CLASS V // TWAU // EIGHTH CHAPTER // Topic- Clothes – How Things Are Made

 CLASS V // TWAU // EIGHTH CHAPTER // 

Topic-  Clothes – How Things Are Made 

SUMMARY NOTE:-

Patterns with Threads in Nature

·      Nature has many weavers like the baya weaver bird, which builds strong hanging nests by weaving grass.

·      This shows how weaving uses the over-under pattern to make a strong structure.

What Is Weaving?

·      Weaving means combining two sets of threads to make fabric.

·      Weaving is crossing two sets of threads—vertical (warp) and horizontal (weft). When crossed over and under, they form mats, baskets, and cloth.

·      People have long used natural materials like bamboo, jute, grass, palm leaves, cotton and silk for weaving.

Handloom Traditions of India:-

• India has been weaving cloth for over 4,000 years.
• Cloth woven by hand on a loom is called handloom fabric.
• Famous Indian weaving traditions include Kanjeevaram (TN), Pashmina (Kashmir), Ikat (Odisha & Gujarat).
• Weaving gives livelihood to many families and preserves culture. 

How Threads Are Made — Spinning:-

·      Cotton fibres are twisted together to make thread or yarn.This process is called spinning.

·      Tools like the charkha help in spinning.

·      Gandhiji promoted spinning and weaving as symbols of self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).

·      Cloth made from hand-spun yarn is called Khadi.

Natural and Synthetic Fibres:-

Natural fibres come from plants or animals:

• Bamboo, cotton, linen (flax), wool, silk.

Silk is obtained from the silkworm through its life cycle:

1.    Eggs → 2. Caterpillar → 3. Cocoon → 4. Silk moth.

Synthetic fibres are man-made:

• Nylon, rayon, polyester, terylene.

We use items made from both natural and synthetic materials in daily life.

Crafting with Needle and Thread:-

·      The tailorbird stitches leaves using plant fibres or spider silk.

·      Humans stitch cloth using a needle and thread.

·      The basic stitch is the running stitch (up–down movement).

·      Stitching helps join pieces of cloth to make mats, covers, bags, etc.

Embroidery Traditions of India:-

Different states have beautiful designs:

• Chikankari – Uttar Pradesh
• Banjara – Rajasthan
• Kantha – Bengal, Odisha, Tripura
• Gota – Rajasthan
• Phulkari – Punjab
• Toda – Tamil Nadu
• Kashmiri – Kashmir
• Khneng embroidery – Meghalaya

Each embroidery tells the story of its region and culture.

Reuse and Recycling of Clothes:-

·      Old clothes are rarely wasted in India.

·      They are reused, given to others, or turned into quilts (razaai) or useful household items.

·      Recycling helps reduce waste and saves resources.

Important points:-

Ø The Indian handloom sector employs over 45 lakh people, especially

women and rural artisans, making it one of the largest cottage industries in the world.

Ø Indian muslin was so fine that it was known as ‘woven air’ and a whole saree could pass through a ring.

Ø India was the first country to cultivate and use cotton to make clothes, revolutionising textiles worldwide.

Ø India is the largest producer of jute in the world.

Ø Pashmina wool comes from a special goat called the Changthangi, found high in the cold mountains of Ladakh. People hand-spin and weave this wool into very soft shawls.

Ø Bandhani is a type of tie-dye where small parts of the cloth are tied and dyed to make dots, circles, and patterns. It is done by hand using just fingers and thread.

Ø Kala (black) cotton grows without chemicals or extra water. It is hand-spun and woven into strong, eco-friendly fabric by weavers in Gujarat.

Ø Handloom weaving supports thousands of families, and uses no electricity, making it eco-friendly and sustainable.

Ø The Patola saree from Patan, Gujarat, is very complex. It takes 6 months to 1 year, to weave just one saree.

A. FILL IN THE BLANKS:-

a)   The baya weaver bird makes beautiful hanging nests by weaving grass.

b)   Weaving is done by crossing one set of threads over and under another set.

c)    Cloth made on a hand-operated instrument called a loom is known as handloom fabric.

d)   India has been weaving cloth for more than 4,000 years.

e)   Twisting cotton fibres to make yarn is called spinning.

f)     The thin hair-like strands obtained from cotton are called fibres.

g)   Cloth made from hand-spun thread promoted by Gandhiji is known as khadi.

h)   Silk comes from the cocoon of the silkworm.

i)      Nylon, rayon, polyester and terylene are examples of synthetic fibres.

j)     The tailorbird stitches leaves using plant fibres or spider silk.

k)    Chikankari embroidery comes from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

l)      Phulkari is a famous embroidery from Punjab.

m) Old clothes are often used to make beautiful quilts in many Indian homes.

