Synthetic Fiber
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Fiber manufactured from coal-tar derivatives. Examples include polyester, nylon, and acrylic.
Synthetic Dye
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Dye in which the coloring agent is chemically manufactured.
Supplementary Warp
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Extra set of warp yarns added between the ground-warp yarns.
Shuttle
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A stick or other device on which yarn to be used for weft is wound in order to make it easier to pass it through the shed during weaving.
Shedding Device
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Any device for raising or lowering groups of warp yarns to make a shed in weaving, including both heddles and shed rods or shafts.
Shed Rod
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
On the backstrap loom, a rod carrying the warp not controlled by heddles. For plain weave, every other warp yarn (those not controlled by heddles) passes over the shed rod.
Z-Spun or Z-Plied
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A way of describing the lie of the fibers in spun or plied yarn. The slant is parallel to the slant of the midpoint of the letter Z when the yarn is viewed vertically.
S-Spun or S-Plied
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A way of describing the lie of the fibers in a spun or plied yarn. The slant is parallel to the slant of the midpoint of the letter S when the yarn is viewed vertically.
Plying
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The process of twisting two or more single yarns or spun threads together to create a thicker yarn. If the yarn is composed of two singles twisted together, it is said to be 2-ply; if three singles, 3-ply, and so on. The twist direction of plying is often opposite to the twist direction of the single spun threads in order to enhance the tensile strength.
Plain Weave
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The simplest possible interlacing warp and weft elements in which each weft element passes alternately over and under successive elements (over one, under one), and each reverses the procedure of the one before it. Also called tabby, taffeta weave, linen weave, cloth weave, checker weave.