Fabric and Method of Manufacturine Fabric
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to textile fabrics and methods of
manufacturing textile fabrics. Particularly, the invention concerns manufacture of
terry fabrics as well as non-terry fabrics having improved porosity, wettability,
absorbency, and softness, in an environmentally conservative and economical
manner.
Background of the invention
(00021 Fabrics are manufactured for several different end uses, including for
sheeting, towels, terry fabrics, cleaning products, carpets and the like. Terry
fabrics are considered advantageous in view of their light weight, softness, ability
to pick up particles and absorb moisture. In cases where terry fabrics
manufacturing methods are used to manufacture towels or other terry textiles,
there is a growing need for improving moisture absorption and reducing drying
time while enabling manufacture of fabrics with a pleasant aesthetic look and feel.
[0003] Figure 1A illustrates a terry fabric 100 of the towel type, having a surface
region 102. Terry fabrics of the kind illustrated in Figure 1A typically comprise a
woven ground fabric having a plurality of substantially parallel ground warp
yams, and a plurality of substantially parallel ground weft yams - wherein the
plurality of ground weft yams intersect the plurality of ground warp yams
substantially perpendicularly. Additionally, a plurality of terry loop yams are
woven through the ground fabric in a terry loop weave - which terry lbop weave
forms a plurality of terry loops above andlor below the woven ground fabric.
[0004] Figure 1B provides a magnified view of surface region 102 of teny fabric
100. Surface region 102 iliustrates the woven ground fabric comprising a plurality
of warp yarns 104a to N4c, substantially perpendicular weft yams 106a to 106c,
and teny loop yams woven in a terry loop weave so as to form teny loops 108a to
108c raised above the ground fabric. While not illustrated in Figure lB, it would
be understood that a terry fabric may include terry loops on both sides of the
ground fabric.
[0005] In manufacturing terry fabrics, properties such as porosity and increased
softness and loft are considered advantages. A previously lmown approach to
achieve these properties has been to weave the teny fabric using at least one yam
(preferably a terry loop yam) comprising a cotton yam and a water soluble
synthetic thermoplastic yam (or a single yam comprising a blend of cotton and
water soluble fibers or slivers), which fabric is thereafter washed in water to
dissolve the water soluble synthetic yarn or fibers - resulting in a fabric where at
least one yarn has interspaces or pores therewithin - which interspaces or pores
are formed by the action of dissolving the water soluble yarn. Dissolution of water
soluble fibres is an expensive process and release of industrial discharge of such
water soluble fibres may pose hazardous effect on the environment. .
[0006] Another conventional approach is to manufacture fabrics by way of
dissolution of wools blends - since wool is known to be soluble when treated with
alkali solutions. It has been observed that such approaches result in wastage of
materials.
[0007] The present invention seeks to manufacture fabrics having interspaces or
pores within at least one yam of said fabric, wherein such yam or the entire fabric
has been subjected to processes that overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks
and improve porosity, absorbability, wettability, softness and loft of the yam or
resulting fabric.
Summary of the invention
[0008] In various embodiments of the present invention, a method of producing a
fabric is provided. The method comprises the steps of (i) blending
chemomechanically felting fibers with non-felting fibers into a blended feed
material, (ii) spinning the blended feed material into a blended yarn (iii) weaving
a fabric comprising the blended yarn (iv) subjecting the woven fabric to a first
fabric treatment comprising a mechanical felting treatment, and (v) subjecting the
woven fabric to a second fabric treatment comprising treatment of the fabric with
an alkali, wherein the ratio of weight of the alkali to dry fabric weight is between
0.02 and 0.05.In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the alkali
may comprise caustic soda.
