Warp Knitting

Warp knitting

Warp knitting is different from weft knitting in the sense that, every needle loops its own thread. The needles of warp knitting machines produce parallel rows of loops that are interlocked in a zigzag pattern.

The stitches on the front side of the fabrics appear vertically having a slight angle. The stitches on the backside appear horizontally as floats at a slight angle. These floats are called laps or underlap and are distinguished features of warp-knit fabrics

Types of warp knitting

It is a very fast technique that can produce fabric with a dimensional stability almost equal to that of woven fabric.
There are basically seven types of warp knitting.

  1. Tricot knit
  2. Milanese knit
  3. Simplex knit
  4. Raschel knit
  5. Ketten Raschel knit
  6. Crochet knit
  7. Weft-insertion warp

All warp-knitted fabrics are relatively easy to sew and resistant to runs.

History of warp knitting

History of warp Knitting

Warp knitting machine

Basic terminologies

  1. Tricot
  2. Rachel
  3. Gauge
  4. Guide bar
  5. Needle bar
  6. Runner length
  7. Rack
  8. Inch Quality
  9. Full set
  10. Part set
  11. Positive feed
  12. Negative feed
  13. Pattern wheel

Tricot

A type of warp knitting in which needles (spring bearded)are normally used, also, usually one to three warps are used to make fine fabrics.

Raschel

a type of warp knitting in which jacquard and plain fabrics can be made. Also, raschel types of warp knit fabrics are normally coarser than others but can be made in a wide range of fabrics. Mainly raschel machines may have up to thirty guide bars and one or two sets of needles.

Gauge

it is per linear inch of the needle bar to the number of needles. For most warp knits that refers to one linear inch, but can be for two.

Guide bar

A mechanism on a warp knitting machine directs warp yarns to the knitting needles, and their movement is controlled so that patterns can be knit.

Needle bar

A flat metal plate with slots (tricks) cut into it at regular intervals into which needles slide during the knitting process. Runner Length – in warp knitting the knitting of one rack of fabric required a number of inches of yarn.

Rack

A warp knitting measure of 480 courses, the number of inches per rack, it is a judge mark in tricot fabric quality.

Inch Quality

A measure of the quality of warp knit fabric, the number of inches of fabric per rack.
Full set -in warp knitting a term that shows that a guide bar each has a yarn in all guide eyes from the warp.
Part set – a term that indicates that all guide eyes in a guide bar do not have a yarn from the warp.
Positive feed – It is a device used for measuring the yarn tension in the warp of fabric in knitting.
Negative feed – when the yarn is pulled off the warp beam by the knitting action of the needles during the loop-forming step.
Pattern wheel – a cylinder or wheel upon which a pattern chain is placed which has links of different heights so as to move the guide bars
throughout its pattern.

The Warp knitting machine elements

Warp beams

  • Firstly, yarn is supplied to the needles in the form of warp sheets.
  • Each individual warp sheet is usually supplied from its own beam, also, which may consist of several section beams.
  • Also, the number of beams used on a machine is normally equal to the number of guide bars.
  • To ensure uniform conditions of warp feed and also, tension, the ends are supplied from flanged beams attached to shafts which turn to unwind the warp sheet in parallel formation.
  • For the convenience of handling, a number of beams may be attached to a beam shaft to achieve the full width of the warp sheet, for example,
Warp sheet width
  1. A full-width beam warp sheet 84 inches basically (213cm)
  2. Two beams also, each width of 42 inches (106 cm)
  3. Maybe also, four beams each width of 21 inches (53cm)

Guide bars

  • The guide bars extend across the complete width of the machine and their function is to wrap yarn around the needle (i.e. feed).
  • Each guide in the guide bar overall is usually provided with a single end of the yarn. So, warp knit machines are usually equipped with two or more guide bars.
  • Each guide bar is usually supplied with a warp sheet from its own beam shaft to meet its requirements of the rate of warp feed and also, threading for its particular lapping movement.

Needle bar

  • Needles, either mounted individually or in leads, are clamped to the needle bar which extends across the complete machine width.

Sinker bar

  • Sinkers are positioned between each pair of needles in the needle bar and provide fabric control during loop formation.

Warp knitting action

Warp knitting action

 Elements

Basic warp-knit actions
  1.  Spring beard needle
  2. Latch needle
  3. Compound needle
Design variables
  1. Yarn characteristics
  2. Threading
  3. Under lap length and position
  4. Number of bars
  5. Fabric enhancement
Fabric classifications
  1. One bar
  2. Two bar
  3. Three bar
  4. Multiple bars
Warp knitted fabric notation
  1. Verbal
  2. Graphic
  3. Numerical
  4. Diagrammatic

The warp knitting machine classification

knitting machine layout

Tricot machine

A tricot machine is a warp knitting machine that basically uses a single set of bearded or compound needles.
Also, the fabric is removed from the needles at approximately 90 degrees.

The tricot machine tends to have a fine gauge (28-32npi) and fewer guide bars (2,3 or 4), also, producing a simple and fine structure.

