Knitted fabric is one of the most important aspects of the textile industry. The other significant fabric is woven. Many clothing products are produced using these two fabric types. But we are specifically talking about knitted material and its types.
You must have seen knitted sweaters, caps, socks, gloves, or kids clothes for winter. All these items are the best examples of knitted fabrics. Many people are unaware of the knit types used in manufacturing clothing products.
Therefore, I have gathered some very valuable pieces of knowledge on the most common knit types for you.
What Is Knit Fabric?
The definition of knit fabric revolves around knitting, which takes place by interlooping yarns rather than weaving them. This process results in stretchier and more flexible fabrics than woven material. Numerous products are created by hand knitting and machine knitting, and both processes are ideal for producing high-quality clothes.
Knit machines produce bulk knit clothes faster. The two widely used knit machines are circular (cylindrical) or flatbed (flat).
Production of Knit Fabric
Various yarns are employed to form knitted fabrics. In industrial applications, continuous filament yarns are used due to their uniformity and strength. These yarns are often made from synthetic polymers.
Almost every knitted material consists of a single yarn that forms an interlocking pattern of loops that are connected row by row to create a stretchy material developed from one or more yarns.
Advanced machinery like the frame knitting machine became the very first piece of equipment to mass produce knit fabric. Today, we see different kinds of high-tech machines producing knit, woven, and all other types of fabrics quickly and in bulk.
Knit Schematics: Categories of Knit Fabric
There are two categories of knit fabric:
- Weft Knitting
- Warp Knitting
Weft Knitting
The weft knitting process takes place by making loops from a single yarn in a horizontal position. This process builds one row of loops on top of the others. Loop merging can take both forms: circular and flat, considering a course-wise basis.
The fabric produced with weft knitting becomes comfortable, stretchable, and warm. Circular and a flatbed are the two machines that can be used to make weft knits. Also, there are four basic stitches used in this process.
- Purl stitch
- Rib stitch
- Plain knit or Jersey stitch
- Interlock stitch
Warp Knitting
Loops are created vertically from each warp along the length of a warp-knit fabric. The process results in allocating each yarn to its needle. Warp knit fabrics feature knitted stitches with a diagonal crisscross pattern. This fabric is less flexible and more stable than weft knitting, making it ideal for applications requiring dimensional stability.
It has drapery characteristics, warmth, and high density. Also, warp knit fabrics feature excellent coverage and smooth texture, allowing them to be suitable for upholstery, swimwear, and sportswear. Depending on the machine type and yarn, these materials are not particularly and essentially softer than weft knits.
In fact, the fiber and finishing decide the softness. For example, weft knits (like jersey) can be extremely soft and elastic, depending on the fiber and precise finishing.
What Are the Types of Knitted Fabric?
Here are 21 different knitted fabric names to guide you through their structure and practical uses.
1. Jersey Knit
Jersey knit is also known as single knit or simple knit since a single needle is used to make this fabric by combining knit and purl stitches. This material is the most popular and prominent fabric due to its soft texture, flexibility, and comfort.
The texture is unique, as the knit is smooth on one side and bumpy on the other, making it very easily recognizable. The best example of this fabric is basic t-shirts, which are lightweight, breathable, and flexible.
2. Interlock Knit
Interlock knit is more like another variant of rib-knit fabric due to the similar construction process. The structure appears to have two single knit layers overlapping each other, which is why it is also called a double-faced rib.
Interlock knit is an ideal material to sew a variety of clothing items, such as pants, tanks, and skirts. Moreover, this fabric comes in various fibers, including hemp wool, bamboo, cotton, Tencel, rayon, polyester, and modal.
3. French Terry Knit
French terry knit appears to be the knitted French terry cloth with loops and soft heaps, usually inside the clothes, on one side. It has a soft and smooth surface on the other side. This fabric is moisture-wicking and lightweight, which feels amazing when wearing it.
4. Fleece Knit
Fleece knit fabric has a deep and thick pile. It is a warm material with several properties, including durability, quick drying, and stretchability. The properties make it appropriate for activewear products.
5. Yarn-Knit Fabric
A double-ended latch needle is used to knit the face and reverse loops in the purl knit structure in different directions. It is flexible and has a thickness twice that of jersey fabric.
You can identify it by looking at its sides, which are one right and one wrong. Knitwear, hosiery, and undergarments are the common applications where this fabric is more applicable.
6. Raschel Knits
This fabric is made using spun yarn and one set of latch needles. The structure features layered, lacy, and heavily patterned knits. The construction makes it a pretty adaptable fabric. For instance, it can be:
- Stretchy or stable
- Open or compact
- Compact or dense
- Lofty or open
The structure can be molded as per the garment’s requirements. The raschel machine can alter the material however you like. This is why the fabric is good for almost all kinds of clothing products.
7. Tricot Knits
Filament yarns and beard needles are used to create tricot knit fabric. Other than that, multifilament yarn face stitches form a smooth texture with thick stitching parallel to the back stitching. Its high-end and proper construction induce several properties, which are:
- Draping
- Allows air and water to pass through it.
