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What is "Warp" - Definition & Explanation
Last Updated on: 08-Apr-2023 (1 year, 18 days ago)
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Warp
Warp is a term used in textile production to refer to the set of parallel yarns that are held taut on a loom during weaving. The warp is the foundation of a woven fabric, and it is typically the stronger of the two sets of yarns that are interlaced during weaving.

The warp yarns are typically attached to the loom at one end and wound onto a beam or other device at the other end. The yarns are held under tension and passed through a series of heddles, which are frames or combs that control the movement of the yarns during weaving. The heddles are connected to a mechanism called a harness or shaft, which raises and lowers the yarns to create the desired pattern or weave structure.

The number of warp yarns used in a fabric can vary widely, depending on the desired weight, texture, and pattern. A tightly woven fabric, such as denim or canvas, may have a high warp density, with many yarns per inch, while a lighter weight fabric, such as gauze or chiffon, may have a lower density.

The warp yarns are typically stronger and more tightly spun than the weft yarns, which are the yarns that are woven across the warp. This is because the warp yarns are under greater tension during weaving and are responsible for holding the fabric together. In addition, the warp yarns are often made from stronger fibers, such as cotton or polyester, while the weft yarns may be made from softer or more decorative fibers, such as wool or silk.

The warp also plays an important role in the design and patterning of a woven fabric. By raising and lowering the harnesses and heddles in different sequences, the weaver can create a wide range of patterns and designs. Some common weave structures that use the warp include plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave.

The warp can also be used to create decorative effects in a fabric. For example, in a jacquard weave, the warp yarns are individually controlled by a computerized loom, allowing for intricate designs and patterns to be woven into the fabric.

In conclusion, warp is an essential component of woven textiles. It refers to the set of parallel yarns that are held taut on a loom during weaving. The warp is typically stronger and more tightly spun than the weft, and it plays a critical role in the strength, structure, and patterning of a woven fabric. By controlling the movement of the warp yarns through a series of heddles and harnesses, the weaver can create a wide range of patterns and designs. Warp can also be used to create decorative effects in a fabric, and it is an important consideration in textile design and production.
Warp
In weaving, the warp is the set of lengthwise yarns through which the weft is woven. Each individual warp thread in a fabric is called a warp end. Warp means "that which is thrown across". Warp is spun fibre, originally made from wool or flax, but with modern industrialization it became possible to make cotton yarn of sufficient strength to be used as the warp. Later, artificial or man-made fibres such as nylon or rayon were employed.
Warp
A weaving term for yarns in woven fabrics and carpets which run in the machine direction (or lengthwise). Warp yarns are usually delivered to a weaving loom from a beam mounted behind the loom. Woven carpets usually have three sets of warp yarns, which may be wound on three loom beams. These include stuffer warp for lengthwise strength and stiffness, pile warp which forms the carpet surface tufts, and chain warp which interlaces with fill yarn to lock the structure together.

Some other terms

Some more terms:

Eponge 78
A fabric of wool, also of rayon and silk. The name is derived from the French term eponge for "spongy". It is a very soft and sponge-like fabric in a variety of novelty effects with loose weave. ...
A garment length knitting machine is a specialized type of knitting machine used in the textile industry to produce seamless garments of various lengths. Unlike traditional knitting machines that...
Weft 34
Knit - The most common type of knit formed by interlocking loops in the widthwise direction. Weft knit tend to have more stretch than warp knits. Examples are interlock, jerseys, double knits, rib...
A weave in which the warp yarns are arranged in pairs with one twisted around the other between picks of feeling yarn as in marquisette. This type of weave gives firmness and strength to an...
Single textile material with addition of an extra warp of filling added for weight and warmth. The extra warp or filling ma is of wool, worsted, cotton, or other yarns. This type of construction is...

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