric is natural and has all the positive characteristics of cotton. It is quite expensive, but inferior in price to poplin based on natural silk.
Manufacturers must indicate detailed fabric composition on product packaging. Most often, a small amount of additives is used, so poplin is considered a natural 100% cotton fabric.
Kinds
All tissues on the surface of which a distinct longitudinal or inclined tubercle is formed - that is, a scar, can be divided both by its width and by the composition of the material. In most cases, the appearance, which includes the width of the hem, is a commercial finding of the manufacturer - as with corduroy.
The composition of ribbed fabrics is:
- cotton: corduroy, poplin, denim;
- silk: rep, fail;
- wool: gabardine, cord, carpet, Boston.
In recent decades, manufacturers have sought to reduce the natural component, replacing it with synthetic ones. When purchasing, it is recommended to clarify this point in the accompanying documents.
Advantages
The common advantage of all fabrics with a textured surface is their spectacular appearance. In addition, they make the figure slimmer.
The advantages of the material will directly depend on its composition and type of weave:
- Knitted products are elastic, soft, pleasant to the touch. They remove moisture well and allow the body to breathe;
- Thick cotton fabrics hold their shape well. Poplin is hygroscopic, allows the body to breathe and does not cause allergies. Corduroy and denim retain heat and do not wrinkle;
- Woolen fabrics are dense and protect from wind and cold. They hold their shape well and do not deform when worn. Products made from them do not create a greenhouse effect and are pleasant to the touch;
- silk materials have a delicate natural shine. They drape well and allow you to create flowing silhouettes. Clothes made from them are hypoallergenic and have antibacterial properties. It removes heat and moisture from the body and is comfortable to wear.
Names of ribbed fabrics, their properties and applications
There are a huge number of ribbed fabrics; they differ from each other in density, composition and width of the strip. In some cases, the scar is simply imitated. Their properties vary depending on the composition and type of weaving. There is only one thing in common: ribbed fabrics are more impressive and comfortable for daily use than their counterparts with smooth surfaces.
Knitwear
Ribbed knits are ribbed patterns that stretch easily but always return to shape. Most often, we mean various patent elastic bands or classic variations of pairwise placement of front and back loops (2 by 2, 3 by 3).
Ribbed knitwear is always at the peak of popularity. Almost everything necessary for a children's wardrobe is made from it, such as tracksuits, sweatshirts, sweaters and knee socks, and winter accessories.
Author:
Anastasia Kukushkina
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