- Wrinkle resistance
- Softness
8. Milanese Knit
Creating milanese knit fabric requires knitting two sets of strands diagonally. There are small vertical ribs on the face side and diagonal lines on the back. The texture is silky, and the fabric is lightweight and drapey. This fabric is commonly used to manufacture gloves.
9. Purl Knits
A double-ended latch needle is used to knit this material by alternating purl and knit stitches. A variety of common fibers, including cotton, wool, and acrylic, are used to make purl knits. Its length has good elasticity. This fabric is often utilized in children’s apparel items, cardigans, and sweaters.
10. Cable Knit
A single variety or numerous varieties of cable can be employed throughout a pattern. However, multiple cables might be alternated on the same cloth. The cables are generally thicker, but their size depends on the yarn’s weight.
These cable knits are usually seen on different kinds of sweaters and cardigans, and they can be made from any type of fiber.
11. Rib-Knit
Rib-knit has vertical and raised textured lines, which are known as ribbing. This fabric is created on a double-bed knitting machine using two needles with vertical textured lines. Rib knit material consists of two varieties based on the sequence of knit and purl stitches.
The 1×1 rib knit comprises 1 knit and 1 purl stitch, whereas the 2×2 rib knit carries 2 knit and 2 purl stitches. Its texture is also unique and easily identifiable.
Rib-knit lies flat on one side and is stretchy crosswise. This makes it ideal for the bottom edges of sweaters, cuffs, turtleneck clothes, the bottom edges of sweaters, and necklines. on various clothing items.
For those who want to discuss “cable knit vs. rib knit”, the major difference is the stretch capacity. Rib knit is very stretchy as compared to cable knit. Moreover, cable knitting is carried out by crossing the ribbings over each other. Rib knitting, on the other hand, is done using two knits, two purls, and repeating.
12. Handmade Knits
Ever seen your grandmother knitting sweaters or other clothes for you? Well, this is what handmade knits are. These knits are produced using knit needles. Handmade knitting is viable for producing clothing products like hats, beanies, gloves, vests, etc.
13. Silver Knit
Silver knit is also known as high-pile knitting. This type of knitting involves binding a thin knit background to lengthy and thicker fibers. They appear as fur and are made only on machines. They are customizable to take any form and color. Silver knit is applicable to making faux fur coats, luxurious blankets, plush, and jackets.
14. Velour Knits
The velour knit pile loops are sheared and then brushed. Only synthetic fibers, cotton blends, and cotton can be used to make velour knits. This fabric is soft and mimics certain other materials, like woven velvet. This fabric is utilized in the residential and clothing industries.
15. Piled Knits
Pile knitting is a type of textile formation that features a raised surface composed of loops or sliced strands that creates a fluffy and soft texture. This is a method to make fabrics like terry cloth, velvet, and various types of carpets and upholstery.
16. Mesh Knits
Mesh knits feather openwork stitch patterns with thread evenly spaced to produce breathable and lightweight fabric. Different types of fabrics, such as nylon, polyester or many others, are helpful in creating mesh knits.
17. Sweater Knits
Sweater knits are widely popular, and they can be created using machines and hands. These knits are not complex and can have various vibrant color variants. Natural and synthetic materials can be used to create these knits. Lastly, they are pretty adaptable to changes in thickness, warmth, and durability.
18. Jacquard Knit
Jacquard knit fabric is produced through industrial knitting machines. It is reliable in terms of allowing a diverse range of color varieties and pattern sizes, depending on the design.
This fabric is perfect for skirts, jackets, sweaters, and dresses due to its appealing look, versatility, durability and elasticity.
19. Intarsia Knitting
An intarsia knit is a knitted cloth that employs the technique of utilizing various colored yarns to create patterns of varying colors throughout the garment. There can be different patterns and colors; however, the pattern on the front and back will always remain the same.
Intarsia knitting patterns often include conspicuous components such as geometric patterns, stripes, solid colors, and different types of florals. Intarsia knitting is often used to produce tops and sweaters.
20. Pointelle Knit
Pointelle knits feature openwork designs like geometric patterns. Pointelle is very aesthetic to look at and has properties like draping and flexibility. Cotton is widely used to create this fabric, but wool is also preferred for its construction. This fabric is popular for making beautiful shirts.
21. Birdseye Knits
Birdseye knits feature textured designs, and this textured pattern resembling the eye of a bird is called a birdseye. The pattern appears to have repetitive diamond shapes with slight space margins or depressions between them.
Linen and cotton were first used to create this knit, but many blends of materials can now be used to create birdseye knit. This fabric is ideal for summer and men’s suits due to being lightweight and breathable.
Conclusion
Knitting is much more than what we already know. Their role in the garment and textile industries is pretty vast. This article is particularly targeted at those who want to gain good knowledge and those who are a part of the textile world or have clothing brands and manufacturing units. Therefore, I have mentioned 21 types of knitted fabrics along with their structures and uses.
