Abstract: Denim fabric and articles of clothing having a “washed” or heather look/effect are produced in a manner that retains color intensity and substantially avoids the waste of chemicals and/or water inherent in conventional washing processes. A first coarse feeder yarn of cotton and/or other natural fiber by ring or open end spinning, and then is continuously dyed (such as by indigo rope dyeing, slasher dyeing, or sheet dyeing). The dyed yarn is dried and then cut up into lengths of about four inches long or less (and opened if necessary) into individual fibers. The fibers are blended with other fibers (e.g. about 10-90% greige fibers) to produce a blended composite. The blended composite is then carded, spun into yarn, and woven into denim fabric having a washed look, or a heather effect, which then can be made into any suitable article. A second coarse yarn made similar to the first coarse yarn may be added to the blending station.

Abstract: Denim fabric and articles of clothing having a “washed” or heather look/effect are produced in a manner that retains color intensity and substantially avoids the waste of chemicals and/or water inherent in conventional washing processes. A first coarse feeder yarn of cotton and/or other natural fiber by ring or open end spinning, and then is continuously dyed (such as by indigo rope dyeing, slasher dyeing, or sheet dyeing). The dyed yarn is dried and then cut up into lengths of about four inches long or less (and opened if necessary) into individual fibers. The fibers are blended with other fibers (e.g. about 10-90% greige fibers) to produce a blended composite. The blended composite is then carded, spun into yarn, and woven into denim fabric having a washed look, or a heather effect, which then can be made into any suitable article. A second coarse yarn made similar to the first coarse yarn may be added to the blending station.

Abstract: Denim fabric is made from warp yarn which is at least 30% novelty cotton yarn having irregularly spaced effects (e.g. slubs) about one-half inch to two inches in length. The cotton novelty yarn is made by separating cotton sliver into cotton fibers, and acting on the cotton fibers with a negative wire combing roll, and then twisting the cotton fibers into the cotton novelty yarn. The negative wire combing roll has a tooth angle of about -0.01 to -15.degree. (e.g. about -2.degree.). The novelty cotton yarn is combined with at least 10% conventional novelty yarn or non-slub open end or ring spun yarn and made into a warp of about 54-100 ends per inch, and may be ring dyed (with indigo, vat, sulphur, pigment or reactive dye) so that the core of the yarn remains white. The warp is woven with a filling yarn to produce a denim fabric with a weight of about 5 oz. -17 oz. per sq. yd. having the weave and yarn size selected so that a tight construction is provided which highlights the slubs.