Twill

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A twill weave can be identified by its diagonal lines. This is a 2/2 twill, with two warp threads crossing every two weft threads. TwillSample.jpg
A twill weave can be identified by its diagonal lines. This is a 2/2 twill, with two warp threads crossing every two weft threads.
A 3/1 twill, as used in denim Twill structure.png
A 3/1 twill, as used in denim
Structure of a
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2/2 twill. The offset at each row forms the diagonal pattern. 22twillsm.png
Structure of a 22 twill. The offset at each row forms the diagonal pattern.
Structure of a
3/1 twill 31twillsm.png
Structure of a 31 twill

Twill is a type of textile weave with a pattern of diagonal parallel ribs. It is one of three fundamental types of weave, along with plain weave and satin. It is made by passing the weft thread over one or more warp threads then under two or more warp threads and so on, with a "step," or offset, between rows to create the characteristic diagonal pattern. [1] Because of this structure, twill generally drapes well.

Contents

Classification

Twill weaves can be classified from four points of view:

  1. According to the stepping:
    • Warp-way: 3/1 warp way twill, etc.
    • Weft-way: 2/3 weft way twill, etc.
  2. According to the direction of twill lines on the face of the fabric:
    • S-twill, or left-hand twill weave: 2/1 S, etc.
    • Z-twill, or right-hand twill weave: 3/2 Z, etc.
  3. According to the face yarn (warp or weft):
    • Warp face twill weave: 4/2 S, etc.
    • Weft face twill weave: 1/3 Z, etc.
    • Double face twill weave: 3/3 Z, etc.
  4. According to the nature of the produced twill line:
    • Simple twill weave: 1/2 S, 3/1 Z etc.
    • Expanded twill weave: 4/3 S, 3/2 Z, etc.
    • Multiple twill weave: 2/3/3/1 S, etc.

Structure

In a twill weave, each weft or filling yarn floats across the warp yarns in a progression of interlacings to the right or left, forming a pattern of distinct diagonal lines. This diagonal pattern is also known as a wale. A float is the portion of a yarn that crosses over two or more perpendicular yarns.

A twill weave requires three or more harnesses, depending on its complexity and is the second most basic weave that can be made on a fairly simple loom.

Twill weave is often designated as a fraction, such as 21, in which the numerator indicates the number of harnesses that are raised (and thus threads crossed: in this example, two), and the denominator indicates the number of harnesses that are lowered when a filling yarn is inserted (in this example, one). The fraction 21 is read as "two up, one down" (the fraction for plain weave is 11.). The minimum number of harnesses needed to produce a twill can be determined by totaling the numbers in the fraction; for the example described, the number of harnesses is three. Twill weave can be identified by its diagonal lines.

Characteristics

A twill with ribs in both sides, called herringbone Koperbindung Fischgrat.jpeg
A twill with ribs in both sides, called herringbone
Diamond twill, with weaving edge (left), blue warp, red weft Woolen diamond twill.jpg
Diamond twill, with weaving edge (left), blue warp, red weft
Twill pattern developing on a peg loom TwillPatternOnPegLoom.jpg
Twill pattern developing on a peg loom

Twill fabrics technically have a front and a back side, unlike plain weave, whose two sides are the same. The front side of the twill is called the "technical face," and the back the "technical back." The technical face side of a twill weave fabric is the side with the most pronounced wale; it is usually more durable and more attractive, is most often used as the fashion side of the fabric, and is the side visible during weaving. If there are warp floats on the technical face (i.e. if the warp crosses over two or more wefts), there will be filling floats (the weft will cross over two or more warps) on the technical back. If the twill wale goes up to the right on one side, it will go up to the left on the other side. Twill fabrics have no "up" and "down" as they are woven.

Sheer fabrics are seldom made with a twill weave. Because a twill surface already has interesting texture and design, printed twills (where a design is printed on the cloth) are much less common than printed plain weaves. When twills are printed, this is typically done on lightweight fabrics.

Soiling and stains are less noticeable on the uneven surface of twills than on a smooth surface, such as plain weaves, and as a result twills are often used for sturdy work clothing and for durable upholstery denim, for example, is a twill.

The fewer interlacings in twills as compared to other weaves allow the yarns to move more freely, and therefore they are softer and more pliable, and drape better than plain-weave textiles. Twills also recover from creasing better than plain-weave fabrics do. When there are fewer interlacings, the yarns can be packed closer together to produce high-count fabrics. With higher counts, including high-count twills, the fabric is more durable, and is air- and water-resistant.

Twills can be divided into even-sided, warp-faced, and weft-faced. Even-sided twills have the same amount of warp and weft threads visible on both sides of the fabric. Warp-faced twills have more warp threads visible on the face side, and weft-faced twills have more weft threads visible on the face side. [2] Even-sided twills include foulard or surah, herringbone, houndstooth, serge, sharkskin, and twill flannel. Warp-faced twills include cavalry twill, chino, covert, denim, drill, fancy twill, gabardine, and lining twill.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weaving</span> Technology for the production of textiles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satin</span> Shiny, fragile fabric weave pattern, with long floats

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waffle fabric</span> Type of woven or knit fabric

Waffle fabric, also known as honeycomb fabric, has raised threads that form small rectangles. It can be made by either weaving or knitting. Waffle weave is a further exploitation of plain weave and twill weave which produces a three-dimensional effect. The combination of warp and weft floats creates the structure. It is woven partly on tabby areas surrounded by ridges of long floats. The weave consists of warp and weft floats arranged around a plain weave center. The warp and weft threads are interlaced and floating in a way that creates small square ridges and hollows in the fabric in a regular pattern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leno weave</span> Weave in which two warp yarns are twisted around the weft yarns

Leno weave is a weave in which two warp yarns are woven around the weft yarns to provide a strong yet sheer fabric. The standard warp yarn is paired with a skeleton or 'doup' yarn; these twisted warp yarns grip tightly to the weft which causes the durability of the fabric. Leno weave produces an open fabric with almost no yarn slippage or misplacement of threads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lazy line</span>

A lazy line or section line is a technical feature of weaving which describes visible diagonal joins within a woven textile. It results from interlacing wefts joining adjacent warp sections woven at different times. Successive rows of turnarounds of discontinuous wefts create a diagonal line which, in pile rugs, is best seen from the back side, and from the front side only if the pile is heavily worn. A lazy line is created when the weaver does not finish a rug line by line from one side to the other, but sequentially finishes one area after the other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pin weaving</span>

Pin weaving is a form of small-scale weaving traditionally done on a frame made of pins; the warp and weft are wrapped around the pins. Pin-woven textiles have a selvage edge all the way around.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swivel weave</span> Decorative weave

The swivel weave is a weaving technique that incorporates a decorative element into the fabric by using small shuttles that insert additional weft thread around selected warp threads, while the main weft thread forms the fabric's structure. This method differs from the plain weave, which lacks this decorative aspect.

References

  1. Oelsner, Gustaf Hermann (1915). A Handbook of Weaves. New York: The Macmillan Company. OCLC   2325693.
  2. Kiron, Mazharul Islam (2 June 2015). "Twill Weave: Features, Classification, Derivatives and Uses". Textile Learner. Retrieved 18 June 2023.