B. Column Matching :-

 

1. Match the following:

Column A	Column B	Answer
1. Baya weaver bird	a. Makes cloth on a loom	1 – c
2. Loom	b. Twisting fibres to make yarn	2 – a
3. Spinning	c. Weaves strong grass nests	3 – b
4. Silk	d. Obtained from cocoon	4 – d
5. Handloom fabric	e. Made by hand by weavers	5 – e
2. Match the embroidery traditions: Column A Column B Answer 1. Chikankari a. Punjab 1 – c 2. Phulkari b. Rajasthan 2 – a 3. Kantha c. Uttar Pradesh 3 – d 4. Gota work d. Bengal & Odisha 4 – b

 C. Complete this analogy:-

1.    Thread : Cloth :: Grass Strips : Nest 2.    Warp threads : Vertical :: Weft threads : Horizontal 3.    Cotton fibres : Spinning :: Threads : Weaving 4.    Silkworm : Cocoon :: Sheep : Wool 5.    Tailorbird : Leaf stitching :: Human : Needle stitching 6.    Handloom : Woven by hand :: Power loom : Woven by machine 7.    Khadi : Hand-spun :: Polyester : Synthetic fibre 8.    Chikankari : Uttar Pradesh :: Phulkari : Punjab 9.    Old cloth : Quilt :: Cloth scraps : Mat / Coaster 10.                   Natural fibre : Cotton :: Synthetic fibre : Nylon

D.  Write 'T' for True and 'F' for False statements:-

1.   Weaving is done by crossing threads only in one direction. — False

2.   Handloom cloth is made using a machine operated by electricity. — False

3.   Spinning is the process of twisting fibres to make thread. — True

4.   Silk comes from the cocoon of a silkworm. — True

5.   Cotton and wool are examples of synthetic fibres. — False

6.   Nylon and polyester are man-made fibres. — True

7.   Running stitch is the basic stitch used for joining cloth. — True

8.    Phulkari embroidery belongs to Kashmir. — False

9.   Old clothes can be reused or made into quilts. — True

10.                   Recycling clothes helps reduce waste. — True

 E. Differentiate:-

1. Natural Fibres and Synthetic Fibres

Natural Fibres	Synthetic Fibres
Come from plants or animals.	Made by humans using chemicals.
Examples: cotton, silk, wool, linen.	Examples: nylon, polyester, rayon, terylene.
Biodegradable and eco-friendly.	Not biodegradable; may cause pollution.
Comfortable to wear.	Strong, durable, and often cheaper.

 2. Spinning and Weaving

Spinning	Weaving
Twisting fibres to make thread or yarn.	Crossing threads to make cloth or fabric.
Uses tools like charkha.	Uses tools like loom.
Produces thread.	Produces fabric.

3. Handloom and Power Loom

Handloom	Power Loom
Operated by hand without electricity.	Runs on electricity.
Produces traditional, unique designs.	Produces fabric quickly in large quantities.
Slower process.	Faster process.

4. Cotton and Silk

Cotton	Silk
Comes from cotton plant.	Comes from the cocoon of silkworm.
Soft, breathable, good for summer.	Smooth, shiny, used for special clothes.
Natural plant fibre.	Natural animal fibre.

 5. Tailorbird Stitching and Human Stitching

Tailorbird Stitching	Human Stitching
Bird uses its beak to poke holes and stitch leaves.	Humans use needle and thread to join cloth.
Uses plant fibres or spider silk.	Uses cotton, silk, nylon or polyester thread.
Makes a nest.	Makes clothes, mats, covers, bags etc.

6. Hand-Spun Yarn and Mill-Spun Yarn

Hand-Spun Yarn (Khadi)	Mill-Spun Yarn
Spun by hand using a charkha.	Made in textile mills using machines.
Symbol of self-reliance (Gandhiji).	Used for large-scale production.
Uneven texture but strong.	Smooth, uniform texture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F. Very Short Answer Questions

1.    What is weaving?
Ans: Crossing two sets of threads to make cloth.

2.    Name the bird that weaves a strong grass nest.
Ans: Baya weaver bird.

3.    What tool is used for spinning thread?
Ans: Charkha.

4.    What is the thin strand obtained from cotton called?
Ans: Fibre.

5.    Cloth made by hand on a loom is called?
Ans: Handloom fabric.

6.    Silk comes from which stage of the silkworm?
Ans: Cocoon.

7.    Give one example of a natural fibre.
Ans: Cotton / Silk / Wool.

8.    Give one example of a synthetic fibre.
Ans: Nylon / Polyester.

9.    Which stitch is commonly used to join cloth pieces?
Ans: Running stitch.

10.                   Which bird stitches leaves to make its nest?
Ans: Tailorbird.

11.                   What is the process of twisting fibres to make thread called?
Ans: Spinning.

12.                   Name any one famous Indian embroidery.
Ans: Chikankari / Phulkari / Kantha.

13.                   What do we make by reusing old cloth pieces?
Ans: Quilts.

14.                   What are the vertical threads used in weaving called?
Ans: Warp threads.

15.                   What are the horizontal threads used in weaving called?
Ans: Weft threads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G. Short Answer Questions

Q1:  How is cloth made from thread?