[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the second fabric felting
treatment step may comprise treatment of the fabric with the alkali, wherein the
ratio of weight of the alkali to the dry fabric weight is between 0.02 and 0.05, and
wherein said treatment is carried out at a temperature of between 80 OC and 100
OC, and for a duration of between 10 and 20 minutes. Further, as an option, the
second fabric treatment step may be followed with a third fabric treatment of the
fabric with the alkali, wherein the ratio of the weight of the alkali to the dry fabric
weight is higher than 0.05, and wherein said treatment is carried out at a
temperature of between 80 OC and 110 OC, and for a duration of between 10 and
40 minutes.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the felting treatment may
comprise wetting the woven fabric and agitating it in an agitator for between 20
and 60 minutes, at a temperature of 120 OC and at a tumbling frequency of
between 35 Hz and 42 Hz.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the non-felting
fibers may include any one or more of cotton fibers, silk fibers, modal fibers,
acrylic fibers, rayon fibers, polyester, viscose, or any combination thereof. In an
embodiment, the felting fibers are wool fibers. In other embodiments, the nonfelting
fibers may include any textile spinnable fibres including natural fibres,
synthetic fibres, animallplant fibres, regenerated fibres and any blends or
combination of such fibres. The ratio of felting fibers to non-felting fibers in the
blended feed material may comprise between 0.08 and 0.52 weight 1 weight. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the second fabric treatment may be followed
by a third treatment of the fabric with said alkali, wherein the ratio of the weight
of the alkali to the dry fabric weight is lesser than 0.05.
[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the woven fabric is a terry
fabric, and the blended yam is a teny loop yam within the teny fabric.
[0013] The invention additionally provides fabrics manufactured in accordance
with any of the above method embodiments.
Brief Description of Accompanying Drawing
[0014] Figure 1A illustrates a teny fabric of the towel type;
[0015] Figure 1B provides a magnified view of a surface region of a terry fabric;
and
[0016] Figure 2 illustrates a manufacturing method in accordance with the present
invention.
Detailed Description of the invention
[0017] The present invention provides novelr methods of manufacture for fabrics
having pores or interspaces within one or more yams therein, said fabrics having
improved porosity, wettability, absorbency, softness andlor loft.
[0018] The process of manufacturing a fabric in accordance with the present
invention is illustrated in Figure 2.
[0019] Step 202 comprises blending non-felting fibers with felting fibers to obtain
blended fiber slivers 1 blended roving / blended feed material for the yam spinning
process.
[0020] The felting fibers having felting properties may comprise any fiber(s) that
has high chemo mechanical felting property as well as solubility in an alkali
solution - and in a preferred embodiment may comprise wool fibers. The nonfelting
fibers may comprise any fiber(s) that are non-soluble in said alkali
solution. The non-felting fibers may include any one or more of cotton fibers, silk
fibers, modal fibers, acrylic fibers, rayon fibers, polyester, viscose, or any
combination thereof. In an embodiment, the felting fibers are wool fibers. In other
embodiments, the non-felting fibers may include any other textile spinnable fibres
including natural fibres, synthetic fibres, animayplant fibres, regenerated fibres
and any blends or combination of such fibres.
[0021] Blending of non-felting fibers with felting fibers may be achieved in any
number of different ways. In an embodiment of the invention, the non-felting
fibers may be subjected to blowroom, carding, combing and breaker drawframe
processing. The felting fibers may be subjected to bale opening (for example at a
mixing bale opener), carding and levelling drawframe processing. The non-felting
fibers and felting fibers may be blended by processing them together through at
least one or more of a blending process namely drawframe, finisher drawframe , a
simplex frame or a ring frame.
[0022] In an embodiment of the invention the ratio of felting fibers to non-felting
fibers in the blend at step 202 may comprise between 0.05 (or 5 : 95) and 0.92 (or
48: 52) weight 1 weight (wtlwt). In an embodiment of the invention the ratio of
felting fibers to non-felting fibers in the blend resulting from step 202 may
comprise between 0.086 (dr 8 : 92) and 0.12 (or 10: 90) wtlwt.
[0023] At step 204, a blended roving (or other feed material for a spinning frame)
that results from step 202 is spun into a blended yam. The yam can be spun using
any spinning technique including for example, ring spinning or open ended
spinning. In an embodiment of the invention, the blended yam is spun on one or
more ringframes at appropriate settings. The yam spun at step 204 may have a
count ranging from about 6 Ne resultant count to about 24s Ne resultant count for
terry fabrics in single - ply or multi-ply form, and from about 10s Ne resultant
count to about 40s Ne resultant count in single-ply or multi-ply for non-terry
fabrics. The spun yam resulting from step 204 may exhibit a twist multiplier of
between 3.4 and 4.2 for terry fabrics and of between 4.0 and 4.5 for non-terry
fabrics. In an embodiment of the invention, step 204 may include winding of the
resulting blended yam onto a yam package.
