Which fabric uses an unbalanced plain weave?

• A. Sumbrella Outdoor Fabric
• B. Ripstops
• C. Flannel
• D. Eyelet

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is how unbalanced plain weave creates a fabric with uneven warp and weft densities, giving a ribbed or textured effect. Ripstop fabrics use a plain weave as the base, but they incorporate thicker reinforcement yarns laid in a regular grid. Those heavier yarns contrast with the regular plain-weave yarns, producing an uneven, or unbalanced, structure that not only creates the distinctive grid but also contributes to tear resistance. The other fabrics aren’t defined by this unbalanced plain weave: Sumbrella outdoor fabric is a coated plain-weave base, flannel is a brushed plain or twill fabric with a soft nap, and eyelet is typically a decorative cutwork on a base weave, none of which hinge on an unbalanced warp-weft relationship.