Crape

Crape
Detail of a Kimono

Crape (an Anglicized version of the Fr. crêpe [1]) is a silk, wool, or polyester fabric of a gauzy texture, having a peculiar crisp or crimpy appearance. (The word crape is also used as an Anglicized spelling of Crêpe (pancake).[2])

Silk crape is woven of hard spun silk yarn in the gum or natural condition. There are two distinct varieties of the textile: soft, Canton, or Oriental crape, and hard or crisped crape. Thin crêpe is called crêpe de Chine ("Chinese crêpe").

The wavy appearance of Canton crape results from the peculiar manner in which the weft is prepared, the yarn from two bobbins being twisted together in the reverse way. The fabric when woven is smooth and even, having no crape appearance, but when the gum is subsequently extracted by boiling, it at once becomes soft, and the weft, losing its twist, gives the fabric the waved structure which constitutes its distinguishing feature. Canton crapes are used, either white or colored, for scarves and shawls, bonnet trimmings, etc.

The crisp and elastic structure of hard crape is not produced either in the spinning or in the weaving, but is due to processes through which the gauze passes after it is woven. In 1911, the details of these processes were known to only a few manufacturers, who so jealously guarded their secrets that, in some cases, the different stages in the manufacture were conducted in towns far removed from each other.[citation needed] Commercially they are distinguished as single, double, three-ply and four-ply crapes, according to the nature of the yarn used in their manufacture. They are almost exclusively dyed black and used in mourning dress.

In Great Britain, hard crapes are made at Braintree in Essex, Norwich, Yarmouth, Manchester and Glasgow. The crape formerly made at Norwich was made with a silk warp and worsted weft and is said to have afterwards degenerated into bombazine[citation needed]. A very successful imitation of real crape is made in Manchester of cotton yarn and sold under the name of Victoria crape.

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Crape — (kr[=a]p), n. [F. cr[^e]pe, fr. L. crispus curled, crisped. See {Crisp}.] A thin, crimped stuff, made of raw silk gummed and twisted on the mill. Black crape is much used for mourning garments, also for the dress of some clergymen. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Crape — Crape, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Craped} (kr[=a]pt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Craping}.] [F. cr[^e]per, fr. L. crispare to curl, crisp, fr. crispus. See {Crape}, n.] To form into ringlets; to curl; to crimp; to friz; as, to crape the hair; to crape silk.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • crape — crape, crêpe Crape is used for a band of black silk or ornamental silk worn as a sign of mourning, and crêpe is used for other gauze like fabrics having a wrinkled surface and in crêpe paper (crinkled paper used in making decorations) …   Modern English usage

  • Crape — crape, crappe rocher Sud Est …   Glossaire des noms topographiques en France

  • crape — 1630s, Englished spelling of CREPE (Cf. crepe) (q.v.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • crape — ► NOUN 1) variant spelling of CRÊPE(Cf. ↑crêpy). 2) black silk, formerly used for mourning clothes. ORIGIN French crêpe (see CRÊPE(Cf. ↑crêpy)) …   English terms dictionary

  • crape — [krāp] n. [Fr crêpe: see CREPE] 1. CREPE (sense 1) 2. a piece of black crepe as a sign of mourning, often worn as a band around the arm vt. craped, craping Rare to cover with black crepe …   English World dictionary

  • CRAPE — Centre de Recherches sur l Action Politique en Europe Le Centre de Recherches sur l Action Politique en Europe (CRAPE) est une unité mixte de recherche (UMR 6051) associant le CNRS, l université de Rennes 1 et l IEP de Rennes. Laboratoire de… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • crape — n. 1 crecircpe, usu. of black silk or imitation silk, formerly used for mourning clothes. 2 a band of this formerly worn round a person s hat etc. as a sign of mourning. Phrases and idioms: crape fern a NZ fern, Leptopteris superba, with tall… …   Useful english dictionary

  • crape — I. noun Etymology: alteration of French crêpe, from Middle French crespe, from crespe curly, from Latin crispus more at crisp Date: 1633 1. crepe 2. a band of crepe worn on a hat or sleeve as a sign of mourning II. transitive verb (craped …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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