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 #14: BATH AND BEDDING PRODUCTS:  Some textile products for baths include washcloths, bath and hand towels, bathmats, and shower curtains. These products come in various levels of quality, and the material helps determine its performance. The material that towels are made of is important because they should be able to dry and absorb water well. Towels made of cotton can be low grade, rougher and have a shorter lifespan. Better quality cotton towels are combined with synthetic fibers, such as polyester, to perform better. Luxury cotton towels are usually made of organic cotton with bamboo blends and advanced fiber processing. These are eco-friendly materials but are soft, extra absorbent, and light weight. The functional ability of textile bath products depends on fiber length, yarn type, and the construction. They need to dry fast and avoid pile, fading, and stiffening. Design innovation of these products can differ based on dye method for different solid colors, patterns, tex...

 #13: CARPET INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE Installation methods:          Wall to Wall Carpet Installation is when the carpet is a continuous roll that covers the entire floor space. The installation process begins by removing all of the furniture off of the floor or space where the carpet is to be installed. Then, ensure that the baseboards are in good condition, as well as the other subfloor elements for easier installation. This usually means removing the old flooring, and vacuuming to remove debris, checking for damage and doing repairs on uneven spots when necessary. When the carpet is installed, tack strips are used and placed around the perimeter of the space to hold the carpet in place. They make sure that the carpet fits snuggly into place and use adhesive to secure it. After it is rolled out, it is cut to the correct dimensions and stretched over the tack strips to prevent wrinkles and ensure a smooth finish. (Can also used glue-down and double glu...

 Types of carpet cushion pads - Features and Benefits Rebond Rebond carpet pads are made from recycled, chopped foam pieces that are bonded together. It results in a multicolored pad and is the most common residential carpet pad. It comes in a 6lb and an 8lb pad. The 6lb pad is usually more cushioned and is best for bedrooms and low traffic areas. It is beneficial for its affordability, comfortability and availability. Negatively the 6lb rebond pad often wears out quicker because of the compression over time. The 8lb rebond pad is firmer and more supportive and can be handled in more high traffic areas, such as the living room, hallways, and stairs. The 8lb pad has a better lifespan and less compressibility because it resists crushing. However, it has a higher cost for this reason.                                                  ...

Blog 11: Carpet & Carpet Recycling                                                             First, when looking at pile yarn height and weight, it is important to understand the basics. Pile yarn height is how tall the yarn fibers are standing above the backing of the carpet. This height is usually measured in inches and is important to note in order to determine if the carpet has a short or tall pile. If the pile is short, it is usually more durable and common in high traffic commercial areas, and if the pile is tall, it is more common in areas that require a softer, luxurious feel. The pile yarn weight (or face weight) is how heavy the yarn is by square yard and is measured usually in ounces. Just because the pile weight is higher, doesn't always mean that it is better quality. A lot of factors that g...

Blog #10 - Construction and fiber content (C&D) The first topic I chose was wall to wall tufted carpet from Masland or EF Contract. I chose to look at EF Contract because I have heard about their products and know a little bit about their company. EF Contract offers wall-to-wall tufted, durable carpets designed for commercial application. They are good for large installation and available in a variety of colors. This helps with commercial spaces, such as hospitality locations like hospitals, offices, etc.. Most commonly, residential projects use wall-to-wall tufted carpet because of its interior appearance, installation, and easy maintenance. EF Contracts refers to their wall-to-wall carpets as broadloom. The terms are interchangeable and refer to carpet produced in wide rolls designed for wall-to-wall installation for a seamless look across large area and continuous coverage. Even though the specification of the carpet varies in style of the carpet, their construction and fiber sy...

 Flax & How Linen is Made      Linen fabrics are made from the flax plant. Flax is the only natural fiber still being cultivated on a large scale in western Europe. The best flax plants are grown between Kahn in France and Amsterdam in Holland because of the climate and ideal soil conditions. The flax plant grows to be about four feet. After blooming the plants are shades of violet blue or white. The plant is harvested in July to preserve the full potential of each plant. Flax is never cut, but must be uprooted as the flax fibers are not only in the stem of the plant, but also in the roots. Harvesting is done by mechanical gruppers which pull and lay the flax plant on the fields. During the retting process, flax is exposed to moisture to break down the pectins that bind the fibers together in the stem. The flax is exposed to rain, dew, and sunshine on the fields and this is when the dying and turning process starts where they get their unique natural color. This ...