Machine Knitting Basics

A method of creating fabrics by progressively intermeshing loops of yarn.

The repeating unit of knitted fabric, comparable to the repeating unit in weaving.

A knitted loop has a head, two legs, and a foot that interlocks with the previous loop.

Rows of knitted loops, similar to the "weft" in woven fabrics.

Vertical columns of knitted loops, similar to the "warp" in woven fabrics.

The basic, dimensionally stable unit in knitted fabric, often consisting of multiple interlocked loops.

The loops created by knit needles, which intertwine to form the fabric structure.

The smallest repeating pattern of intermeshed loops that can continue to build a knitted stitch in width and depth.

The side of knitted fabric with many back or purl loops.

The length of yarn in a single knitted loop, measured in millimeters.

Courses per inch; a measure of fabric density.

Wales per inch; a measure of fabric density.

The closeness of loops/stitches in a knitted fabric.

The length of the yarn used for creating a single loop (stitch).

The basic unit of a knitted structure, formed by a needle drawing yarn.

The lower part of a knitted loop; the yarn connecting one loop to the next, usually found on the opposite side of the fabric to the needle loop.

A knitted loop that emerges from behind an older loop onto the front/face side of the fabric during formation.

A knitted loop forming from the face side to the back side of an older loop.

The different patterns formed in knitted fabric by altering the type of stitches.

The upper part of a knitted loop, the part formed by the needle.

The kind of stitch influences the structure of the knitted fabric and relies on the type of needles used.

A relationship between yarn count, loop length, and fabric handle, drape, and performance. It affects how the fabric feels and behaves.

The number of loops packed into a specific area of knitted fabric (e.g., 1 square inch).

Indicates the fineness of knitting needles on a machine. Higher gauge means finer needles and more stitches per inch.

The chosen yarn type dictates the loop length which in turn dictates the gauge of the knitting machine required.

Multiply the number of courses (rows) per unit by the number of wales (columns) per unit.

It is another term for 'gauge' and 'tension' - it describes the closeness or openness of knit stitches.

The needle size and spacing on knitting machines determine the number and size of the knit stitches, and their closeness.

Higher gauge fabrics are made with finer needles; lower gauge fabrics are made with coarser needles.

A numerical measure of the density of knit fabric stitches. Higher cut indicates closer and finer fabric. Lower cut signifies more distant and coarser stitches.

The closeness or tightness of stitches in a knitted fabric, determined by factors like yarn size, needle size, and knitter's tension.

A coarser yarn creates a coarser gauge with fewer stitches per inch. A finer yarn leads to a finer gauge with more stitches per inch.

Larger (thicker) needles produce a coarser gauge with bigger stitches. Smaller (thinner) needles result in a finer gauge with smaller stitches.

A knit fabric where the courses (rows) run horizontally, wales (columns) run vertically, and loop heads face upwards. The first course is at the bottom of the fabric.

Different knitters create different gauges because of variations in their tension. A looser knitter will create a looser gauge.

Bigger stitches result in a coarser gauge with fewer stitches per inch. Smaller stitches create a finer gauge with more stitches per inch.

Gauge consistency ensures that projects turn out the expected size and that patterns are maintained. Each knitter has a unique gauge.

A type of knitting where yarns run parallel to the fabric's selvedge, and each needle has its own yarn, creating a structure where loops are connected laterally.

Diagonal floats of yarn in warp knit fabric where the yarn passes under the needle loop instead of over it. These contribute to the fabric's structure and pattern.

A technique in warp knitting where the guide bar feeds yarn to the same needle consistently, resulting in loops directly atop each other.

Identifying warp knit fabric can be done by examining the face and back sides. The technical back shows the distinctive zigzag pattern of underlaps, while the face has a more organized knit stitch appearance.

A single loop created in warp knitting by wrapping a yarn guide around a needle and drawing it through a previously knitted loop.

The part of a lap where a yarn guide wraps around a needle to create a loop, moving laterally across a line of needles.

The part of a lap where a yarn guide passes under the previous loop, creating a connection between loops.

A specific stitch in warp knitting formed by a single needle knitting a chain of loops, creating a vertical column.

A warp yarn in a multi-guide structure that only underlaps and does not form loops, creating a ‘tie-in’ at the back of the fabric.

Warp knitted fabric created when overlap and underlap movements are in the same direction.

Warp knitted fabric formed when overlap and underlap movements are in opposite directions.

A warp knit stitch structure where the yarn loops are tightly interlocked, resulting in a dense and compact fabric.

A situation in warp knit fabric where a warp yarn runs straight through the fabric without forming loops for several courses.

The lateral (sideways) movement of guide bars in a warp knitting machine, which controls the direction of yarn loops and stitch formation.

Warp knit fabrics generally possess good drape, dimensional stability, crease resistance, air and water permeability, and have a versatile range of pattern possibilities.

All warp knit fabric structures are composed of both overlap and underlap, meaning they have a combination of interwoven loops and connecting yarn lengths.