What is fabric craft? Give a minimum of 5 examples of it.
Fabric Crafts
Fabric crafts are manually produced objects meant to serve a particular purpose of human needs. Fabric crafts are the craftwork done with fabric material. It is also known as textile production. Fabric crafts are common in Abeokuta, Adinkra in Ghana. It is one of the crafts that can be done by printing, weaving, tie and dyeing, batik, and embroidery. This craft encompasses all the elements of dressing the human body: jewelry, hats, leather work, and garments. It will naturally intersect with other crafts. The art of textile crafts has been recognized by the Arabs. The silk textile is decorated with beautiful miniature drawings. The crafts industry is growing very rapidly.
Examples of fabric crafts are as follows
Knitted art
Knitting is a method for the production of textile fabric by interlacing yarn loops with the same or other yarn loops. Knitting can be done by hand or by a machine.
Crocheted art
Crochet is a fiber art done with one hook and one strand of yarn. It is easy, very fun, and full of possibilities.
The main difference between crochet and knitting is that crochet has only one live stitch at all times – the stitch that lives on your hook.
Crochet stitches have different heights, and can be increased, decreased, and combined almost exactly like stitches in knitting.
Woven art
Weaving is the textile art in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads – called the warp and weft – are interlaced with each other at right angles to form a fabric or cloth.
The warp threads run lengthwise on the piece of cloth, while the weft runs horizontally. Cloth is woven on a loom, a device for holding the warp threads in place while the weft threads are woven through them, back and forth. Weft is an old English word meaning “that which is woven”. Woven cloth can be plain (in one color or a simple pattern), or it can be woven in decorative or artistic designs
Hooked rugs
Rug hooking is both an art and a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or rug warp. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle (usually wood) for leverage. In contrast, latch-hooking uses a hinged hook to form a knotted pile from short, pre-cut pieces of yarn.
Laces
Traditionally, lace usually consisted of silk or linen threads, and some textile artisans even made this fabric using gold or silver thread. In contemporary times, however, cotton has become the most popular fabric for lace production, and some manufacturers use synthetic fibers like polyester or rayon to make lace.
Ropes
Rope may be constructed of any long, stringy, fibrous material, but is generally constructed of certain natural or synthetic fibres. Synthetic fibre ropes are significantly stronger than their natural fibre counterparts; they have a higher tensile strength, they are more resistant to rotting than ropes created from natural fibres, and they can be made to float on water. But synthetic ropes also possess certain disadvantages, including slipperiness, and some can be damaged more easily by UV light.
Common natural fibres for rope are Manila hemp, hemp, linen, cotton, coir, jute, straw, and sisal. Synthetic fibres in use for rope-making include polypropylene, nylon, polyesters (e.g., PET, LCP, Vectran)
– Written By Saranya Vijayakumar
Some innovative fabric crafts to upsize your old wardrobe
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You can make your plain old boring t-shirt into a tie-dye t-shirt. This type of fabric craft comes under dyeing
Steps to dye your old boring t-shirt into a trendy colourful one:
Gather Supplies:
Old t-shirt Fabric dye (choose colors of your preference), Rubber bands Plastic squeeze bottles or spray bottles, Plastic gloves, Plastic or garbage bags to protect your work surface Plastic wrap or plastic bags to wrap the dyed shirt
Prepare the Shirt:
Start by washing the t-shirt to remove any dirt or sizing. Do not use fabric softener. Dampen the shirt by either spraying it with water or soaking it in water. This helps the dye absorb better.
Choose a Tie-Dye Technique:
There are various tie-dye techniques you can try, such as spiral, bullseye, crumple, or accordion folds. Choose the one you like and follow the specific instructions for that technique.
Create the Design:
Depending on the technique, you will fold, twist, or scrunch the shirt in specific ways and secure it with rubber bands. The areas secured with rubber bands will resist the dye, creating patterns.
Mix the Dye:
Follow the instructions on the dye packaging to mix the dye with water. Wear plastic gloves to protect your hands while handling the dye.
Apply the Dye:
Use squeeze bottles or spray bottles to apply the dye to different sections of the shirt. Be creative with your color choices and placement of the dye. Make sure to saturate the fabric well.
Let the Dye Set:
Once you have applied the dye, place the dyed shirt in a plastic bag or wrap it in plastic wrap to keep it moist. Let it sit for several hours or as specified by the dye instructions to allow the dye to set.
Rinse and Wash the Shirt:
After the dye has set, remove the rubber bands and rinse the shirt under cold water until the water runs clear. Machine wash the shirt separately using cold water and a gentle cycle. Use a mild detergent. This helps remove any excess dye and set the colors.
Dry and Enjoy:
Hang the tie-dyed shirt to dry or tumble dry it on a low setting. Once it’s dry, your tie-dye shirt is ready to be worn and enjoyed!
Remember to carefully read and follow the instructions provided with the fabric dye you are using, as specific brands may have slightly different directions. Enjoy the creative process and have fun experimenting with different tie-dye designs!
– Written By Laasya Pathuri
