Long Answer Questions
1. Explain the process of obtaining cotton from plants to fabric.
Answer:
The process of obtaining cotton and converting it into fabric involves several steps:
1. Cultivation of Cotton:
Cotton is grown in warm regions with black or loamy soil and moderate rainfall.
The plant produces cotton bolls, which burst open when mature, revealing soft white fibres.
2. Cotton Picking:
Cotton is hand-picked from the plants after the bolls open.
In some places, machines are used for faster harvesting.
3. Ginning (Separating Fibres from Seeds):
The picked cotton contains seeds that need to be removed.
This is done by a process called ginning, which separates the fibres from the seeds using machines or manually.
4. Spinning (Making Yarn):
The cotton fibres are twisted together using a Takli, Charkha, or spinning machine to make yarn.
This process strengthens the fibres and makes them ready for weaving or knitting.
5. Weaving or Knitting (Making Fabric):
Yarn is either woven (interlaced threads on looms) or knitted (looping a single yarn) to make fabric.
Weaving is done using handlooms or powerlooms, while knitting is done with needles or machines.
6. Finishing (Making Fabric Ready for Use):
The fabric is washed, dyed, printed, and processed before being used to make clothes, bed sheets, or other materials.
2. Describe how jute fibres are obtained from the jute plant.
Answer:
Jute is obtained from the stem of the jute plant and undergoes several steps before being used to make products:
1. Cultivation of Jute:
Jute is grown in hot and humid regions with plenty of rainfall, such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Bangladesh.
The plants are harvested 4-6 months after sowing when they start flowering.
2. Harvesting:
The plants are cut close to the ground and bundled together.
These bundles are soaked in water for 2-3 weeks in a process called retting.
3. Retting (Softening of Stems):
In retting, the plant stems are kept in stagnant water to allow bacteria to decompose the outer layers.
This makes it easier to extract the fibres.
4. Stripping:
After retting, the fibres are separated from the stem by hand.
Workers strip the softened stems and pull out the long, strong fibres.
5. Washing and Drying:
The extracted fibres are washed thoroughly and then dried in the sun.
Once dry, they are bundled and sent for further processing.
6. Spinning into Yarn:
The dried jute fibres are spun into yarn, which is then woven into fabric or used to make bags, ropes, mats, and carpets.
3. What is weaving? How is it different from knitting?
Answer:
Weaving:
Weaving is the process of interlacing two sets of yarns (warp and weft) at right angles to form fabric.
It is done on handlooms or powerlooms and is used for making clothes, bed sheets, and sarees.
Knitting:
Knitting is the process of looping a single yarn continuously to form fabric.
It is done by hand (using knitting needles) or machines and is used for making sweaters, socks, and T-shirts.
Differences Between Weaving and Knitting:
| Feature | Weaving | Knitting |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Interlacing two sets of yarns | Looping a single yarn |
| Equipment | Looms (Handloom/Powerloom) | Knitting needles or machines |
| Fabric Type | Less stretchable, holds shape well | More stretchable and elastic |
| Examples | Cotton sarees, bed sheets, denim | Woolen sweaters, socks, T-shirts |
4. Explain the traditional methods of spinning yarn.
Answer:
Spinning is the process of twisting fibres together to form a continuous yarn, which is then used for weaving or knitting fabric. The traditional methods of spinning include:
1. Takli (Hand Spindle):
A simple tool with a spindle used to spin fibres into yarn manually.
It is lightweight and easy to use but requires skill and time.
2. Charkha (Spinning Wheel):
A spinning wheel used to spin cotton into yarn faster than a takli.
Mahatma Gandhi promoted the Charkha to encourage self-reliance in India.
3. Hand Spinning:
In some rural areas, fibres are manually drawn and twisted by hand to create yarn.
4. Spinning Machines:
Modern spinning mills use large machines to spin yarn at high speed.
This method is used in industries for large-scale fabric production.
5. Describe the journey of fibre to fabric with an example.
Answer:
The journey from fibre to fabric involves multiple steps. Let’s take cotton fabric as an example:
1. Fibre Extraction (Cotton Farming):
Cotton plants are cultivated and harvested for their fluffy seed bolls.
2. Ginning (Separating Fibres from Seeds):
The cotton fibres are separated from seeds using ginning machines.
3. Spinning (Making Yarn):
The fibres are spun into yarn using Charkha or spinning machines.
4. Weaving (Making Fabric):
The yarn is woven into fabric on looms (handloom or powerloom).
5. Dyeing & Finishing:
The fabric is dyed, printed, and softened to enhance its quality.
6. Making Clothes:
The finished fabric is cut and stitched into clothes like shirts, dresses, and sarees.
6. Why should we use natural fibres more than synthetic fibres?
Answer:
Natural fibres have several advantages over synthetic fibres, making them a better choice for daily use:
✅ Eco-Friendly & Biodegradable:
Natural fibres like cotton, wool, and jute decompose naturally, reducing pollution.
Synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon are non-biodegradable and harm the environment.
✅ Comfort & Breathability:
Natural fibres absorb moisture, making them comfortable to wear in hot weather.
Synthetic fibres trap heat and can cause discomfort.
✅ No Harmful Chemicals:
Natural fibres are skin-friendly and do not cause irritation.
Synthetic fibres can contain harmful chemicals that may cause allergies.
✅ Better for Agriculture & Rural Economy:
Growing natural fibres like cotton and jute provides jobs to farmers and supports rural industries.
Synthetic fibres are produced in factories, which reduces employment in agriculture.
✅ Less Fire Hazard:
Wool and cotton are less flammable compared to synthetic fibres, which can melt and cause burns.