the main aims underlining the production of blended yarn and fabric are reduction in costs by use of uneconomic fibre, opportunity to produce colour effects and combination of merits of different fibres. the latter has been the main reason for blends like polyester/cotton or polyester/viscose or polyester/wool. such combinations indicate a strong tendency to make blends which combine the properties of comfort and absorption of fibres like cotton, viscose and wool with the hard-wearing and heat-settable properties of synthetic fibres. 7 refs