What is Knitting

Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth or other fine crafts. Knitted fabric consists of consecutive rows of loops, called stitches. As each row progresses, a new loop is pulled through an existing loop. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can be passed through them. This process eventually results in a final product, often a garment. Knitting may be done by hand or by machine. Knitted fabrics is the second major class of fabric, after woven and before nonwoven fabrics

Knitted fabric properties Elasticity, thickness and warmth Compared to the other two classes, knitted fabrics are much more elastic, which accounts for their historical use in stockings and other clothing that requires changes in shape. Knitted fabrics are generally warmer and more comfortable than woven fabrics, which is why they are worn closer to the body. Moreover, knitted fabrics are often made from wool, which stays warm even when wet; wool is preferred since it is more elastic than most fibers and produces more even, beautiful knits. In general, elasticity and warmth are opposing qualities in a knitted fabric, since the most elastic knitted fabrics, such as lace, have the largest holes and are thus less insulating.

Difference between knitted and woven fabric

The significant difference between woven and knitted fabric is Woven fabric has two sets of yarn at right angles to each other One yarn lies vertically, (the warp) and one yarn lies horizontally (the weft) The weft yarn is interlocked with the warp by passing under then over, one or more warp threads

Knitted fabric has one set of yarn which is worked either horizontally or vertically, not both There are two recognized knitting structures warp knitting, sometimes known as rachelle knitting And weft knitting

Warp knitting has one set of yarn for each wale, each yarn only travels vertically The knitting is produced using a specialist warp knit machine Warp-knitted end products include, net and lace curtain fabrics, and fabrics that imitate crochet

Weft knitting has one set of yarn which only travels horizontally across the fabric Weft knitted fabrics can be produced using a variety of powered, electronic, industrial or, domestic knitting machines The fabric can also be made by hand using two knitting needles Weft knitted fabric can be shaped during manufacture It can also be produced as 'piece goods' (lengths of fabric) which are then cut and sewn like woven fabric.

Knitting Terminology

knit stitch: One of the two basic knitting stitches. This stitch makes a "v" shape. purl stitch: The other basic knitting stitch. It forms a "bump." garter stitch: Another stitch pattern, when knitting flat, this is created by knitting every row. (Or purling every row, but it's not something you see very often.) stockinette (or stocking) stitch: This isn't so much a stitch as it is a stitch pattern. When knitting flat, it's formed by knitting one row and purling the next. Stockinette is the most popular stitch pattern there is; it's what everyone thinks of when they think of knitting and knitted fabric.

cast on: Knitting has to start somewhere. This will get the yarn on your needles and ready to be knit. bind (or cast) off: This is how you get the loops off your needles and secure them so you can finish off your work. working yarn: This is the yarn that goes from your ball of yarn to what's on your knitting needles. It's your "active" yarn, what you use to actually knit with.

dye lot: Natural fiber yarns are dyed in batches. No matter how careful the dyer or the company is, different batches of the same color come out looking slightly different. So, to make your knitting life easier, yarn companies number their batches called dye lots and label the balls of yarns with their lot numbers so you can easily find truly matching yarn. gauge: Gauge, in a broad sense, is to knitting what thread count is to fabric. Gauge tells you how many stitches and rows you have in an inch. This information is key when you're working on larger or more complicated projects, particularly garments. For the purposes of this class, gauge isn't too important, but you'll want to have something in the vicinity of the gauge listed on your yarn. (This should be somewhere in the vicinity of 4-5 stitches an inch using US size 7-9 needles.)

Knitting Process
A piece of knitting begins with the process of casting on (also known as "binding on"), which involves the initial creation of the stitches on the needle. Different methods of casting on are used for different effects: one may be stretchy enough for lace, while another provides a decorative edging Provisional cast-ons are used when the knitting will continue in both directions from the cast-on. The number of active stitches remains the same as when cast on unless stitches are added (an increase) or removed (a decrease).