[0024] Step 206 comprises weaving or knitting a fabric using a blended yam
obtained from step 204. In the case of a non-terry fabric, step 206 comprises
weaving a warp yam (i.e. a longitudinal set of yam) with a weft yam (which is
perpendicular to and interlaced with the warp yarn) to manufacture a non-terry
fabric. Weaving of a terry fabric may comprise weaving a warp yam (i.e. the
ground warp yam), a weft yam (i.e. the ground weft yam) and a terry loop yam -
wherein the interlaced warp yam and weft yam form a ground fabric (base fabric),
into which ground fabric the terry loop yam is interwoven to form loops that
protrude outwards and contribute to softness and loft of the fabric.
[0025] For the purposes of the present invention, one or more of the warp yam /
ground warp yarn, weft yam / ground weft yam and terry loop yam may comprise
a blended yam resulting from step 204. In a particular embodiment, the fabric
woven at step 206 is a teny fabric where the terry loop yam comprises a blended
yarn resulting from step 204 while the ground warp yarn and ground weft yam are
yams consisting non-felting fibres only. One or more of the terry loop yam, warp
yarn or weft yarn may Comprise a single or double count yam. It would be
understood that one or more of the teny loop yam, warp yam or weft yarn may
comprise either a single ply yam or a multi-ply yam.
[0026] Step 208 comprises subjecting the fabric resulting from step 206 to a
felting treatment or a felting process. Felt is a textile material produced by
matting, compressing and/or condensing textile fibers. The process of matting,
compressing and/or condensing the textile fibers is referred to as felting. Felting
may be camed out on natural fibers such as wool.
I00271 Wool fibers have been found to be particularly prone to felting, on
account of micro scales that are found on the surface of wool fibers. The micro
scales cause an interlocking effect between wool fibers, which contribute to the
matti& or condensing of the fibers. To ensure that a fabric resulting from step
206 has appropriate properties to enable felting, one of the fibers is selected from
among fibers that are prone to (or have a high susceptibility) to felting. Preferably,
the other fiber is selected from among fibers that are not prone to (or which have a
low susceptibility) to felting. In an embodiment of the invention the fibers
selected for manufacture of the fabric are highly prone to chemo-mechanical
felting, while the other fibers are not prone (or have a low susceptibility) to
felting.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the chemo-mechanical felting fibers within the
fabric are wool fibers, which have been found to exhibit felting and shrinkage in
response to mechanical agitation in the presence of moisture and high temperature
conditions. The other fibers within the fabrics are cotton fibers - which have been
found not to exhibit felting in response to mechanical agitation in the presence of
moisture and high temperature conditions.
[0029] In an embodiment of step 208, the felting process comprises wet felting -
wherein agitation and co~iipression of the fabric in the presence of moisture and
raised temperatures causes fibers that are prone to felting and shrinkage to
interlock or hook together (as part of the felting process). Simultaneously,
shrinkage of these felted fibers causes an overall contraction in the length of the
blended yam containing the felted fibers. It has been found that since the overall
length of the felted fibers contracts in response to shrinkage, while the length of
the remaining fibers within the blended yam does not contract. The overall
shrinkage in length of the blended yam causes a corresponding increase in
diameter of said yarn. This increase in diameter of the yam is believed to arise as
a consequence of the interlocking arrangements between the shrinking felted
fibers, which forces the non-shrinking fibers to contract in length without a
corresponding change in overall volume. This contraction in length without a
corresponding change in volume inevitably forces the non-shrinking fibers to
expand outward and causes an increase in diameter of the blended yam.
[0030] In an embodiment of step 208, felting of fabric resulting from step 206
comprises wet felting the fabric by tumbling or mechanically agitating the fabric
in the presence of moisture and heat. In an embodiment, the felting process
comprises wetting the fabric and agitating it in an agitator (for example, a tumbler
machine) for between 20 to 60 minutes at a temperature of between 90 degrees
centigrade and 130 degrees centigrade. In a preferred embodiment, the felting
process comprises wetting the fabric and agitating it in an agitator for between 30
and 50 minutes at a temperature of 120 degrees centigrade, at a tumbling
frequency of between 35 Hz and 42 Hz (which may be varied according to design
parameters of the agitator).
[0031] Fabric resulting from felting step 208 has been found to exhibit shrinkage
or contraction of overall length of the blended yams therewithin, along with a
simultaneous increase in diameter or thickness of the blended yam within the
fabric.
