Fibre to Fabric - Science and Tech NCERT Notes for UPSC

According to the UPSC syllabus, the steps in the process of fiber to fabric production are:

1. Cultivation and harvesting of plants: The first step in the process of fiber to fabric production is the cultivation and harvesting of plants that are used to produce fibers, such as cotton, jute, hemp, and flax.
2. Extraction of fibers: Once the plants are harvested, the fibers are extracted using various methods such as retting, ginning, and separation. These methods vary depending on the type of plant used.
3. Spinning: The extracted fibers are then spun into yarn using a spinning wheel or a spinning machine.
4. Weaving or knitting: The spun yarn is then woven or knitted into fabrics using various looms or knitting machines.
5. Finishing: The fabrics are then subjected to various finishing processes such as bleaching, dyeing, printing, and pressing to improve their appearance and durability.
6. Quality control: Quality control checks are done to ensure the fabrics meet the required standards before being packaged and sent for distribution.

It is important to note that these steps may vary slightly depending on the specific method of production and the type of fiber used. However, these are the general steps involved in the process of fiber to fabric production.

According to the UPSC syllabus, the process to convert yarn to fabric is called weaving or knitting.

Weaving is the process of interlacing two sets of yarns, the warp and the weft, to create a fabric. A loom is used to hold the warp yarns in place while the weft yarn is passed through them using a shuttle. This process creates a variety of fabrics like cotton, silk, and polyester.

Knitting is the process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn. This process uses knitting needles or a knitting machine to loop the yarn and create a fabric. Different types of fabrics can be created by using different yarns and knitting techniques like weft knitting and warp knitting.

Both weaving and knitting are used to create a wide range of fabrics, from lightweight and delicate to heavy and durable, depending on the type of yarn and the techniques used. The final product is the fabric that can be used for clothing, upholstery, and other purposes.

According to the UPSC syllabus, cotton fabrics are converted into yarn through a process called spinning.

Spinning is the process of twisting fibers together to create yarn. The process of spinning cotton fabrics into yarn involves several steps:

1. Preparation of cotton: The cotton fabric is first cleaned and carded, to remove impurities and to align the fibers in the same direction.
2. Spinning: The carded cotton is then fed into a spinning machine, which twists the fibers together to create yarn. The yarn can be spun in different thicknesses, known as counts, depending on the intended use of the yarn.
3. Plying: The yarn may be plied, which is the process of twisting two or more yarns together to create a thicker and stronger yarn.
4. Winding: Finally, the yarn is wound onto a spool or bobbin for easy transport and storage.

It is important to note that there are various methods of spinning yarn, including hand spinning and machine spinning. And also the spinning process can vary depending on the type of cotton used, the intended use of the yarn, and the desired properties of the yarn.

According to the UPSC syllabus, the process of converting cotton into fabric involves several steps:

1. Cultivation and harvesting: Cotton is a plant that is grown and harvested for its fibers. These fibers are found inside the cotton boll and need to be extracted before they can be processed into fabric.
2. Ginning: The harvested cotton bolls are processed in a cotton gin to separate the fibers from the seeds and other plant matter.
3. Cleaning and carding: The fibers are then cleaned to remove any impurities and carded to align the fibers in the same direction.
4. Spinning: The cleaned and carded cotton fibers are then spun into yarn using a spinning wheel or a spinning machine.
5. Weaving or knitting: The spun yarn is then woven or knitted into fabric using various looms or knitting machines.
6. Finishing: The fabric is then subjected to various finishing processes such as bleaching, dyeing, printing, and pressing to improve its appearance and durability.
7. Quality control: Quality control checks are done to ensure the fabric meets the required standards before being packaged and sent for distribution.

It is important to note that these steps may vary slightly depending on the specific method of production and the type of cotton used. However, these are the general steps involved in the process of converting cotton into fabric.

According to the UPSC syllabus, there are two main ways of converting yarn into fiber:

1. Spinning: Spinning is the process of twisting fibers together to create yarn. Spinning can be done by hand or by machine, and can use a variety of fibers including cotton, wool, silk and synthetic fibers to create yarn.
2. Plying: Plying is the process of twisting two or more yarns together to create a thicker and stronger yarn. The yarns can be of the same or different materials and can be plied in the opposite or the same direction to create different textures and strength in the yarn.

It is important to note that spinning and plying are the two main ways of creating yarn from fibers, but other methods also exist, such as boucle yarn, chenille yarn, and slub yarn.