Ans: Cloth is made by weaving two sets of threads. One set is placed vertically (warp) and the other horizontally (weft). They are crossed over and under each other on a loom to form fabric.

Q2:  Why is weaving important in India?

Ans: Spinning is the process of twisting fibres such as cotton into thread or yarn. It makes the fibres stronger and suitable for weaving.

Q3. What is spinning?

Ans : Electricity is used to run fans, lights, TV, refrigerator, etc., for movement, cooling, heating, light and sound.

Q4:  How is silk obtained?

Ans: Silk is obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm. The cocoon is placed in hot water, and a long silk thread is carefully unwound from it.

Q5. What does the tailorbird use to stitch its nest?

Ans : The tailorbird uses plant fibres or spider silk and its sharp beak to stitch large leaves together to make a safe nest.

Q6:  What is a running stitch?

Ans: A running stitch is a simple stitch made by taking the needle up and down through the cloth in a straight line. It is used to join fabric pieces.

Q7:  What are natural fibres? Give two examples.

Ans: Natural fibres come from plants or animals. Examples: cotton, linen, wool, silk.

Q8. What are synthetic fibres? Give two examples.

Ans : Synthetic fibres are man-made fibres made from chemicals. Examples: nylon, polyester, rayon.

Q9:  Why do we reuse and recycle old clothes?

Ans: Reusing and recycling old clothes reduces waste, saves resources, and helps protect the environment. Old cloth can also be used to make quilts or mats.

Q10. Name two famous embroidery styles of India.

Ans : Chikankari (Uttar Pradesh) and Phulkari (Punjab).

 

 

H. Long Answer Questions

Q1: Explain the process of weaving and why it is important.

Ans: Weaving is the process of making cloth by crossing two sets of threads. The vertical threads are called warp, and the horizontal threads are called weft. These threads are crossed over and under each other on a loom to form fabric.
Weaving is important because it helps produce different kinds of cloth, supports the livelihood of many families, and preserves India’s traditional crafts such as Kanjeevaram, Ikat, and Pashmina.

Q2. Describe how thread is made from cotton.

Ans :

Thread is made from cotton through a process called spinning. First, cotton is gently pulled to separate the fibres. Then, these fibres are twisted together to make a strong, continuous thread. A charkha or spinning wheel is often used for this purpose. Spinning makes the cotton fibres stronger and ready to be woven into cloth. Gandhiji encouraged spinning to promote self-reliance, and the cloth made this way is called khadi.

Q3: Explain how silk is produced from a silkworm.

Ans: Silk comes from the life cycle of the silkworm. The silkworm spins a cocoon around itself using a long, sticky thread. These cocoons are then placed in hot water to soften them. A long silk thread is gently unwound from each cocoon and collected. This thread is then twisted and woven into beautiful silk fabric. The process requires careful handling and skilled workers.

Q4. How do people in India recycle old clothes? Why is it useful?

Ans :

In many Indian homes, old clothes are rarely thrown away. They are reused by younger family members or turned into useful items. Small cloth pieces are stitched together to make quilts, mats, coasters or cleaning cloths.
Recycling old clothes is useful because it reduces waste, saves money, and helps protect the environment. It also teaches us to value resources and avoid unnecessary buying.

I. Application/Thinking Questions

Q1: What might happen if one thread breaks in a woven mat or stitched cloth? Why?

Ans: If one thread breaks, the mat or cloth may start loosening or coming apart. This happens because all threads are connected in a criss-cross pattern, so each thread supports the strength of the whole fabric. When one thread breaks, the pattern weakens.

Q2: Why do we need both natural and synthetic fibres in daily life?

Ans: Natural fibres like cotton and wool are comfortable and good for wearing, while synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester are strong, durable, and useful for things such as bags, raincoats, ropes and sportswear. Both serve different purposes, so we need both types in our daily life.

Q3. Why are handloom fabrics often more special than machine-made fabrics?

Ans : Handloom fabrics are made by skilled artisans, and each piece has unique patterns and craftsmanship. They take more time and care to produce. Machine-made fabrics are quicker and uniform, but handloom fabrics have cultural value, artistry and tradition.

Q4. What is the one thing you can do at home to save energy?

Ans : One thing I can do at home to save energy is to switch off lights, fans and other electrical appliances when they are not in use. This reduces electricity waste and saves energy.

 

HOMEWORK :-

1. Visit a tailor’s shop or a handloom store with an adult. What tools or machines did you see being used there?

 2. Find out what kind of weaving or stitching work is famous in your area or state. Name it.

3. Below are the jumbled-up steps of the life cycle of a moth. Read and number them from 1 to 6 in the correct order.

Adult moth comes out of the cocoon.

Eggs hatch into tiny caterpillars.

Silk moth lays eggs.

The cycle begins again.

Caterpillars eat mulberry leaves and grow big.

Caterpillars spin cocoons around themselves.

4. We should not throw the old clothes away. Why?

 

             Clean Environment, Green Environment.