Features of Knitted Fabrics

What are Knitting Fabrics?

The knitting machine was developed by Reverend William Lee, a man from Calverton, England, in 1600 AD. However, Egyptian tombs contain fabrics that could suggest that this method of making afabric dates back to the fourth century BC. Knitting was not an ancient craft that women could master, but it was a common skill for men who made their nets for fishing.

The crown is the top section of the loop. The two straight sections are the legs. The total length of the loop, also known as the Stitch Length, is the length. The count of a fabric structure is similar to weaving. It refers to the number and size of the loops in the courses or wales for every two square centimeters.

Fabrics with high wale counts will be more stable and rigid in their width. However, fabrics with high courses count will be more rigid and stable in their length. Fabrics with a high count of both course and wale will recover faster after being stretched.

A fabric with a lower count can be more flexible, less rigid, and better suited to one's body, but it also has a lower recovery rate. Fabrics with a higher wale number shrink less in width, while fabricswith a lower course count shrink less at length.

A loop is the basic unit of a knitted construction. When one loop is pulled through another loop, a stitch is created. You can make a stitch in either a horizontal or vertical direction. Weft knit fabric refers to the interlacement of horizontal loops on a course-wise or circular basis in order to form a fabric. This method involves feeding one or more yarns to a set of needles in an either lateralor circular fashion. Below is an illustration of a weft-knitted cloth.

A warp knit is a technique that involves interlacing loops from each warp yarn in a vertical fashion to form a fabric. This method involves feeding multiple end yarns simultaneously to individual needles in a lateral fashion.

Features of Knitted Fabrics:

1. There are Many Possibilities

Knitted fabrics, or more specifically weft knits, are extensible and have limited elastic recovery. After partial recovery, this semi-permanent deformation can be nearly removed with agitation such

as washing and drying. This makes the fabric more comfortable for body movements and gives the wearer greater freedom.

The extensibility of knitted fabrics can also cause problems when cutting and sewing garments. Bagging may occur at the elbows and knees due to semi-permanent deformation.

2. Resistant to Tears and Stains

Knitted fabrics are extremely resistant to creases. These fabrics have a loop structure that makes them crease-resistant. The loops can be bent or folded to act as reversible hinges around the edges. Knitted fabrics have a high tear resistance due to the flexibility of the loops, which distribute stress throughout the fabric.

3. Limpness

It is the opposite of stiffness. The weft and warp knits have low bending lengths, which can be seen in their soft drape.

4. Softness

The Softness and flexural rigidity determine the fabric's feel. Knits feel softer than wovens due to their lower flexural rigidity.

5. Fullness

The bending modulus of knitted structures is a key factor in the fullness and hand of knitted fabric. The fabric's flexural rigidity is directly affected by the modulus of bending, and the fabric's thickness in turn. Weft knits are more full than wovens and even warp knits because they have high flexural rigidity, thickness, and low thickness. The yarns have a low twist which contributes to the softness and fullness of knitted fabrics.

6. Air Permeability

Knitted fabrics are more air-permeable than woven fabrics by several orders of magnitude. This is because the structure itself is made up of a lot of airspaces due to the interlacement of loops. This is an important property for underwear. It allows the garment to breathe.