BASICS OF KNITTING

Knitting is one of the most primitive methods used for creating garments by interlacing two sets of yarns either in the weft or warp directions. Apart from manufacturing long lengths of fabrics, we can also employ the technique of knitting for producing ready-to-use knitted goods such as sweaters, hosiery etc. 

Origin of Knitting:

It is available in the documents that the first knitted item made by man was a pair of hand-knitted socks brought into being in a mausoleum of Egypt. But, the initial definite instance of the development of the skill of knitting date back to the 15th century in Western Europe. Moreover, the earliest knitting trade federation gets originated in Paris in 1527. An Englishman with a name of Rev. William Lee originated the first knitting machine in the year of 1589. The most primitive knitting device was capable of knitting 1 inch wide knitted fabrics having eight loops.

Machine-Based Knitting:

Due to the rapid progress of the human-made fibre industry, there also occurred a very positive impact on the development of the machine-based knitting business. By employing knitting machines, we can generate textile structures and various other types of knitted items. Our company is a leading circular knitting machine manufacturer in Ludhiana, and we always supply top quality machines to our customers. In knitting devices, firstly formation of loops of yarn takes place with the help of needles, after which inter-meshing of the loops occur; thus finally resulting in the creation of a knitted garment.

Concerning the type of yarn, we should use for the process of knitting; the continuous multi-filament yarns are much better than that of the yarns spun from wool or cotton. The multi-filament threads have uniformity in their cross-sectional shape and size, a high work of rupture, i.e. high toughness and absence of growth of lint. Such features of these yarns allow high-speed knitting devices to function without any disturbance. When the manufacturers utilize these textured multi-filament yarns having the properties of stretch and bulk, then it results in the formation of superior fabrics. Additionally, the yarns obtained from man-made staple fibers, like acrylics as well as other blends, are easy to knit.

In ancient times, people used to make the knitted items like socks from the woven materials, but after the advent of knitting machines, an economically feasible fabric better suited to take up contours came into existence. However, we have to create that fabric in several sizes. Since the entry of crimped nylon yarn there occurs a transformation in the situation and we have to make only two free- fitting sizes, i.e. one for grown-ups and another for kids. The Indian knitting industry began to use these types of synthetic materials from the 1970s, and after that, their utilization has widely increased.

The operating areas of the knitting industry belong to the following two categories: 

1.    Production of knitted garments which are ready for use, e.g. sweater, undergarments, hosiery, etc.  

2.    Manufacturing of knitted fabrics that we can utilize for making knitted goods by the process of stitching.

Types of knitting:

There are two modes for carrying out the technique of knitting, i.e. weft knitting and warp knitting. The procedure of hand knitting is an illustration of weft knitting, which surely we can perform much faster on a knitting machine. 

Weft knitting

In this technique of knitting, the work advances weft-wise or widthwise in a backward and forward cycle. In every cycle, the formation of a new row of loops takes place which we call a course. The number of loops that will be present in each row depends on the width of the fabric which we are going to knit. Then every loop of the row gets intermeshed with the loops of the previous row. We call the upright columns of the loops as wales. 

In the figure depicted below, the horizontal rows represent the courses out of which we have highlighted one course. The vertical column indicates the number of wales, and we have revealed one wale.                

                                      Figure showing a course (left) and a wale (right) 

We can manufacture the weft knitted fabrics either in the flat or a tubular form. Weft knitted garments offer us qualities such as high elasticity and drapeability, which make them suitable for an extensive range of apparel applications. We can easily use these materials for creating outer garments as well as undergarments because these are porous and comfortable. 

For performing the process of warp knitting, we can utilize the following four types of knitting machines:

i) Flatbed knitting machine

ii) Circular knitting machine

iii) Hosiery knitting machine

iv) Fully fashioned knitting machine

Our firm is a pre-eminent circular knitting machine manufacturer in Ludhiana providing superior quality knitting machines to our clients. The circular knitting device consists of a cylinder containing latch needles. The hooked needle and a thin band of sinker separating the two adjoining needles form the essential elements of this type of knitting machines. Inside the cylinder, there are also present the synchronized timing cams which guide the movement of latch needles to form the loops.

How the procedure of formation of a stitch on a weft knitting machine with a latch needle takes place?

We are going to explain the process of stitch formation with a latch needle on a weft knitting machine with the help of the following figure (top to bottom):

                                                                                         

                                       

                    

                           

                                                       Formation of a stitch with a needle

i) The first point shows a closed needle after pulling off a loop.

ii) In the second step, the needle latch gets opened up as the finished loop slips onto the needle stem.

iii) Then the descending needle head traps and draws the thread.

iv) In the fourth point, the previously finished loop pushes the latch, thus closing the needle head while there occurs the formation of a new loop.

v) Finally, the first loop slips over the needle head to the newly formed loop.

Warp knitting

In the process of warp knitting, the work steps forward length-wise, and the intermeshing of loops takes place in the direction of the wale. In this type, all the loops that are present on the knitting needles in a column remain active for knitting.

When we compare the warp knitted garments with that of the weft knitted fabrics then undoubtedly warp knitted apparels offer us with a benefit that they are not easy to unravel. However, these pieces of stuff are not as elastic as the weft knitted material.

                                                     An example of warp-knitted structure

When we have to carry the process of warp knitting, then we can use the following two types of warp-knitting machines:

1.    Raschel knitting machine 

2.    Tricot knitting machine

Contact Us:

Our company, Bharat Machinery Works, is a prime circular knitting machine manufacturer in Ludhiana. Knitting machines that we provide to our customers are of the utmost quality. Our machines are durable, rust-resistant, offer maximum yield and easy to use. We also give after services to our clients to ensure 100% customer satisfaction. 

So, whenever you require a knitting machine, contact our agency.