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  A&E, General Textile Terms
V | W | Y | Z
To access a listing of general textile terms, click on a letter above.
 
-V-

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Variegated: Generally, refers to thread that is dyed in multiple colors in sequence so that the thread will uniformly change colors (from two to six different colors) every three to seven inches. This thread is used for decorative stitching or embroidery applications. For Industrial thread, we offer variegated thread in Signature?/sup> metallic and it can be special ordered in Signature?/sup>, Perma Spun?/font>, and Perma Core?/sup>.  For Consumer thread, we offer variegated thread in Signature?/sup> Mercerized Cotton, Machine Quilting Thread.
 
Vat Dyes: A class of dyestuffs generally used for cotton threads with a high degree of fastness to light and washing.  (See Thread Dyeing.)

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Washfastness: The ability to resist color change after laundering.
Weatherometer: A testing machine used to expose thread to accelerated weathering conditions and measure its affect on color fastness, strength and other physical characteristics.
Webbing: Heavily woven fabric used for handles on various items such as luggage, backpacks, and briefcases.
Wicking: Refers to a problem with moisture passing through the thread by capillary action. Many manufacturers are using CW Core or 100% Cotton to minimize wicking because the cotton swells when it is wet and fills the seam. Sometimes a special anti-wicking finish is applied to the thread to minimize wicking; however, this finish also can have an adverse affect on the frictional characteristic of the thread.
 
 
Wildcat Plus?/a>: A&E's brand name for textured polyester sewing threads generally wound with high performance lubes to optimize sewing performance when seaming knit goods and serging operations on woven apparel. Registered trademark of A&E.
Wooly Nylon: Generally, refers to a textured sewing thread like Wildcat Plus?/a> or Best Stretch?/a> that is sewn on overedge and coverstitch operations. Textured sewing threads provide excellent seam coverage and seam elasticity when sewing knits.
Wovens: Refers to fabrics that are formed with warp and filling yarns which are interwoven together to form the fabric. Wovens generally have a tighter more rigid construction than knits and are susceptible to seam puckering. The length of the fabric is referred to as the "warp", the width is referred to as the "fill", and any angle across the fabric is referred to as the "bias". On most woven fabrics, the "warp" direction of the fabric has the least amount of stretch.  (See Thread Application Guide, Wovens.)

-Y-

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Yarn Imperfections: Refers to yarn defects that usually either cause thick or thin places in the thread that can cause sewing problems. Some of these yarn imperfections include: knots, slubs, neps, dropped ply, dropped filament, singles kinks, etc.
Yarn Size: Yarn size is equal to the equivalent size times the number of ply (20/1 equivalent size = 40/2 or 60/3 yarn size). The cotton count system is used on most spun and corespun sewing threads. This is an indirect numbering system where the larger the number, the smaller the size. (45/2 is finer than a 28/2 yarn size).
 
Yield: Refers to the yards per pound, which is computed by multiplying the equivalent size times 840 yards. (28/2 yarn size = 14 singles equivalent; 14 singles equivalent X 840 = 11,760 yds/lb. - therefore, approximately two 6,000 yd cones can be wound from one pound of 28/2 yarn.) Yield is important when thread is sold by the pound rather than by a fixed yardage. The higher the yield, the lower the thread cost per yard.
YKK? Zippers: Zippers manufactured by YKK and distributed by A&E for industrial and consumer use. (Registered trademark of YKK. Other registered trademarks include YKK Beulon? YKK Fastrak? YKK Vislon? and YKK Ziplon?)

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Zig-Zag Effect: Refers to the factors that effect the elasticity of a seam. On a zig-zag stitched seam, the factors that have the greatest effect on the seam elasticity include: 1. The width of the zig or zag; 2. The stitches per inch; 3. The stitch balance; and, 4. The elasticity of the thread being used. The zig-zag effect also applies to overedge and coverstitched seams, as well.
   

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Over-Dyeing or Piece-Dyeing Assembled Garments: Describes considerations when selecting 100% cotton thread for assembled garments that are to be over-dyed or piece-dyed.
 
 
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AATCC: American Association of Textile Chemist and Colorists. www.aatcc.org
ATMI: American Textile Manufacturing Institute.
www.atmi.org

North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology:  Part of the NC Community College System, NCCATT provides instruction in textile technology and related fields.
www.nccatt.org/home.asp

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