[0032] The fabric is thereafter subjected to a second fabric treatment process at
step 210, wherein the fabric treatment process at step 210 comprises treating the
fabric with an alkali under controlled conditions to cause a further shrinkage of
the felting fibers. In an embodiment of the invention, the felting fibers are wool
fibers and the alkali is caustic soda (NaOH). In this embodiment, the fabric is
exposed to caustic soda at a temperature of between 80 degrees centigrade and
100 degrees centigrade, wherein the ratio of the weight of caustic soda to dry
fabric weight is between 0.02 (or 2 : 98) and 0.05 (or 4.5 : 94.5). In a particular
embodiment the ratio of weight of caustic soda to dry fabric weight is 0.042 (or 4
: 96). The temperature under which the first fabric treatment process is carried out
is between 80 degrees centigrade and 100 degrees centigrade, and preferably is 95
degrees centigrade. The duration for which the fabric is exposed to caustic soda
during the first fabric treatment process is between 10 and 20 minutes, and in a
preferred embodiment is about 15 minutes.
[0033] It has been found that treating a fabric comprising a blended yam of the
type resulting from step 204, under the controlled conditions of the fabric
treatment step described in connection with step 210, causes felting fibers within
the blended yam to shrink, while the length of the non-felting fibers does not
exhibit a corresponding shrinkage. Shrinkage of the felting fibre (particularly in
the case where such fibers have also undergone felting and prior shrinkage in the
felting process) causes an overall contraction in the length of the blended yam
containing the felting fibers. However, since the length of the non-felting fibers
within the blended yam does not undergo a corresponding shrinkage, the overall
shrinkage in the length of the blended yam causes a corresponding increase in
diameter of said yam. This increase in diameter of the blended yam is believed to
arise as a consequence of the shrinking felting fibers which forces the nonshrinking
fibers (non-felting fibers) to contract in length without a corresponding
change in overall volume. This inevitably forces the non-shrinking fibers to
expand outward and causes an increase in diameter of the blended yam.
[0034] Step 212 comprises an optional step of subjecting the fabric to a third
fabric treatment step - to remove the felting fiber entirely and manufacture a soft,
high loft and super absorbent fabric which is entirely comprised of the non-felting
fibers. This third fabric treatment step comprises treating the fabric with an alkali
under controlled process conditions to fully dissolve the felting fibers. In an
embodiment of the invention, the felting fibers are wool fibers and the alkali is
caustic soda (NaOH). In this particular embodiment, the fabric is exposed to
caustic soda at a temperature of between 80 degrees centigrade and 110 degrees
centigrade, wherein the ratio of weight of caustic soda to dry fabric weight is
higher than 0.05 (or 5 : 95) and preferably between 0.05 (or 5 : 95) and 0.21 (or
10 : 90). In a particular embodiment the ratio of weight of caustic soda to dry
fabric weight is 0.05 (or 5 : 95), and the temperature under which the third fabric
treatment process is carried out is 95 degrees centigrade. The temperature under
which the third fabric treatment process is carried out may lie anywhere between
80 degrees centigrade and 110 degrees centigrade, and preferably is 95OC. The
duration in which the fabric is exposed to caustic soda during the second fabric
treatment process is between 10 and 40 minutes, and in a preferred embodiment is
about 25 minutes.
[0035) As a result of the third fabric treatment process at step 212 carried out
under the said controlled conditions, the felting fibers are fully dissolved from the
blended yarn(s) within the fabric under treatment - wherein the action of
dissolving the felting fibers results in creation of soft and 100% cotton or 100%
non-felting fibre fabric. In a preferred embodiment, consequent to the
combination of felting, and fabric process discussed in step 210 and the optional
process of step 212, the fabric is found to comprise a fabric with yams (i.e. those
yams which comprised a blend of non-felting fibers and felting fibers) prior to the
fabric treatment process of step 212 having pores or interspaces between the nonfelting
fibers within said yarns. These yams have also been found to exhibit
improved loft and softness as a result of the shrinkage of overall length and
increase in diameter of said yams (which shrinkage in length and increase in
diameter have arisen as a consequence of the felting and 1 or fabric treatment
process of step 210 as applied to the fabric).
