module 01 · theory
/01
introduction to fabrics
What a fabric actually is: fibres, yarns, structures and finishes. How to read a cloth by hand and eye, and the vocabulary we'll use for the rest of the course.
Textile Studies at W.I.T. is a hands-on course on how fabric is actually made. We study woven and knit fabrics — their structure, classification and behaviour — and then we build them ourselves: on the weaving frame, with crochet and circular needles, and with card weaving for straps and belts. The course closes with each student's own Fabric Swatch Book, a personal library of the textiles they made.
What a fabric actually is: fibres, yarns, structures and finishes. How to read a cloth by hand and eye, and the vocabulary we'll use for the rest of the course.
Classification of weave patterns, the basic weaves, and the crepe family. How structure produces drape, weight and hand.
Elements of knit structure, the main types of knitting, and the physical and mechanical properties that come out of them.
Building woven fabric on the weaving frame — even and uneven weaves, plus every technique for interlacing threads. Hands-on samples from setup to finish.
Two methods for building knit fabric by hand: crochet, and circular needles. Structure, tension and reading your own work.
Card weaving as a method for building straps and belts — a slow, ancient technique with a very useful contemporary result.
Everything you built through the year comes together as your own Fabric Swatch Book — a personal, physical archive of textiles you now know how to make.
Small groups, personal attention. Write to us for the next intake and any questions.