Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
What is Fibre?
A fibre is a thin, thread-like strand. Fibres are twisted together to make yarn, and yarn is woven or knitted to make fabric (cloth).
Types of Fibres
Natural Fibres
Come from plants or animals.
| Fibre | Source | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Cotton plant (seeds) | Summer clothes, towels |
| Jute | Jute plant (stem) | Bags, ropes, gunny sacks |
| Wool | Sheep, goat, yak | Winter clothes, blankets |
| Silk | Silkworm cocoon | Sarees, scarves |
| Flax (Linen) | Flax plant | Summer clothes, bedsheets |
Synthetic (Man-made) Fibres
Made by humans using chemicals.
Examples: Nylon, Polyester, Acrylic, Rayon
From Cotton Plant to Fabric
The journey of cotton from plant to cloth:
1. Growing → Cotton plants are grown in fields. They develop cotton bolls (pods).
2. Picking → When bolls burst open, the fluffy white cotton is picked by hand.
3. Ginning → Seeds are separated from cotton fibres using a machine (or roller). This process is called ginning.
4. Spinning → Cotton fibres are twisted into strong threads called yarn. Done using:
- Takli (hand spindle)
- Charkha (spinning wheel)
- Modern spinning machines
5. Weaving / Knitting → Yarn is made into fabric using a loom (weaving) or needles (knitting).
Jute
- Jute plant is grown in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam in India.
- Fibres are obtained from the stem of the plant.
- Process: Jute plants are cut → soaked in water for a few days → fibres are separated by hand → dried.
- This soaking process is called retting.
- Used for: Sacks, ropes, carpets, packaging material.
Spinning
- Spinning = twisting loose fibres into a continuous thread (yarn).
- Cotton fibres are short — must be spun to make a long, usable thread.
- Tools:
- Takli — simple hand spindle (used since ancient times)
- Charkha — spinning wheel (used by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom movement)
Weaving
- Weaving = making fabric by interlacing two sets of yarn at right angles.
- Done on a loom.
- Two sets of threads:
- Warp — threads going lengthwise
- Weft — threads going crosswise (across)
Knitting
- Knitting = making fabric by looping a single yarn using needles.
- Used for making sweaters, socks, woollen clothes.
- Can be done by hand or machine.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fibre | Thin thread-like strand (raw material) |
| Yarn | Twisted fibres; thread used for weaving |
| Fabric | Woven or knitted cloth |
| Ginning | Removing seeds from cotton |
| Spinning | Twisting fibres into yarn |
| Weaving | Making fabric on a loom |
| Knitting | Making fabric using loops of yarn |
| Retting | Soaking jute stems to loosen fibres |
Comparison: Cotton vs Jute
| Feature | Cotton | Jute |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Seeds of cotton plant | Stem of jute plant |
| Feel | Soft | Rough |
| Use | Clothes, towels | Bags, ropes, sacks |
| States grown | Gujarat, Maharashtra | West Bengal, Bihar |
Exam Tips
- Ginning removes seeds from cotton — don't confuse with spinning.
- Retting is for jute (soaking in water) — a distinct term often asked.
- Wool comes from sheep but also from goats (Pashmina/Kashmir goat), yak, camel — all are acceptable examples.
- Charkha was used by Mahatma Gandhi — this connection is a common 1-mark question.
- Learn the sequence: Plant → Picking → Ginning → Spinning → Weaving → Fabric.