Kapok

Fibre from the seedpods of trees native to central America, Africa, and Java. The fibre is light and buoyant and is used for stuffing because it cannot be spun. See filling too.

Keyna V low-impact dyes

Meet the strict guidelines of the Organic Trade Association Fiber standards. The designer, Keyna Vialpandou uses these for products by earth creations in conjunction with their clay dyes www.theorganicpages.com

Kevlar

Produced by Dupont. Kevlar is five times as strong as steel on a weight for weight basis, yet at the same time is lightweight, flexible and comfortable, hence one of its most long-standing uses – in bullet proof clothing. So strong, it is used in cars, and on the mars pathfinder landing apparatus. Related to nylon but far stronger.

< www.makingthemodernworld.com > 7.5.07 [online]

Koolaid

A powdered synthetic drink that is used by many. Used by textile makers in the USA to dye fibres efficiently and easily. Supposed to be non-toxic for human consumption and therefore non-toxic to use for easy colouration of textiles.

(www.koolaiduk.com)

Knitting

‘From the old english word ‘cynttan’ or ‘cnitten’ which means to knot. Thought to have been introduced to britain by spanish sailors wrecked off the shetland coast.’ ( Hardy, S. ‘Handcrafted rugs’ 2001, p 106 pub: guild of master craftsmen)

Kyoto protocol

An agreement on Global warming reached by the United nations Conference on climate change in Kyoto, japan, in 1997. The major industrialised nations pledged to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases between 2008 and 2012. (www.answers.com )