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Fabric - Worsted wool for all seasons?

crazyjackdavis

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Is worsted wool good for all seasons?
Should my suits have a different composition for each season or would worsted wool work?
What are good fabrics for summer vs. winter?

Thanks!
 

yachtie

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Cloth wieght is what determines seasonality as much as cloth type- Worsteds come in weights from 7 to over16 ounces per yard. Heavier for cooler weather, lighter for warmer.
 

adambparker

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To glom on to the OP -- one thing I'm not precisely clear on:

With linen, e.g., there are 2 factors affecting how hot/cool it wears, weight and weave. You can have a loose weave linen in a heavier weight that will wear cooler than a tighter weave in a lighter weight.

With worsteds, is the weave by definition uniform (i.e. that is what distinguishes a worsted from other wool weaves) and therefore only weight affects how it wears? Or, are there varying degrees of tightness in the weave of a worsted that also play a role?

Thanks.
 

Will

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Originally Posted by adambparker
With worsteds, is the weave by definition uniform (i.e. that is what distinguishes a worsted from other wool weaves) and therefore only weight affects how it wears? Or, are there varying degrees of tightness in the weave of a worsted that also play a role?


You called it. There are open weaves and tight weaves. Gabardine is tightly woven, for example, and wears hot. Hopsack is an open weave that wears cool.

A 10 ounce open weave will wear cooler than an eight ounce conventional worsted.
 

Sator

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There are two spinning systems: the woollen spinning system and the worsted spinning system.

In the worsted spinning system the fibre lengths are longer (6.5-18cm) allowing them to be combed and spun down after carding. The result is that they are more compact, even and smoother. By comparison, in the woollen spinning system the fibres are carded two or three times but not combed or gilled. As a result the cloths have more crimp and a stronger felting quality.

The most common types of woollen (sometimes also just called 'carded') cloths you will find are woollen flannels and carded cashmere. Neither are particularly good for summer.

The suitability of a cloth for different weather has more to do with how the cloth is woven - how open the weave and its weight.
 

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