Types of Knitted Fabrics

In the world of fabrics, Knitted Fabrics are one of the most versatile. They have amazing stretch, great recovery and can be used in many different ways to create form-fitting wear. They are also comfortable and warm to wear. They can be made from any yarn, but there are some specific types that have been designed for different uses.
Unlike woven fabrics, which are created by interweaving and overlapping threads (like the meshing of screen doors or tennis racket nets), knitted fabric is made by knitting the yarn or thread into loops that can be stretched in a variety of directions. This allows knitted fabrics to be shaped into garments with much more ease than woven fabrics.

This versatility is the reason why knitted fabric is so popular. It can be used to make dresses, skirts, sweaters, tops, trousers and underwear. It is also ideal for making knitwear that has to be breathable, stretchy and warm, such as socks and hosiery.
The characteristics of knitted fabric can be influenced by the stitches that are used and how they are arranged. Changing the number of stitches, the needle size or the type of yarn used can all change the properties of the fabric. Different stitch patterns also affect the fabric’s texture, colour and patterning. For example, knit stitches look like “V”’s stacked vertically and purl stitches look wavy. A combination of tall and short stitches may also be used, creating a fish-like oval pattern.
There are two main methods of manufacturing knitted fabrics: warp and weft knitting. Warp knitted fabrics have a set of threads that are interlocked vertically, while weft knitted fabrics have a single thread that is interlocked horizontally. Weft knitted fabric has a grid-like appearance and is often used to make sweaters.
In addition to different methods of manufacturing, there are also several types of knitted fabric. Some have a smooth, neat front side while others have a textured back side. These include:
A plain single jersey fabric is the most common type of knitted fabric and is used to make T-shirts, tops and underwear. It has a straight, neat texture on the front side and a textured backside with horizontal floats. It can be plain, striped, ribbed or patterned.
Rib knitted fabric is a thicker, heavier fabric with a distinctive rib pattern on both the front and back of the fabric. It is often found in sweaters and cardigans. It has a high stretch ratio of up to 100%.
Cable fabric is a double knit fabric that has a rope-like texture, created by the transfer of loops between adjacent wales. It has a more feminine look and is often used in women’s clothing.
Bird’s eye is a double-knit fabric that has tuck stitches combined with knitting stitches to create an interesting effect on the surface of the fabric that looks like eyelets or holes. It has a scrambling effect and is often used in knitwear for women.