The ABC Of Knitting
You may never have attempted to sew anything for yourself since
your schooldays -- or again, you may have abandoned the whole
idea after one or two disappointing failures.
The good news is that sewing equipment and dressmaking patterns
are highly developed now than ever, so it has been made easier
for you to start, whether you wish to make basics for yourself
and your family, supplement sophisticated ready-to-wear with
simple additions of your own, or eventually progress to the
heights of the designer's patterns.
Whatever the reason, you will have the satisfaction of
expressing your own ideas - the pattern you purchase may be
available to many, but the fabric you choose and perhaps the
trimmings that complete it are exclusive to you.
Take for example the case of knitting. This is, basically, a
special way of creating marvelous creations from a ball of yarn.
Through this process, the yarn or thread is converted into
cloth.
Basically, knitting can be made either manually, where the hands
create remarkable cloth with the help of knitting needles, or
mechanically, with the use of knitting machine.
Knitted Fabrics
In knitting, a different kind of fabric is used, known as the
knitted fabrics. All knit fabrics are made of a series of
interlocking loops. This makes them more flexible than woven
fabrics. While all knits have stretch, they vary considerably in
amount and direction of stretch. The factors that influence
stretch are the yarn and the structure of the knit.
There are two basic knit types: weft and warp. The first derives
from age-old techniques of hand knitting. The second, a modern
innovation, is the product of complex machines.
Records show that the first knitting machine was invented in
1589. Today's advanced versions produce an incredible range of
fabrics from sheer lingerie knits to bulky sweater knits.
Basic Composition
Knit fabrics may be tubular or flat. Some flat knits have
perforated lengthwise edges comparable to selvedges in woven
fabrics.
Complex stitches or special finishes sometimes obscure a knit
structure, making it hard to tell whether a fabric is knitted or
woven. To establish which it is, pull a thread from one
crosswise end. If lops show, the fabric is a knit; if a fringe
appears, it is woven.
Knits vary in stretchability. Just how much a knit stretches
crosswise should be determined before you buy it. If the pattern
you have chosen is marked "for knits only," it will probably
supply a gauge, but for only one of three stretch categories --
slight, moderate, or super stretch.
Shopping for Fabrics
In knitting, it is extremely important to choose the best knit
fabrics available in the market. A successfully chosen garment
fabric will complement the pattern design, flatter the wearer,
perform according to expectations, and be of good quality for
the money.
Here is a list of some tips that you need to employ when
choosing for the best knit fabric:
1. Weave should be firm.
You can test this by scratching the surface; if the threads
shift easily, the garment seams may be inclined to slip or
develop holes around the stitching.
2. Weave should be uniform.
Hold it up to the light and check for any unusually thick or
thin areas. The light test will show up any weak spots or
imperfections.
3. Print colors should be even
There should be no white (undyed) spots showing through them,
except in areas that are clearly meant to be white.
Getting a perfect knit fabric is one of the chief, if not the
paramount, reason for learning how to employ knitting at its
best. Hence, if you are considering on trying some knitting, try
to learn first how to identify a good knit fabric by using the
guides for buying knit fabrics.