AY Honors/Plastic Canvas/Answer Key
Worsted is the name of a yarn and cloth usually made from wool. The name derives from the village of Worstead in the English county of Norfolk. The village became, along with North Walsham and Aylsham, a centre for the manufacture of yarn and cloth, after weavers from Flanders arrived in Norfolk in the 12th century.[1]
The yarn is well twisted and spun of long staple wool (though nowadays also medium and short fibres are used). The wool is combed so that the fibres lie parallel. The essential feature of a worsted yarn is straightness of fibre. Prior to the introduction of automatic machinery there was little difficulty in attaining this characteristic, as long wool was invariably employed and the sliver was made up by hand Worsted and then twisted. With the introduction of Arkwrights ~ water frame or throstle the necessity for prepared ~ slivers became apparent, and with the later introduction of cap and mule spinning the necessity for perfectly prepared slivers has been so accentuated that the preparatory machinery has quite one or two more gill-boxes, prior to combing, to ensure straightness of fibre and even distribution of the lubricant.
The cloth has a hard, smooth texture, usually whipcord, gabardine or serge, and the usual weave is a twill weave.
Worsted is also used for carpets, garments, hosiery and gloves.
Contrast woolen.
References
- ^ Worstead village history. Retrieved December 15, 2005.
- Template:1911
The term "worsted" today is applied to any yarn spun from fibers three inches in length or longer that have been carded, combed, and drawn, not just wool. Acrylic and other yarns can be called "worsted," and this is a reference to the weight of the yarn as much as the production process.
Combing machines straighten "slivers", a continuous, untwisted strand or rope of parallel fibers approximately uniform in cross-section, produced by the carding and drawing process. Carded slivers are blended prior to combing in the manufacture of worsted yarn. The combing process makes the fibers lie parallel to each other.