Tricot knitting

Two-needle bar raschel machine

The two-needle bars Raschel machine basically, is a warp knitting machine equipped with two sets of vertically mounted latch needles.
Also, the fabric is removed from the needles vertically downwards between the two needle bars.

Occasionally, guide bars with two partly threaded may be supplied from the provided they make lapping movements from the same full-threaded beam of the same extent to each other while directions in opposite moving.

The minimum number of warp sheets and also, guide bars for commercially acceptable structures is usually two.

Construction of warp-knitted fabric

Single guide bar fabric

Warp-knitted fabrics, in which all the yarn follows at least exactly the same lapping movement. So, these are normally made with a single guide bar controlling the yarns.
These fabrics have little commercial importance because of their low cover and lack of stability

warp knitting

Two guide bar fabric

The use of two guide bars gives a wider scope for patterning than is available with single guide bar fabrics. Also,  these fabrics form the basis of commercial trade, using continuous filament materials in most cases.

warp knitting

Part-threaded fabric

The guide eyes of one or more guide bars are basically not all threaded yarn, only a part of them are threaded.

The part-threaded fabric can produce some interesting surface appearance, such as relief or openwork structure.

So for one width repeat, the guide bar threading is usually shown between the needle spaces in its correct relative position of the design. Also,  at the first link with “|” representing a threaded guide and “·” representing an empty guide.

Basically, wales will be drawn together where underlaps pass across between them. Also, it will separate at points where no underlaps cross-producing net pillars in the former and net opening in the latter. If a guide bar is full-threaded which knits at every course is also used, the effect will still occur in the form of a relief or cord instead of a net.

warp knitting

warp knitting

Double needle-bar fabrics

  • As with weft knitting, warp knitting can also work with two sets of needles and produce double needle-bar fabrics.
  • The most popular double needle bar fabric is the pile or velvet effect also produced by splitting the space fabric into two pieces.
  • The un-split space fabric can also be used as a technical fabric such as a substitute for the foam. It can produce the tubular form of fabric for techniques used such as vascular tubes, bandages, etc.

warp knitting

Simulated structures from single needle bed warp knitting machine

warp knitting

Structures from double needle bed machine

Structures for double needle bed

Simulated fabrics, produced with 2 needles & 5 guide bars.

needle and guide bars

Warp & weft comparison

Warp knitting and weft knitting by all means are the two major differences in knitting. Firstly, single yarn requires in-weft knitting. Also, in warp knitting, one yarn for every stitch is used. Weft knitting mostly is done either by machine or hand and warp knitting is done generally by machine.

Definition

comparatively, warp knitting is a knitting type in which the yarn loops in zigzags with the length of the fabric. While in weft knitting yarn running crosswise or in a circle.

Structure

In weft, knitting knit structure is produced horizontally when each yarn loop is following to other in the needle bed.

While in warp knitting the yarn is zigzag along the fabric width.

Properties

Warp is Less elastic than weft knitting. More run-resistant than weft knitting. Fabric is denser than weft knitting. The type and weight of yarn are prominent in the type of fabric that is produced.

While in weft knitting fabric is more elastic, comfortable, warm to wear, and shrinks easily. Also, depending on the yarns used required properties can be achieved.

Machine

Weft knitting machines can generally be classified as circulars and flats. Basically, this classification is based on their needle bed arrangement and frame design. Also, weft-knitted fabrics are produced in either flat form or tubular.

In warp knitting, the warping process is essential and also, and the fabric is produced flat and along the width.

Fabric applications

Hence, extremely versatile in the pattern. Good air and water permeability  for warp knitting compared with weft knitting fabric, also, good crease resistance, durability, dimensional stability, strength

Warp knit structures half tricot

tricot structure

Full tricot

tricot knitting

Locknit

tricot knitting

Standard Two Bar Fabrics

Tricot Jersey (Full Tricot)

Front Bar 1-2/1-0/
Back Bar 1-0/1-2/

Locknit

Front Bar 2-3/1-0/
Back Bar 1-0/1-2/

Reverse Locknit

Front Bar 1-2/1-0/
Back Bar 1-0/2-3/

Loop Raised

Front Bar 1-0/3-4/
Back Bar 1-0/2-3/

Sharkskin

Front Bar 1-0/1-2/
Back Bar 3-4/1-0/

Satin

Front Bar 3-4/1-0/
Back Bar 1-0/1-2/
OR
Front Bar 4-5/1-0/
Back Bar 1-0/1-2/

Queens cord

Front Bar 1-0/0-1/
Back Bar 3-4/1-0/
OR
Front Bar 1-0/0-1/
Back Bar 4-5/1-0/

Diagram showing laying in yarn to form designs:
Some guide bars are left empty

warp knitting

Characteristics of warp knit fabrics

  • Extremely versatile with yarn rigid to elastic and in pattern effects
  • Cannot be traveled
  • Good air and water permeability
  • Good crease resistance
  • Good drapability
  • Good dimensional stability
  • Good strength

Warp knitting fabrics

wrap knit fabric comparsion

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