What is meant by warp, weft, and bias?

• A. Warp is the direction along the length of the fabric, weft is the direction across the fabric at right angles to the warp, and bias is a direction at a 45 degree angle to the warp and weft
• B. Weft is lengthwise; Warp is across; Bias is 90 degrees
• C. Warp across; Weft lengthwise; Bias 0 degrees
• D. Bias is parallel to warp; weft is perpendicular

Answer: (A)

Warp runs lengthwise in fabric, the yarns along the fabric’s long direction held under tension on the loom. Weft (or filling) runs across the fabric, weaving from side to side and passing over and under the warp yarns at right angles. The bias is the diagonal direction across the fabric, about 45 degrees to both warp and weft. Cutting or stretching along the bias gives the fabric more give and drape because the diagonal path allows more distortion of the weave with less yarn length change. So the statement that correctly defines these terms is that warp is lengthwise, weft is across, and bias is at a 45-degree angle to both.