Today, knitwear products are very popular - socks, children's and underwear, as well as many other wardrobe items are widely demanded by customers. Knitted items compare favorably with items made from other fabrics in a number of certain qualities. But what are they?
The history of knitwear
Translated from French, the word "knitwear" means "knit". Knitwear is a product or fabric knitted from threads on knitting machines or by hand. Knitting first appeared in the 16th century, and since then knitwear has taken a strong position in people's lives. After the invention of knitting machines, knitted finished products and fabrics for their sewing began to be produced in large quantities and a wide range.
Knitwear is made from cotton, woolen or synthetic threads of various thicknesses and combinations.
Certain types of products are produced from knitted fabrics of different composition. There is a homogeneous or mixed material, which is distinguished by its composition, which includes one type of raw material or several. Almost all modern knitwear is mixed - synthetic fibers are added to it, which improve the consumer characteristics of knitwear. According to the knitting method, it can be double, embossed, kulirny, cross-knitted or warp-knitted.
Knitwear properties
The quality of the knitted fabric is determined by its main characteristics and properties - the geometric parameters of the interweaving of the threads, their linear density and surface structure. The overall quality of the knitwear is also determined by the physical and mechanical properties, as well as the number of stitches per unit of length in different directions. The thickness of the jersey depends directly on the surface density.
The basis weight is usually higher for knitted outerwear and less for knitted garments.
The mechanical properties of knitwear are determined by the combination of elasticity, resilience, extensibility, abrasion, tensile strength, curl and looseness. Extensibility depends entirely on the type of knit weave and the structure of the loops. The most stretchable type of knitwear is cross-knit. The elasticity and resilience of the fabric is largely influenced by the type of raw material and weave - the higher the indicator, the higher the resistance of the knitted fabric to abrasion and shape retention. The most elastic is a knitted fabric made of woolen yarn and textured yarns.
The abrasion resistance of knitwear is also influenced by the type of weave of the threads and the type of fiber surface - the least resistant are brushed and woolen knitwear. The most abrasion-resistant knitwear made of synthetic threads.
