Home Economics / Home Management · Lesson 8

Clothing, fibres, fabric construction, household linen, sewing tools, seams and garment construction

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: Clothing the family (meaning, types, functions; origin and classification of fibres/fabrics; weaving, knitting, crocheting; household linen; textiles; fabric construction; sewing equipment and tools; sewing processes). JAMB Home Economics D1 (fibres and fabrics) and D2 (sewing equipment and garment construction). Foundation for WAEC Clothing and Textiles.

WAEC: Clothing the family (meaning, types, functions; origin and classification of fibres/fabrics; weaving, knitting, crocheting; household linen; textiles; fabric construction; sewing equipment and tools; sewing processes). JAMB Home Economics D1 (fibres and fabrics) and D2 (sewing equipment and garment construction). Foundation for WAEC Clothing and Textiles.

NECO: Clothing the family (meaning, types, functions; origin and classification of fibres/fabrics; weaving, knitting, crocheting; household linen; textiles; fabric construction; sewing equipment and tools; sewing processes). JAMB Home Economics D1 (fibres and fabrics) and D2 (sewing equipment and garment construction). Foundation for WAEC Clothing and Textiles.

What you will learn

State the types and functions of clothing.
Classify fibres by origin and describe their properties.
Identify fibres by simple tests.
Describe methods of fabric construction and the grain.
Explain fabric finishes and local decoration methods.
Select and care for household linen.
Identify sewing tools, stitches, seams and fullness methods.
Describe pattern use and the order of garment construction.

Key points

Clothing: protection, modesty, adornment, identification, status.
Natural fibres: cotton, linen (cellulose); wool, silk (protein).
Man-made: regenerated (rayon, acetate), synthetic (nylon, polyester, acrylic).
Burning: cellulose fast, paper smell; protein slow, hair smell; synthetic melts.
Weaves: plain, twill, satin, pile; warp, weft, selvedge, grain, bias.
Knitting, crocheting, felting, bonding, lace.
Finishes: calendering, Sanforising, mercerisation, waterproofing; adire, tie-dye, batik.
Household linen: durable, absorbent, washable; store dry.
Tools: measuring, cutting, marking, sewing, pressing; care for the machine.
Seams: plain, French, run-and-fell, overlaid; neaten edges.
Fullness: darts, tucks, gathers, pleats.
Construction order: darts, seams, openings, facings, sleeves, hem, fastenings, press.

Start here: Clothing: meaning, types and functions

Clothing means any covering worn on the body: garments, footwear, headwear and accessories. Textiles are fabrics made from fibres and yarns, used for clothing and household articles.

Types of clothing

Everyday/casual wear: for home and leisure.
School and work uniforms: identify members of an institution or profession (nurses, police, school pupils).
Protective clothing: overalls, aprons, raincoats, helmets, gloves, lab coats, high-visibility vests.
Formal/ceremonial wear: agbada, babanriga, isiagu, iro and buba, george wrappers, wedding gowns, aso-oke, akwete.
Sportswear: jerseys, track suits.
Night wear: pyjamas, nightgowns.
Underwear: vests, singlets, pants, brassieres.
Accessories: shoes, bags, belts, gele (headtie), fila (cap), jewellery.

Functions of clothing

Protection from weather (sun, rain, harmattan cold), injury, insects and dirt.
Modesty: covering the body according to cultural and religious standards.
Adornment/decoration: enhancing appearance and attractiveness.
Identification: uniforms, ethnic dress, religious garb.
Status: expensive lace, coral beads or title regalia show social standing.
Communication of mood and occasion: black for mourning in some cultures, white for celebration, aso ebi uniform for a family event.
Hygiene: underwear absorbs perspiration and protects outer clothes.

Factors influencing choice of clothing

Occasion, climate and season, age, figure type and complexion, money, culture and religion, fashion, fabric care requirements, and personal taste. Clothing for children should be durable, comfortable, easy to put on, washable, safe (no long cords), and allow for growth.

Wardrobe planning

Review existing clothes; list needs for school, worship, outings, work and ceremonies; budget; buy versatile items that mix and match; consider quality over quantity. This avoids impulse buying and waste.

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Practice questions

1. Cotton burns with an afterglow and smells of

burning paper
burning hair
vinegar
chemicals, melting

Show answer

A: burning paper
It is a cellulose fibre.

2. A fibre that smells like burning hair is

cotton
nylon
linen
wool

Show answer

D: wool
A protein fibre.

3. A fibre that melts and leaves a hard bead is

silk
linen
polyester
cotton

Show answer

C: polyester
Thermoplastic synthetic.

4. The lengthwise yarns in a woven fabric are the

bias
warp
weft
selvedge loops

Show answer

B: warp
Warp runs parallel to the selvedge.

5. Knitted fabric is made by

interlooping yarn
interlacing two sets of yarns
bonding fibres with heat
felting

Show answer

A: interlooping yarn
Woven fabric is interlaced.

Key words

Fibre: Hair-like unit of a fabric.
Yarn: Fibres twisted into a continuous strand.
Cellulose: Plant material of cotton and linen.
Keratin: Protein of wool.
Regenerated fibre: Made from natural raw material chemically, e.g. rayon.
Synthetic fibre: Made wholly from chemicals, e.g. nylon.
Warp: Lengthwise yarns.
Weft: Crosswise yarns.
Selvedge: Firm lengthwise edge of fabric.
Bias: Diagonal at 45 degrees to grain.
Twill: Weave with diagonal lines.
Mercerisation: Caustic soda finish on cotton.

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