Comparison of subjective evaluation and objective laboratory measurement of the property of hand in textile fabrics

This research was undertaken to determine the importance of the aesthetic property of hand to consumers and to relate the subjective evaluation of fabric hand to objective laboratory measurement of the same property. Data for this study were obtained by subjective evaluation and by objective laboratory measurement of fifteen white fabrics (S) including felt, Pellon®, tricot, doubleknit, broadcloth, georgette, organza, casement cloth, satin, flannelette, chintz, melton, corduroy, velvet, and terrycloth. Properties of hand evaluated subjectively and objectively included flexibility, compressibility, extensibility, resilience, weight, thickness, surface contour, surface friction, and thermal character. Fifty consumers evaluated subjectively the hand of the selected fabrics. Subjective data were obtained from a consumer opinion questionnaire and from ratings of terminology used by consumers in describing the hand of the fabrics. A series of standard laboratory procedures were used to measure objectively the hand of the fifteen fabrics including (1) ASTM D-1388-64, Stiffness of Fabrics, (2) ASTM D-1682-64, Breaking Load and Elongation of Textiles, (3) ASTM D-1295-67, Wrinkle Recovery of Woven Textile Fabrics Using the Vertical Strip Apparatus, (4) ASTM D-1910-64, Construction Characteristics of Woven Fabrics, (5) ASTM D-1777-64, Measuring Thickness of Textile Materials, (6) Instruction Manual, Thwing-Albert Handle-O-Meter