Types of Knitting and Knitted fabrics - list of knitted fabrics

What is the Knitting?

Kitting is a fabric created by interlocking yarn or thread through the needle. A knitted fabric is elastic, porous, and made much more quickly and easily than woven fabric at a comparatively cheaper cost. Kind of knitted fabrics | List of Knitted Fabrics | Knitted Fabric Names | Type of Knitted Fabrics

Knitting is the construction of interlocking yarn through a needle on a knitting machine. The fabric is knit with two yarns forming loops in each course. Many needles or shafts form yarn loops on knitting machines. The horizontal rows of loops are called courses, and the vertical rows of loops are called wales or ribs.

Characteristic of knitted fabric is light in weight, and comfortable to wear in all seasons. Also, the knitted fabric resists wrinkle tendency, and fit flexibility is a major factor in its large-scale popularity. Knitted fabrics are used in garments and active sports clothing due to their elastic nature for physical activity.

Types of Knitting

Knitting of fabric produced are circular knitting, (also called filling or weft) and warp knitting. Weft or filling knits are horizontal directions constructed from one yarn fed into knitting machine needles.

1- Circular or Weft Knit

The circular or weft knit creates spiral effects in tubular form. These types of knitting machines produce tubular fabric with spiral effects. The horizontal rows of loops are called courses and vertical rows of loops are called wales or ribs. Due to its tubular fabric construction, it is difficult to identify wales and courses.

To get an idea of the weft knitting method, think of hand-knitted sweaters, which weave yarn or threads around themselves. So, when you see the weft knitting pattern of fabric, it has a very obvious V shape. It is also easier to disassemble when there is a hole in the weft knit fabric. However, it provides more stretch to the fabric.

2- Warp Knits

Warp knits are produced using yarn from the warp beam on special warp knitting machines. Unlike weft knits, they use multiple yarns to form loops and adjacent wales.

Warp-knitted fabric is produced by weaving yarn or threads around itself as weft knit, however the pattern is more complicated. Also, the warp-knitted fabric is made by weaving yarn or threads around itself, but the pattern is a bit more complicated. Threads of V shape is not as obvious, however, the patterns are also like stripes. but the V-shaped strips are not very visible. Besides weft knitting it uses multiple threads on beams just imagine a weaving beam. The warp knit production rate is higher and is stronger compared to weft knits.

3- Flat knits

Flat knitting is similar to weft knits, it involves back-and-forth knitting and all stitches are knit in one needle. Flate knitting is done with a single-pointed needle, as the stitch can rest on cable. The flat knit fabric produced is sheet or flat, mostly used for garments collars, cuffs, hems, socks, and gloves

Knitted fabrics are produced using two main methods: weft knitting and warp knitting. Each method is further subdivided into a variety of knit fabric types.

Knitted Fabric Knits

Weft Knits
- Single Knits
  - Lacoste
  - Single Jersey
- Double Knits
  - Rib Knit
  - Purl Knit
  - Interlock Knit
  - Bird’s Eye
  - Cardigans
  - Milano Ribs
  - Pointelle
  - Cable Fabric
Specialized Weft Knits
- Fleece
- French Terry
- Intarsia
- Jacquard Jerseys
- Knitted Terry
- Knitted Velour
- Sliver Knit
Warp Knits
- Tricot
- Raschel
- Milanese knit

Weft knit can be produced by either circular knitting or a flat-bed knitting machine. For filling four basic stitch types are used in circular, weft, or filling knits.

Rib stitch
Jersey stitch/plain knit
Purl stitch
Interlocking stitch (single and double knits)

1.   Flat or Jersey Knit Fabric

Jersey Knit or flat knit fabrics is the simplest and economical weft structure. Jersey fabric has vertical flat visible lines on the technical face side of the fabric and horizontal ribs on the technical back of the fabric. A major disadvantage of regular flat knit is its poor dimensional stability, shrinkage, and growth.

The major advantage is its good stretch recovery about 40% on both wale and course sides. It is fast and inexpensive and can be used to produce varied fancy patterns by using a variety of yarns or double-loop stitches with different lengths to make velour, terry, and plush fabrics production. Jersey fabric is used in casual tops, T-shirts hosiery, etc.

2.   Purl Knit Fabric

Purl Knit Fabrics faces look the same on both sides of the fabric, It has alternative courses of identical and reversible knit stitch and purl stitch loops. Many attractive designs and patterns can be made with the purl stitch. Purl Knit is produced by knitting threads as purl stitch and alternate knit in one wale of the fabric. Bulky sweaters and children’s clothing manufacturing are often used. The fabric is more stretchable in length directions remains flat and does not curl. The production speed is generally slow with Purl knits.

3.   Rib Stitch Knit Fabric

Rib Stitch fabric has columns of wales on both the front and back sides of the fabric. Rib stitch produces fabrics that are good in elasticity. The rib knit fabric is made alternative of purl stitch and knit stitches in one course of fabric. Also, the fabric has alternate wales of purl stitches and knit stitch. It looks identical on both sides and has a reversible pattern fabric. Rib knits are used for the “ribbing” as lower edges of sleeve cuffs, sweaters, and necklines. Rib knit fabric may be made using both flat and circular knitting machines.

The most common Rib Knit fabrics are cotton and polyester bases combination with or without Spandex. The other base materials used are linen, wool, rayon, acrylic, etc.