Radium. Fine, soft, closely woven fabric similar to good habutas but having greater lustre; washable. Usually free from weighting. Pussy Willow* a trade name. Uses: waists, dresses, linings, negligees. Weave—plain. Width, 40".
Rajah.* Trade name for a pongee type of material having rough texture. Uses: dresses and curtains. Weave—-plain. Width, 36", 40".
Ramie (pr. ram-my). Fibre, similar to flax, obtained from stalk of a plant native to China. See Canton Linen.
Ratine (pr. ra-tee-nay). Loosely woven, rough appearing
fabric of plain weave. Ratine effect produced by specially
prepared yarns. One yarn is twisted loosely about another
so that it looks nubby or knotty. Warp may be of plain
yarn with filling of rough yarns or the nubby yarns
may be used both ways giving the cloth a loose,
spongy character. .
1.Cotton ratine appears in many novelty effects in color and combinations with rayon. Yarn- or piece-dyed. No finish. When loosely woven, tends to sag. Uses: dresses, suits. Weave—plain. Width, 36", 40", 54".
2. Silk ratine appears from time to time under novelty names similar to wool or cotton rating. See Eponge.
3. Wool dress fabric for women's wear, more or loss loose and spongy. Tends to sag and the knots often pull. Uses: dresses and coats. Weave—plain. Width, 54".
Raw fibres. Textile fibres in their natural state as silk "in the gum" and "raw cotton" as it comes from the bale.
Rayon. (Fr. ray of light). Name adopted in 1924 for artificial silk. Formerly called manufactured silk, fibre silk and, for a short time, glos. Lustrous textile fibre made by converting cellulose (wood pulp or cotton linters), into a filament by means of a chemical and mechanical process. More lustrous and stiffer than silk; not so strong but less expensive; dyes readily. Four processes, viscose, nitro-cellulose, cupra-ammonium and acetate. Latter has distinct characteristics. Its products, sold under trade names as Celanese* and lustron, are more like silk than are other types of rayon. Rayon yarns used extensively in knitted goods, trimmings, laces, dress fabrics, alone or in combination with silk, cotton or wool.
Many novelty fabrics are known by trade names as Milo Sheen*, Luminelle*, and Trico Sham* Rayon dress fabrics have a tendency to hold wrinkles.
Rhea (pr. ree-ah). Another name for the ramie plant.
Reeled silk. Silk filament wound directly from the cocoon into skeins; opposite of spun silk.
Remamifactured wool. Obtained by shredding woolen or worsted cloth and using the fibres again for making yarn and cloth. Called shoddy or reclaimed wool.
Rep. (Repp). (Probably a corruption of word "rib''). Closely
resembles poplin. Rep has a heavier cord (filling yarn) and
is a wider fabric used for hangings and upholstering. Cot
ton rep is usually mercerized. Piece-or yarn-dyed. Silk or
wool may be used in combination with each other or with cotton. Variations in effect are produced by dyeing warp one color and filling another or by using an unevenly spun rilling which gives variety in texture as Shiki rep. When a Jacquard figure is introduced on a rep background it is called armure. Uses: upholstery and drapery purposes. Lighter weight, skirts and suits. Weave—plain. Width 27". 36", 50".
Resist printing. See Printing.
Rib. 1. Ridge or cord effect in woven fabric made by heavy filling as in poplin or rep. 2. Knit fabric with lengthwise ribs formed by wales alternating on right and wrong sides. Called 1 and I rib. Swiss rib, originally made in Switzerland has two wales alternating, also called 2 and 2 rib. Rib knitting is more elastic and more expensive than plain knitting.
Rice net. Millinery fabric of stiff, white cotton woven with square mesh like marquisette; stiffer than crinoline; sometimes called cape net. Uses: crowns and brims of hats. Weave—leno. Width, 18", 36".
Ripplette.* 1. Trade name for modern seersucker. 2. Also for crinkled or 'dimity bed spreads.
Rodier Freres, Paris. Famous designers of dress fabrics in silk, wool, cotton, rayon. Exclusive patterns.
Romper cloth.* See Gingham.
Roshanara.* Trade name for a novelty silk fabric of rough texture with worsted filling. Tends to shrink when wet. Practically off the market.
Rubberized. Silk or cotton fabric made waterproof by a coating of rubber, as rain coat material.
Rubber sheeting. Plain cotton fabric treated with coating of rubber. Heavy weight usually maroon color, used for hospital sheeting. Medium weight, white, double faced (coated on both sides) for hospital and home use. Light weight, white, single faced used for infants' pants and crib sheets. Weave—plain. Width, 27", 36", 54", usually 36".
Russian crash, see Crash. |
