To sign 'fabric' or 'material,' bring both hands in front of you with your palms facing down. Pinch your thumbs and fingertips together as if you are holding a piece of cloth. Gently rub your thumbs against your fingertips while moving both hands slightly outward and apart. This motion mimics the action of feeling the texture of a piece of material.
Sign 'I,' 'need,' and 'buy,' then use the sign for 'fabric' by rubbing your thumbs and fingertips together while moving your hands apart. Finish with the sign for 'project.'
Point to the imaginary or real material, sign 'fabric,' and then sign 'soft' by bringing your hands down while gently closing your fingers, emphasizing the texture with a relaxed facial expression.
Sign 'fabric,' then 'color' by wiggling your fingers on your chin. Finish with the 'what' sign by holding your hands out with palms up, furrowing your eyebrows to indicate a question.
Sign 'I,' 'need,' and 'buy,' then use the sign for 'fabric' by rubbing your thumbs and fingertips together while moving your hands apart. Finish with the sign for 'project.'
Point to the imaginary or real material, sign 'fabric,' and then sign 'soft' by bringing your hands down while gently closing your fingers, emphasizing the texture with a relaxed facial expression.
Sign 'fabric,' then 'color' by wiggling your fingers on your chin. Finish with the 'what' sign by holding your hands out with palms up, furrowing your eyebrows to indicate a question.
Yes, in ASL, the sign for 'fabric' is the same as the sign for 'material' when referring to cloth or textiles. The context of your sentence will let the person you are signing with know exactly which English concept you mean.
While the rubbing motion is the most important part of the sign, moving your hands slightly outward and apart helps convey the idea of a continuous piece of cloth or a yard of fabric. It makes the sign much clearer.
No, this specific sign is used exclusively for textiles, cloth, or sewing fabric. If you are talking about building materials, you would typically fingerspell the specific material or use the dedicated signs for wood, metal, or plastic.
