Page 62 - HAND EMBROIDERY ARTISAN_TP

Handicrafts & Carpets Exercise 1.5.21
Hand Embroidery Artisan - Fabrics

Identify the fabrics, shahtoosha (Tibetan antelope) and pashmina (Himalayan
cashmere)

Objective: At the end of this exercise you shall be able to
• identify the given fabric.

Requirements

Materials
• Wool fabric - 1 Roll.
• Shahtoosh fabric - 1 Roll.
• Pashmina fabric - 1 Roll.

PROCEDURE

TASK 1: Identification of wool fabric
1 Look for the crimp: Examine the wool closely for 3 Assess the color and uniformity: Note the color
the presence of crimp, the wave-like pattern. and the consistency of the fibers.
2 Feel the texture: Wool should feel soft and elastic to 4 Check for moisture absorption: Wool should absorb
the touch. moisture without feeling damp

Identification of wool
Crimp Texture Absorption Uniformity

TASK 2: Identification of pashmina fabric

Burn Test (Fig 1) 1 Pick a thread of your Pashmina scarf from the fringes.
This should be enough for the burn test.
Fig 1
2 Place this thread on a surface, and burn it.
3 Carefully smell the burnt thread, as well as touch the
ashes with your fingers.
4 If you smell a burnt hair smell and if the ashes turn
to powder, your scarf has a higher chance of being
original. Pashmina scarves are made from natural
hair and hence give the same odour.
5 Post this process, and check on the burnt Pashmina
thread again. If it has acquired a matte appearance,
there is a greater chance of it being original.
Rubbing Test (Fig 2)

1 Take a corner of the scarf, and rub it against its own
surface
2 If your Pashmina is fake, it will produce static
electricity. That is what polyester fabric does.
3 Fake Pashminas which generate electricity will even
attract dust particles towards themselves.

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