Collection: knit fabrics

Fabric Science – Knitted Fabric

What are knitted fabrics and how is knitwear made?

Knitted fabric is a knitted product. The fibers are knitted industrially by a production machine and no longer by hand as was previously the case. Industrial knitting machines have a much higher frequency and are able to generate more knitted goods than would be possible with manual production. In terms of the fibers used, animal fibers, such as sheep's wool, and plant fibers, such as cotton, are used. In addition, artificial, synthetic fibers are increasingly used. In terms of composition, mixed fabrics made from different fiber qualities are also possible. Different types of knitted fabric can be produced depending on the fiber thickness used and the respective production pattern of the knitting machine. For example, chunky knit, which is thicker than fine knit, which impresses with its smooth, fine surface structure, but is inferior in terms of coziness and comfort. There is also jacquard knit with great patterns, wonderfully cozy knit sweat and rib knit with the characteristic rib structure.

What properties does knitted fabric have?

In addition to its great appearance, knitwear is also associated with being soft, warm and cozy. This makes knitwear ideal for autumn and winter, but also for cool and mild summer nights. The textile has other great properties that make it so popular. Knitwear is not woven, but rather machine-knitted. This means that the material is more elastic and therefore more comfortable to wear. The stretchability and elasticity depend not only on the fiber but also on the way it is made, i.e. how tightly the individual fibers are knitted. Knitwear is usually very stretchy in width and there are versions that are also elastic in length, i.e. bi-elastic. This can also be used to make great, perfectly fitting sweaters or cardigans that fit close to the body, or stretchy, light dresses made of knitwear. Of course, the material also offers an invaluable advantage in terms of effort and speed compared to knitting yourself. Some people, often with sensitive skin, may find the natural wool fibers scratchy or irritating. In this case, you can wear a shirt or undershirt underneath or line the inside of the garment with a smoother fabric to reduce this effect.

Which DIY sewing projects are suitable for knitted fabric?

Knitted fabric is ideal for comfortable autumn and winter clothing as well as for chic accessories. The great thing about knitted fabric is that you can create your own beautiful knitted items without having to pick up your knitting needles yourself. Sewing projects with knitted fabric can be:

• cardigans
• fine knit sweaters
• chunky knit sweaters
• hats
• cardigans
• Cover
• ponchos
• cuffs
• scarves
• Dresses
• hoodies

How is knitted fabric properly processed and cared for?

What should be considered when cutting and sewing knitted fabric?

To cut the elastic knit fabrics, you need a suitable surface such as a cutting mat that is particularly non-slip. Drawing the cutting lines is often a challenge with elastic and coarse fabrics. The best way to do this is to transfer the pattern using a tracing wheel and/or copy paper. Alternatively, you can pin the pattern onto the material and, with a little practice, cut it out directly. It is advisable to use sharp scissors or a rotary cutter for cutting. With knit fabric, care must be taken to allow for sufficient seam allowance, as the edges of the fabric can fray after cutting and should be neatened. Before cutting, when laying out and transferring the cut pieces, care should be taken to ensure that the pattern or structure on the cut pieces fits when combined.

Working with knitted fabric is not that difficult if you follow a few sewing tips. When sewing, you should remember that it is an elastic material. It is therefore advisable to work with jersey needles, as these have a rounded needle head that only shifts the stitch structure and does not break it. The wool fiber therefore remains intact and is not damaged. The most important thing is that the elastic material is not pulled during sewing, otherwise the seam will be crooked or wavy. If you are sewing with a standard household sewing machine, you should use a wide zigzag stitch or other elastic stitches. The overlock machine offers the advantage that the stitches are already elastic and that the edge is finished at the same time.

How do you properly care for knitted fabric?

Before processing, it is important that the knitted fabric is washed once, as most fabrics can shrink slightly after the first wash and, in the worst case, a homemade garment can lose its fit.

When washing, it is necessary to know the composition of the textile, as different material compositions can require different care. In general, it is recommended to wash knitted fabrics at 30°C using a gentle cycle or care program.

Tumble drying is not recommended as knitwear can shrink and contract in the dryer.

Knitted fabrics are generally crease-resistant and therefore ironing is often not necessary. If ironing is necessary, it should be ironed carefully on setting 1, with low heat, and without using steam.

Discover now also wool felt \ wool fabric !