Most Western-style knitters follow either the English style (in which the yarn is held in the right hand) or the Continental style (in which the yarn is held in the left hand). A third but less common method, called combination knitting may also be used. Once the knitted piece is finished, the remaining live stitches are cast off. Casting (or binding) off loops the stitches across each other so they can be removed from the needle without unravelling the item. Although the mechanics are different from casting on, there are a similar variety of methods and choices to be made. In typical sweater-making, the final knitted garment will be made of several knitted pieces, with individual sections of the garment knit separately and then sewn together. However, seamless knitting, where a whole garment is knit as a single piece, is also possible.

Structure of stockinet, a common knitted fabric. The meandering red path defines one course, the path of the yarn through the fabric. The uppermost white loops are unsecured and "active", but they secure the red loops suspended from them. In turn, the red loops secure the white loops just below them, which in turn secure the loops below them, and so on.

Classification of knitted fabric

Knitted fabric is divided into two categories: weft knitted fabric and two types of warp knitted fabric.

Weft knitted fabric used for sweaters and socks, warp knitted fabric underwear fabric used to do, hand the preparation of the compilation method is also the weft. Weft, the yarn is from the machine to do lateral side to side reciprocating motion (or circular motion), with the needle movement can form new knitted coil. Weft knitted fabric yarn is taking the horizontal, the fabric is formed by the direction of the needle to weave in the rows of a row of a row of the upper and lower rows of coils connected to each other formed. All the coils of a row of yarn are woven by the one. Weft knitted fabric circular in the cross machine or machines to complete.

The warp is a set of warp upward vertical movement to do, with the needle to form a new knitted loop movement. Warp knitted fabric and the knitting machine that produces them, and the production of weft knitted fabrics and knitted fabrics have a fundamentally different machine. Yarn in the warp knitted fabric is woven through to, like, like the warp of woven fabrics, yarn for the warp beam, the axis of a large number of parallel winding yarn, and woven in the warp beam similar. Warp knit fabrics of yarn in the direction is meridional. In a row to form a vertical loop, and then move to another vertical and diagonal lines to form the next row to another coil. Yarn in the fabric along the length was from side to side "of the" shape ahead of a coil of each row are all compiled from various yarns. Warp knitted fabric mainly by the flat, the velvet and divided by the velveteen.

Classification of weft knitted fabric

Weft knitting is the simplest method of converting a yarn into fabrics. Weftknitting is a method of forming a fabric inwhich the loops are made in horizontal wayfrom a single yarn and intermeshing of loops take place in a circular or flat formon a crosswise basis.

Common weft knits In woven fabric structures, three weaves,are called basic weaves, viz., plain, twilland satin. In a similar way, in a weft knittingstructure, the following four structures areconsidered as basic weft knit structure. Plain jersey fabric Rib fabric Purl fabric Interlock fabricPlain jersey fabrics, also known as single jersey, have an identifiable right/face andwrong /back side.

Plain jersey fabric

Plain jersey fabric is the simplest weft knitted structure that is possible to produce with one set of needle. It is very economical to produce. It is having definite face and back and is most easily recognised. Face is having all knit stitches with smooth texture, while back is having purl stitches with textured and mottled appearance. These fabrics are produced on flat as well as circular machines.

Interlock fabric

Interlock structure consists of two 1 x 1rib fabrics knitted one after the other by means of two separate yarns, which knits alternately on the face and back of the fabric and are interlocked together. Interlock is a reversible fabric, which has similar smooth appearance on each side. Interlock is produce on a cylinder and dial circular weft knitting machine, with alternate long and short needles opposite to each other on cylinder and dial.

Rib fabric

Rib fabric is a double jersey knitted fabric with vertical rows (wales) of loops meshed in the opposite direction to each other. Simplest rib fabric is 1 x 1 rib having alternate wales knitted to the front and back. The ribs tend to close up to create a double faced fabric, which has the same appearance on both sides. Rib knits fabrics are produced with the knitting machines having two sets of needle, normally positioned at rights angle to eachother.

Variables in weft knitted fabric A great deal of variety may be created by manipulating the following: Fibre content Yarn type and twist Fabric count Finishes and Variations of tuck, knit and missstitches