INTRODUCTION TO KNITTING

Name- S.D.M.M. Premathilake

ITUM

KNITTING

➢ Knitting is a process of manufacturing a fabric by inter

looping of yarns.

➢ Knitting is the second most important method of fabric

formation.

➢ It can be defined as a needle technique of fabric formation,

in which, with the help of knitting needles , loops are

formed to make a fabric or garment.

➢ Fabric can be formed by hand or machine knitting , but the

basic principle remains exactly the same i.e. pulling a new

loop through the old loop.

Types of Knits

Common Knitting terms

• Wales :- A wale is a vertical column of loops produced by

the same needle knitting at successive knitting cycles. The

number of Wales determine the width of the fabric and they

are measured in units of Wales per centimeter.

Knitted fabrics

Weft Knitting

Single jersey Purl Rib Interlock

Warp knitting

Tricot Raschel

• Courses :- Courses are rows of loops across the width of

the fabric produced by adjacent needles during the same

knitting cycle and are measured in units of courses per

centimeter. The courses determine the length of the

fabrics.

• The knitting action

1. Rest position

2. Tuck Position

3. Clearing position

4. Yarn Feeding Position

5. Latch Closing position

6. Knock over position ( loop forming)

Elements of knitting

• Wale: Longitudinal series of loops

• Course: Transverse series of loops

• Loop: The basic knitted element

• Needle: The knitting element

• Sinker: The supporting element for knitting

• Feeder: The yarn feeding element

• Cylinder/Dial: The device to decide the

needle movement

• Cams-give a vertical motion to the needle &

loop formation.

Needle:

Needles are the most important stitch forming elements. They

are displaced vertically up and down and are mounted into

the tricks or cuts of the knitting cylinder.

There are three types of needles

namely:

1) Latch Needle.

2) Spring bearded Needle and

3) Compound Needle.

The main function of needle is

loop formation.

Needle bed or needle carrier:

Needle bed or needle carrier are the place where the needles

are located maintained and where from needles moves up and

down is called needle bed or needle carrier.

Sinker:

Sinker is a thin metal plate with action at right angles to and

fro between adjoining needles.

Functions of Sinker:

1) Loop formation: The main objects of a sinker are to assist

the needles in loop formation by sinker or knitting the newly

laid yarns into a loop.

2) Holding down: It also holds down the loops at a lower

level of the needles stems and prevents the old loops from

being lifted as the needles raise to clear them for their hooks.

3) Knocking over: The function is knocking over at which the

needle passes through the old loop by drawing a new loop.

Feeder:

Feeders are the yarn guides placed close to the needles to the

full circumference of the knitting zone. The feeders feed the

yarn into the needle hooks and control the needle latches in

their open position while the needle attain their clearing

position.

Cams:

The knitting cams are hardened steels and they are the

assembly of different cam plates so that a track for butt can be

arranged. Each needles movement is obtained by means of

cams acting on the needles butts.

Types of cam & there function:

1.Knit cam: To produce knit loop.

2.Tuck cam :To produce tuck loop.

3.Miss cam :To produce miss loop.

The main function of cam is convert the rotary motion of

needle in to the vertical motion & loop formation.

Weft Knitting Machine-

❖ Flat Bed

❖ Circular

Warp Knitting Machines-

❖ Tricot Machine (bearded needle)

❖ Raschel Machine (double needle bar)

❖ Tricot Machine (compound needle)

KNITTED APPERAL PRODUCTS:

TECHNICAL PRODUCTS:

1) Geo textiles

2) Composite fabrics

3) Reinforcement materials

4) Filters

5) Wall covering

6) Spacer fabrics

MEDICAL PRODUCTS:

1) Knitted implants:

a) Artificial blood vessel

b) Surgical mesh

c) Artificial heart valve

2) Functional clothes

3) Mosquito nets