Comparative study on quality of shawls made from hand-and machine-spun pashmina yarns

Abstract

An attempt has been made to compare the quality of pashmina shawls developed on traditional and woollen handlooms using both hand-spun and machine-spun yarns for various physico-mechanical parameters. The experimental plan includes preparation of both hand-spun and machine-spun yarns followed by the preparation of pashmina shawls from these yarns on both traditional and woollen handlooms, and their quality evaluation. Number of fibres/cross-section, count, elongation percentage, tenacity and coefficient of friction show significant difference between hand-spun and machine-spun yarns. The quality evaluation tests of fabrics reveal that weight/m², thickness, picks/inch, extension percentage, bending rigidity, frictional properties and total hand value show significant difference, whereas ends/inch, breaking load, tenacity, bending length, abrasion loss and shrinkage loss do not show significant difference. The study reveals that the overall quality of pashmina shawls developed on traditional loom using hand-spun yarn is better than the other types of shawls developed and studied.