Needlepoint (lace)

A hand-made lace made by stitching according to a predetermined plan, a sewing needle and thread being used.
Note: A skeleton of outlining threads is held in position by tacking in accordance with the pattern drawn directly on to layers of linen or on to parchment attached thereto. The ground net and the pattern are stitched on to this framework without stitching through the backing, and the backing is removed, when the lace is made, by cutting the tacking between the two layers of linen.

Needlepunching

The use of barbed needles (see needle (needlefelt)) mounted in a needleloom (see needleloom (nonwoven)) to entangle a fibre web or batt by mechanical reorientation of some of the fibres within its structure.

Needling

The use of barbed needles (see needle (needlefelt)) mounted in a needleloom (see needleloom (nonwoven)) to entangle a fibre web or batt by mechanical reorientation of some of the fibres within its structure.

Negative let-off motion

A mechanism controlling the rotation of the beam on a weaving, warp knitting, or other fabric forming i-nachine where the beam is pulled round by the warp against a braking force applied to the beam.(sub category of let-off motion)

Negative shedding

An operation in which the movement of the healds or harness is controlled in one direction only, the return movement being effected by springs or weights (see shedding).

Nep

A small knot of entangled fibres.
Note 1: In the case of cotton it usually comprises dead or immature cotton hairs.
Note 2.. A local variation of the term, referring to flax, is 'nap'.

Nepp yarn

A yarn made on the woollen system and showing strongly contrasting spots on its surface that are made either by dropping in small balls of wool at the latter part of the carding process or by incorporating them in the blend and so setting the carding machine that these small lumps are not carded out.(Sub Category of Fancy Yarn)

Neppy yarn

A yarn in which the incidence of nep occurs at a relatively high level and so constitutes a fault.
Note. Neppy yarns are sometimes used purposely as decoration, for example, knickerbocker yarn (see under fancy yarn).

Net

An open-mesh fabric in which a firm structure is ensured by some form of twist, interlocking, or knitting of the yarn. It may be produced by gauze weaving, knitting, or knotting, or- on a lace machine. (See also plain net.)

Net Rate

In a fiber production process the total throughput less waste and inferior or off-grade material.

Net silk

1. Raw-silk filaments or strands that have been processed into yarns by twisting and folding or both, as opposed to spun silk.
2. Descriptive of fabrics produced from net silk.

Nett silk

1. Raw-silk filaments or strands that have been processed into yarns by twisting and folding or both, as opposed to spun silk.
2. Descriptive of fabrics produced from net silk.

Netting

The process of knotting threads into meshes that will not ravel.

Neutral-dyeing acid dye

An acid dye which has substantivity for- wool, silk or polyamide, when applied from a neutral bath.

Neutron-Absorbing Fiber

Polyethylene fiber modified with boron used in the nuclear industry for reducing neutron transmission.