[0036] The fabric may thereafter optionally be subjected to one or more dyeing
processes and / or post dyeing treatment processes at step 214.In an embodiment,
after dissolving the felting fibers, the fabric may be scoured, bleached and / or
dyed in a dyeing machine in any number of ways that would be apparent to the
skilled person. The dyed fabric may additionally be subjected to one or more post
dyeing treatment processes, including without limitation drying, stentering and /
or conditioning at a shearing machine.
[0037] The fabrics resulting from one or more of the processes described in
connection with steps 202 to 214 have been found to exhibit marked improvement
in properties over fabrics manufactured by previously known methods, including
by way of one or more of improved porosity, wettability, absorbency, loft and
softness, while the manufacturing method presents the immediately apparent
advantages of reducing cost and environmental impact.
[0038] The data in Table 1 (below) exhibits the improvements in properties of
fabrics manufactured using one or more of the processes described in Figure 2 -
when compared against fabrics manufactured using other processes. Table 1
provides comparative data relevant to properties of terry fabrics respectively
manufactured and treated under each of Manufacturing Processes #1 to #6. Each
of Process Conditions #1 to #6 were camed out on terry fabrics comprising a
cotton ground warp yam, a cotton ground weft yam and a blended terry loop yam
- wherein the blended teny loop yam comprises a blend of wool fibers and cotton
fibers. The blended yam within the terry fabrics used to derive the results in Table
1 variously compFised wool and cotton in ratios of 0.1 1 (or 10 : 90) and 0.087 (or
8 : 92) wt 1 wt. The ground warp yarn and ground weft yam in the terry fabrics of
Manufacturing Processes #1 to #6 were cotton yams.
[0039] Manufacturing Process # 1: Subsequent to the weaving step, the terry
fabric is treated with caustic soda at a temperature of 95 degrees centigrade,
wherein the ratio of weight of caustic soda to dry fabric weight is 0.087 (or 8 :
92).
[0040] Manufacturing Process # 2: Subsequent to the weaving step, the teny
fabric is subjected to a felting process, comprising wetting the fabric and
agitating it in a tumbler for between 3Q and 50 minutes at a temperature of 120
degrees centigrade, at a tumbling frequency of between 35 Hz and 42 Hz.
[0041] Manufacturing Process # 3: Subsequent to the weaving step, the teny
fabric is (i) subjected to a felting process, comprising wetting the fabric and
agitating it in a tumbler for between 30 and 50 minutes at a temperature of 120
oC, a t a tumbling frequency of between 35 Hz and 42 Hz and (ii) subsequently
treated with caustic soda at a temperature of 95 degrees centigrade, wherein the
ratio of weight of caustic soda to- dry fabric weight is 0.087 (or 8 : 92).
[0042] Manufacturing Process # 4: Subsequent to the weaving step, the terry
fabric is (i) subjected to a first fabric treatment process, comprising treating the
fabric with caustic soda at a temperature of 95 degrees centigrade, wherein the
ratio of weight of the caustic soda to dry fabric weight 0.041 (or 4 : 96) and (ii)
subsequently subjected to a second fabric treatment process, comprising treating
the fabric with caustic soda at a temperature of 95 degrees centigrade, wherein the
ratio of weight of caustic soda to dry fabric weight is 0.053 (or 5 : 95).
[0043] Manufacturing Process # 5: Subsequent to the weaving step, the teny
fabric is (i) subjected to a felting process, comprising wetting the fabric and
agitating it in a tumbler for between 30 and 50 minutes at a temperature of 120
degrees centigrade, at a tumbling frequency of between 35 Hz and 42 Hz and (ii)
treated with caustic soda at a temperature of 95 degrees centigrade, wherein the
ratio of weight of the caustic soda to dry fabric weight 0.041 (or 4 : 96).
[0044] Manufacturing Process # 6: Subsequent to the weaving step, the terry
fabric is (i) subjected to a felting process, comprising wetting the fabric and
agitating it in a tumbler for between 30 and 50 minutes at a temperature of 120
degrees centigrade, at a tumbling frequency of between 35 Hz and 42 Hz (ii)
thereafter subjected to a first fabric treatment process, comprising treating the
fabric with caustic soda at a temperature of 95 degrees centigrade, wherein the
ratio of weight of caustic soda to dry fabric weight is 0.041 (or 4 : 96) and (iii)
subsequently subjected to a second fabric treatment process, comprising treating
the fabric with caustic soda at a temperature of 95 degrees centigrade, wherein the
ratio of weight of caustic soda to dry fabric weight is 0.053 (or 5 : 95).
