How can a fabric be improved after it is made, and which finish suits which item?
Finishes and treatments applied to fabrics (waterproof/water-repellent, flame-resistant, crease-resistant, stain-resistant/Teflon, antibacterial, brushing and shrink-resistant) and how a finish changes a fabric's properties to suit a particular fashion or textile item.
A focused answer to the SQA National 5 Fashion and Textile Technology content on fabric finishes and treatments, covering waterproof, flame-resistant, crease-resistant, stain-resistant, antibacterial and brushed finishes and how each changes a fabric's properties to suit an item.
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What this dot point is asking
The SQA wants you to know that a fabric can be improved by a finish after it is made, to know what the common finishes do, and to match a finish to an item. The exam usually asks you to name a finish for a given item and explain the effect, or to describe what a named finish does.
What a finish does
The common finishes
Matching a finish to an item
Try this
Q1. Name a finish suitable for a raincoat and say what it does. [2 marks]
- Cue. A waterproof finish, so water cannot soak through and the wearer stays dry.
Q2. State why a brushed finish is used on winter pyjamas. [1 mark]
- Cue. It raises the surface fibres to make the fabric softer and warmer.
Q3. Explain why a flame-resistant finish is applied to theatre curtains. [2 marks]
- Cue. It makes the fabric resist catching fire and burn slowly, reducing the fire risk in a public building full of people.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA-style Explain4 marksExplain why a flame-resistant finish and a waterproof finish are applied to two different items, giving an item for each.Show worked answer →
Award up to 2 marks per finish explained with a suitable item, to a maximum of 4. A flame-resistant finish is applied to children's nightwear so the fabric resists catching fire and burns slowly, reducing the risk of serious injury near heat or flame (2). A waterproof finish is applied to a raincoat so water cannot pass through the fabric, keeping the wearer dry in the rain (2). Other suitable pairings are accepted (for example flame-resistant theatre curtains, waterproof tents). Markers reward the link between the named finish, its effect and a sensible item.
SQA-style Describe3 marksDescribe what a crease-resistant finish, a brushed finish and a stain-resistant finish do to a fabric.Show worked answer →
Award 1 mark for each finish correctly described, up to 3. A crease-resistant finish helps the fabric resist creasing and recover its smoothness, so a garment such as a shirt needs less ironing (1). A brushed finish raises the surface fibres to make the fabric softer and warmer by trapping more air, for example brushed cotton for winter pyjamas (1). A stain-resistant (for example Teflon) finish coats the fibres so liquids bead up and dirt is repelled, making the fabric easier to keep clean (1). Markers want the effect of each finish described, not just its name.
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