Fibre obtained from animal, vegetable, or mineral sources, as opposed to those that are synthesized from low molecular weight chemicals or regenerated.

Dye obtained from such vegetable substances as roots, wood, bark, berries, lichens, insects, shellfish. Used since ancient times, many natural dyes are known today. They are still used in small quantities by craftspeople.

At one time applied to piece goods of cotton, wool or silk made 27 inches (68.6) wide or less.

An array of fibre ends protruding from the surface on one or both sides of a fabric and giving a fuzzy appearance.

A French word that means watered. A finishing process that produces a wavy or rippling pattern by being passed through a calendar. Humphries Weaving has an uncontrolled Moiré machine that creates a waterlike mark using pressure and heat.

A process which produces a smooth lustrous finish to cotton, or other cellulosic fibre, yarn and fabric. Mercerizing causes the cotton fibres to swell giving it greater dye affinity and also making the fibre stronger.

All silk fabric, similar to lusting but often heavier in weight.

A fine, glossy silk fabric, often used for linings.

A mechanism on which to weave cloth. The simplest loom is a wooden frame onto which warp yarns are stretched and fixed to two opposite sides. The weft is then passed up and over the warp threads to make a fabric.

Linen is the fibre obtained from the flax stalk. Traditionally linen is taken from pulled flax, to preserve the fibre length, and is then retted or rotted in water to separate the linen fibre from the surrounding soft material. It is considered to be the strongest natural fibre. Evidence shows that

Creating a brocade effect by inter-changing weft colours over the course of the cloth in a barred technique, so that the cloth thickness is not built up.

A fabric with narrow woven stripes in the warp made of shaded colours (light/medium/dark), can also be achieved by space dying or twisting colours together. See also Strie.