CALCULATING PERCENTAGE COMPOSITIONS FOR THE NEW FABRIC

When several different yarns with differing fiber composition are combined
in one fabric, the resulting fiber composition for the new fabric has to be calculated.
In either case it is important for designer to understand the procedure.

Example:

Fabric is made from three yarns namely;

Yarn (a) is a cotton/acrylic blend =>50% cotton/50% acrylic

Yarn (b) is a linen/cotton blend => 60% linen/ 40% cotton

Yarn (c) is 100% acrylic

Apiece of the fabric weighs 400 grams

To work out the percentage composition of the fibers in the fabric it is necessary to rove
the fabric. The resulting un-roved yarns are weighed as yarns (a), (b) and (c) it is found
that;
Yarn (a) weighs 175 grams
Yarn (b) weighs 125 grams
Yarn (c) weighs 100 grams
From this information we can work out the percentage composition of yarns in the
fabric and therefore the percentage composition of the fibers.
The percentage composition of yarns in the fabric:
Yarn (a) as a percentage is 175 x 100 = 43.75%
400
Yarn (b) as a percentage is 125 x 100 = 31.25%
400
 Yarn(c) as a percentage is 100 x 100 = 25%
400
The percentage composition of fibers in the fabric:
43.75% of the fabric is made up of yarn (a).
This yarn is 50% cotton/50% acrylic
% cotton = 50% of 43.75% = 21.87%
% acrylic = 50% of 43.75% = 21.87%
31.25% of the fabric is made up of yarn (b). This yarn is 60% linen/40% cotton.
% linen = 60% of 31.25% = 60 x 31.25% = 18.75%
100

% cotton = 40% of 31.25% = 40 x 31.25% = 12.50%

100

25% of fabric is made up of yarn (c). This yarn is 100% acrylic

% acrylic = 100% of 25% = 25%
To get the percentage composition of the fibers in the fabric we must
add together the percentage compositions as established:

% cotton = 21.87% + 12.5% = 34.37% ~ 34% ]

% acrylic = 21.86% + 25% = 46.87% ~ 47% ] to the nearest
whole
%linen = 18.75% ~ 19% ] number
Alternatively, the fiber composition can be worked out as below:
Yarn (a) weights 175 grams and is 50% cotton/50% acrylic.
Therefore weight of cotton grams is 50% 0f 175 = 87.5 grams and
Weight of acrylic is 50% of 175 grams = 87.5 grams
Yarn (b) weight 125 grams and is 60%, linen 40% cotton;
Therefore weight of linen is 60% of 125 grams = 60 x 125 = 75 grs
100
And weight of cotton is 40% of 125 grams = 40/100 x 125 = 50 grs
 Yarn (c) weighs 100 grams and is 100% acrylic;
Therefore weight of acrylic 100 grams.
The weights of the fibers are therefore:
Cotton =>87.5 grams + 50 grams = 137.5 grams
Acrylic =>87.5 grams + 100 grams = 187.5 grams
Linen => 75 grams
And finally, the percentage composition are:
% Cotton = 137.5 x 100 = 34.38 = 34%
400
% acrylic = 187.5 x 100 = 46.88 =47%
400
% linen = 75 x 100 = 18.75 = 19%
400