Process #3
Manufacturing
Process #4
Manufacturing
Process #5
325.6%
665.9%
0.89%
1.84%
[0045] As will be observed from Table 1 above, the highest % increase in yam
shrinkage and increase in yam diameter in comparison with yam shrinkage and
increase in diameter observed in the prior art process corresponding to
Manufacturing Process # 1 was observed respectively by following
Manufacturing Process # 5 and Manufacturing Process # 6. In product offerings
where it inay be acceptable to have wool fibres present within the end product,
Manufacturing Process # 5 has been found to present particular advantages. In
product offerings where it may not be acceptable to have wool fibres present
within the end product, Manufacturing Process # 6 presents particular advantages.
Further, as observed from Table 1, each of Manufacturing Processes #2, #3 and #4
exhibit improvements in overall softness and loft of the resulting towel, in
comparison with towels manufactured in accordance with prior art Manufacturing
Process #l. It would be understood that Manufacturing Process # 2 may in certain
embodiments, result in an intermediate product that is subjected to further
processing or fabric treatment.
Manufacturing
Process #6
[0046] Accordingly, the fabrics resulting from the processes described above has
have been found to exhibit marked improvements in observable properties in
comparison with fabrics manufactured by previously known methods - which
observable improvements include with respect to porosity, wettability,
absorbency, softness and loft. Additionally, the manufacturing methods of the
present invention present advantages in terms of cost efficiencies and reduced
environmental impact.
[0047] It would be understood that the examples and embodiments discussed
anywhere in the present specification, are only illustrative. Those skilled in the art
would immediately appreciate that various modifications in form and detail may
be made without departing from or offending the spirit and scope of the invention
588.9% 1.62%
as defined by the appended claims. Additionally, while certain embodiments and
examples within this spe6fication address terry fabrics, it would be understood
that the methods of the present invention may be equally applied for manufacture
of non-teny fabrics or any other textile fabrics.

We claim:
1. A method of producing a fabric, comprising the steps of:
blending cheino-mechanically felting fibers with non-felting fibers into a blended
feed material;
spinning the blended feed material into a blended yam;
producing a fabric comprising the blended yam;
subjecting the fabric to a first fabric treatment comprising a mechanical felting
treatment; and
subjecting the fabric to a second fabric treatment comprising a chemical felting
treatment, the treatment comprising:
treatment of the fabric with an alkali, wherein the ratio of weight of the
alkali to dry fabric weight is between 0.02 and 0.05, thereby obtaining
increased air space in the resultant fabric.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein subjecting the fabric to a third
fabric treatment comprising treatment of the fabric with said alkali, wherein the
ratio of weight of the alkali to dry fabric weight is higher than 0.05, to remove
felting fibres from the resultant fabric.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the felting treatment-comprises
wetting the fabric and agitating it in an agitator for between 20 and 60 minutes, at
a temperature of 120 OC, and at a tumbling frequency of between 35 Hz and 42
Hz.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fabric treatment step
comprises treatment of the fabric with the alkali, wherein the ratio of weight of
the alkali to the dry fabric weight is between 0.02 and 0.05, and wherein said
treatment is canied out at a temperature of between 80 OC and 100 OC, and for a
duration of between 10 and 20 minutes.
5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third fabric treatment step
comprises treatment of the fabric with the alkali, wherein the ratio of the weight
of the alkali to the dry fabric weight is higher than 0.05, and wherein said
treatment is carried out at a temperature of between 80 OC and 110 OC, and for a
duration of between 10 and 40 minutes.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the felting fibers are wool fibers;
and
the non-felting fibers include one or more of cotton fibers, silk fibers, modal
fibers, acrylic fibersirayon fibers, polyester, viscose, and any other textile fibre.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of felting fibers to nonfelting
fibers in the blended feed material comprises between 0.05 and 0.34
weight / weight.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
the fabric is a terry fabric; and
the blended yam is a terry loop yam within the terry fabric.
9. The method as claimed in claim I, wherein the alkali is caustic soda.
10. The method as clahed in claim 1, wherein shrinkage exhibited by the
felting fibers when subjected to the felting treatment, is higher than shrinkage
exhibited by the non-felting fibers when subjected to the felting treatment.
11. A fabric manufactured in accordance with the method as claimed in claim 1.