Raglan
A raglan sleeve is stitched under the arm and in two parallel lines leading from armpit to the neck. It makes for ease of arm movement.
Ramie
The perennial stalk producing ramie plant has been cultivated in eastern Asia for fibre since prehistoric times. Growing 3-8 feet high, with heart shaped leaves, the plant’s fibres was used in fabric in ancient Egypt and was known in Europe during the Middle Ages. Ramie fibre did not achieve importance in the West until the 1930s.
Because of its desirable properties, including strength and durability, ramie has frequently been promoted as a textile fibre of great potential.
Ramie fibre is pure white in colour, lustrous, moisture absorbent, and readily dyed. The fibre is stronger than flax, cotton, or wool. Fabric made from ramie fibre is easily laundered, increasing in strength when wet, and does not shrink or lose its shape. It dries quickly and becomes smoother and more lustrous with repeated washings. Ramie is resistant to mildew and other types of micro-organism attack and good fastness to sun.
Because ramie is brittle, spinning it is difficult and weaving is complicated because ramie has a very hairy yarn surface.
Rapid Skying
Patented oxidation process developed by Tessitura di Robecchetto Candiani in 1992 that speeds up the skying step of the indigo dyeing process and therefore shortens the indigo dyeing technique.
Raschel Knit
A warp knitted fabric in which the resulting knit fabric resembles hand crochet fabrics, lace fabrics, and nettings. Raschel warp knits contain inlaid connecting addition to columns of knit stitches.
Ratiné
A plain-woven, loosely constructed fabric having a rough, spongy texture which is imparted by the use of nubby plied yarns. It is made from worsted, cotton, or other yarns.
Rayon
The synthetic fibre known as rayon is produced from regenerated cellulose (wood pulp) that has been chemically treated. Fabrics made of rayon are strong, highly absorbent, and soft; they drape well and can be dyed in brilliant, long-lasting colors. Rayon fibres are also used as reinforcing cords in motor tires, and their excellent absorbency makes them useful in medical and surgical materials. Rayon can be used alone or blended with other synthetic or natural fibers. Since the mid-1980s rayon use has grown dramatically as new formulations and blends have added more strength and softness to the fabric and have made it more absorbent, more washable, and less vulnerable to wrinkling.
Characteristics: Rayon yarns are made in a wide range of types in regard to size, physical characteristics, strength, elongation, luster, handle, suppleness, etc. They may be white or solution dyed. Strength is regulated by the process itself and the structure of the yarn. Luster is reduced by including delustering materials such as titanium dioxide pigments, in the fiber when it is extruded. The suppleness of the yarn is controlled by the number of filaments in the yarn, the denier or gauge of the individual filaments or fibres, and the fibre cross-section.
End Uses: Rayon is used in draperies, bedspreads, upholstery, blankets, dish towels, curtains, throw rugs, tire cord, industrial products, sport shirts, slacks, suitings, dress goods, and linings and in blends with other fibres to enhance functional and aesthetic qualities, e.g., with polyester in permanent-press fabrics.
Reactive Dyes
Dyes used for cellulose fibers like cotton or rayon. Reactive dyes are available in very bright shades but do not have good color fastness characteristics.
Regenerated Cellulose
A material which begins as cellulose but at some stage in the chemical processing takes the form of another chemical compound, then appears again in its completed state as cellulose. Viscose and cuprammonium rayons are regenerated cellulose.
Ribbing
A corded effect in a woven fabric which can be either lengthwise, crosswise, or diagonal.
Ribbon
Narrow fabric made in several widths and a variety of weaves and used as a trimming.
Rib Knit
A double knit fabric in which the wales or vertical rows of stitches intermesh alternately on the face and on the back. In other words, odd wales intermesh on one side of the cloth and even wales on the other. Rib knit fabrics of this type have good elasticity, especially in the width.
Rickrack
Flat braid in zigzag formation. It is produced by applying different tensions to individual threads during manufacture.
Right Hand Twill
A fabric weave where the twill line runs from the top right hand corner of the fabric towards the bottom left. Usually in piece dyed fabrics right hand twills use two plied yarns in the warp. In the jeans industry Levi’s has always used Right Hand twills for their basic denims in their 501 model as well as their other basic models.
Ring Optics
Technological development that gives open-end yarn the visual characteristics of traditional ring-spun yarn through and irregular (thick and thin) spinning process.
Ring-Ring
Or double ring. Refers to denim in which both warp and weft are made of ring-spun yarn. The hand is even softer than in ring denim.
Ring Spinning
The method of spinning that uses a Ring Spinning Frame where a roving yarn is drafted and twisted using a traveler to form a singles yarn. Stronger than open-end or air-jet spinning.
Rip-stop Nylon
A lightweight, wind resistant, and water resistant plain weave fabrc.
Rivet
A metal accessory that is used for both reinforcement of stress points and for non functional ornamentation.
Rope
A heavy, strong cord, made from either natural or man-made fibres or from wire, in a wide range of diameters. Yarns are twisted together to form strands. These strands are then twisted together in the opposite direction to form the rope.
Rope Dyeing
A yarn-dyeing process for indigo fabrics in which the yarns are twisted into rope before being dipped into the indigo dye. All good ring indigo denim is rope-dyed. Considered as the best possible method to dye indigo yarns.
Roving
In spun yarn production, an intermediate state between sliver and yarn. Roving is a condensed sliver which has been drafted, twisted, doubled, and redoubled. The product of the first roving is sometimes called slubbing.
Runback
Thread sliding out of a seam causing thread or seam failure.
Running Stitch
A stitch made by the needle being passed up and down through the fabric, always moving forward, creating spaces between all stitches. Stitch Type 205.