A fabric’s fiber composition refers to the weight percentage of each fiber that makes up the fabric.When you have a fabric swatch with an unknown fiber composition, it becomes extremely challenging to reorder the same fabric. Where would you even begin with a Google search? After reading this article, you won’t need to rely on your fabric supplier to determine the fiber composition for you. Here’s what you’ll learn:
Why is a fabric’s fiber composition so important?
How to check the fiber composition of knitted fabrics?
1. When Sourcing Fabric:
The fiber composition is the first detail you should know when sourcing fabric. Providing this information to your fabric supplier ensures they can match your requirements accurately.
2. When Verifying Ordered Fabrics:
Ensuring the fiber content matches expectations is essential for transparency and customer satisfaction. It ensures customers receive what they pay for.
3. For Labeling Compliance:
Fiber content impacts import/export tariffs and regulatory compliance. Most countries require accurate fiber content labels on finished products.
Tools Needed:
– Scissors
– Precision digital scale
– Pen
– Paper for notes
Steps to Check Fiber Composition:
1. Sampling:Cut a small piece (approximately 3-4 cm) from the fabric swatch for testing. Minimize waste, especially with expensive fabrics.
2. Yarn Extraction:Orient the fabric vertically to identify the pattern. Start pulling yarn from the edge until you extract a full strand across the fabric. This process requires patience.
3. Sorting Yarns:Separate visually or tactically different yarns into distinct piles. Note the sequence of extraction to gather at least 10 strands of each type for accuracy.
4. Weighing:Use a scale to weigh each pile of sorted yarns and record their weights.
5. Calculating Fiber Composition: Calculate the percentage of each fiber type using:
(The weight of one yarn pile ÷ the total weight of all the yarns) x 100% = Fiber percentage
In this case, the total weight of the black yarn pile and the grey yarn pile is 0.035g + 0.045g = 0.08g.
The fiber composition percentage of the black yarn pile will be (0.035 ÷ 0.08) x 100% = 43.75%
The fiber composition percentage of the grey yarn pile will be (0.045 ÷ 0.08) x 100% = 56.25%
6. Identifying Yarn Material:Conduct a burn test to further identify yarn materials. Refer to our guide on conducting a burn test for fabric fiber content.
Additional Notes:
– Fabrics with elasticity may contain spandex (elastane), which can complicate yarn extraction. If spandex yarns cannot be fully extracted, consider professional analysis for accurate results.
– Minor deviations from labeled percentages are common due to production variations.
Deekon textile offers a free fabric analysis service specializing in fabric composition, fiber content, fabric weight, and knitting structure for fabrics. Feel free to send us your samples for expert evaluation.
Layne | 02-03-2026 | Views 583 times
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