Winter+Accessories+Question

Winter Accesories Powerpoint used in class

= = Hats, gloves and scarves possibly bags – Most of these are knitted which means that they will stretch (onto hands or head) and the loops in the knitting will trap air that will insulate the wearer and keep them warm. Winter sports accessories need to keep the wearer warm, be water resistant, hardwearing and easy to use/ do up with cold hands or gloves on. They should also be breathable, wicking away damp from the skin but preventing water coming in and keeping the wearer warm at the same time.
 * Types of Winter Accessories **

A **Design Specification** for a winter sports accessory could include the following points: · Hardwearing – used for skiing, snowboarding, skating etc · Stretchy – Needs to be tight to the skin to keep warmth in, easy to put on/take off. Sports require flexibility so needs to stretch. · Warm- Use a fibre/fabric that keeps user warm in cold, snowy conditions · Breathable- Used for sports so needs to take damp away from the skin and keep warmth in to prevent user getting cold. · Waterproof – used in rain or snow user needs to stay dry. · Easy to put on take off – user often have cold hands or gloves on which are difficult to do up fiddly things with · Bright coloured – makes user easy to see in the snow / dark conditions. · Washable – Will get dirty being used for winter sports. =Wool= [|Link to site about wool]

Wool is a natural animal fibre that comes from sheep. It is a soft, hardwearing fabric that is unlikely to crease making it very good for suits. It is also very warm and insulating so good for winter clothing. It is quite elastic so good to knit with making stretchy hats and gloves for winter wear. It is absorbant so easy to dye different colours.

[|Link to site about how wool is processed].

[|General information about wool]

[|Even more information about wool]

How wool is processed to make yarn.

Wool has a very complex chemical and physical structure, which accounts for its uniqueness and versatility as a textile fibre. It’s the internal structure of each woolen fibre - a three-dimensional corkscrew pattern, or helical ‘crimp’ – that gives wool its **elasticity**. The coiled springs of these molecular chains, with their permanent built-in ‘memory’, makes the woolen fibres themselves coil-shaped, accounting for their **enduring resilience** making it **crease resistant**. Wool is superior to all other fibres in its ability to **handle body moisture in both warm and cool** environments. The porosity of the cells in the outer layers of wool fibre allows them to quickly and efficiently absorb and evaporate moisture. In fact, the fibres can absorb up to 30% of their own weight in moisture — ten times as much as any synthetic fibre — without feeling damp or clammy. The porous structure also explains why wool is such a **good thermal insulator**, not to mention the mesh of the fibres, which creates millions of air pockets, all of which further help to **regulate temperature and humidity.** Wool is a naturally **strong fibre**. It can bend back on itself 20 000 times without breaking; compare this to cotton at 3200 times, silk at 1800, and rayon at only 75 times. Due to its unique chemical structure and natural moisture content, wool is naturally fire-resistant. Despite its natural moisture content, wool's dry, porous nature repels mildew and dust mites. · **Strong ** · **Warm ** · **Crease resistant ** · **Elastic ** · **Wicks water away ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">All these properties make it an excellent fibre for winter sports accessories.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Properties of wool **

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Most winter sports accessories are knitted. There are several reasons for this which include: · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The loops in weft knitting allow the fabric to stretch making accessories easy to put on or take off. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The loops in the knitting trap air which insulates the wearer against the cold. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Knitting is very elastic and flexible allowing it to grip the body. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Knitting is crease resistant making it ideal for gloves, scalves and hats.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Knitting **

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Winter accessories use several sorts of components including: · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Velcro **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Used as its easy to do up when you have cold hands or gloves on. It is adjustable but is not a strong fastening. If fluff gets onto the Velcro it can fail to work. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Elastic **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Used to form a tight seal on gloves and sometomes hats. Allows products to be stretched on and off. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Toggles **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Used on a cord to form an adjustable fastening. Fairly easy to use in the cold. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Pom poms **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Used as decoration on some accessories · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Refective strips **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – allows wearer to be visible in poor weather conditions. Used on some products but not always practical. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Buttons and zips **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – strong fastenings but difficult to do up with cold hands or with gloves on. Non adjustable. Often used for pockets to keep valuables in. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Buckles **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Strong and adjustable but difficult to do up with cold hands.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Pre-manufactured components. **

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Winter accessories are decorated in the following ways: · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">You can change yarn in knitted products to create pattern and texture. Stripes are the easiest patterns to create on a knitting machine. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">You can do different knitted stitches to create pattern and texture such as ribs, cable stitch etc. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Applique **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Fabric sewn onto the accessory to create a pattern or motif. Often reinforced with interfacing the fabric is sewn round the edge often using satin stitch. A strong, bold decoration. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Embroidery **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">– Hand or machine embroidery. Creates intricate designs often reinforced with interfacing. Can be done with a CAD/CAM embroidery machine for added accuracy. Hand stitches used could be blanket stitch, chain stitch or cross stitch. · <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Pompoms or fringing are often added as decoration. · **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Quilting **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Can be used to decorative effect and also used to create insulation and padding.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Decorative techniques. **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Fabric Finishes **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Brushing – **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Wire rollers brush the surface of the fabric to raise the fibres (pile) to create a soft fluffy surface that is warm. Can weaken the fabric.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Waterproofing **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – Silicon is sprayed onto the fabric to make it waterproof.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Winter sports accessories often use technological textiles as these high tech fabrics can be created to do specific tasks such as wick away moisture or keep a constant tempreture.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Technological Textiles **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[|Goretex] **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> - waterproof but breathable membrane that protects from the cold. Used for high performance outdoor wear.

· <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">breathable · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">moisture-resistant · <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">both machine washable and dry-cleanable
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">[|Thinsulate] **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> – a microfiber which insulates by trapping air molecules between you and the outside. The more air a material traps in a given space, the greater it’s insulating value. Because the microfibers in Thinsulate insulation are far finer than other fibres, they trap more air in less space, which naturally makes it a better insulator.