"Knit" redirects here. See also Knitted fabric. Knitted fabrics are the third major class of fabric after Woven and Nonwoven fabrics

Knit hat, yarn, and knitting needles

Knitting is a method by which thread or yarn may be turned into cloth. This article is about the fiber product For the type of joke see Shaggy dog story. A knitting needle or knitting pin is a Tool in Hand-knitting to produce Knitted fabrics They generally have a long shaft and taper This article is about the fiber product For the type of joke see Shaggy dog story. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Knitting consists of loops called stitches pulled through each other. The active stitches are held on a needle until another loop can be passed through them.

Knitting may be done by hand or by machine. By hand, there are numerous styles and methods. Flat knitting, which is done on two straight needles, produces a length of cloth, while circular knitting, which is done on circular or double-pointed needles, produces a seamless tube.

Different yarns and knitting needles may be used to achieve different end products, by giving the final piece different color, texture, weight, or integrity.

Structure

Courses and wales

Structure of stockinette, a common knitted fabric. . . The meandering red path defines one course, the path of the yarn through the fabric. The uppermost white loops are unsecured and "active", but they secure the red loops suspended from them. In turn, the red loops secure the white loops just below them, which in turn secure the loops below them, and so on.

Alternating wales of red and white knit stitches. Each stitch in a wale is suspended from the one above it.

Like weaving, knitting is a technique for producing a two-dimensional fabric from a one-dimensional yarn or thread. This article describes textile weaving For other senses of this word see Weaving (disambiguation. This article is about the fiber product For the type of joke see Shaggy dog story. In weaving, the threads are always straight, running parallel either lengthwise (warp threads) or crosswise (weft threads). By contrast, the yarn in knitted fabrics follows a meandering path (a course), forming symmetric loops (also called bights or stitches) symmetrically above and below the mean path of the yarn. These meandering loops can be stretched easily in different directions, which gives knitting much more elasticity than woven fabrics; depending on the yarn and knitting pattern, knitted garments can stretch as much as 500%. For this reason, knitting was initially developed for garments that must be elastic or stretch in response to the wearer's motions, such as socks and hosiery. For comparison, woven garments stretch mainly along one direction (the bias) and not very much, unless they are woven from stretchable material such as spandex. Spandex or elastane is a Synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. Knitted garments are often more form-fitting than woven garments, since their elasticity allows them to follow the body's curvature closely; by contrast, curvature is introduced into most woven garments only with sewn darts, flares, gussets and gores, the seams of which lower the elasticity of the woven fabric still further. Extra curvature can be introduced into knitted garments without seams, as in the heel of a sock; the effect of darts, flares, etc. can be obtained with short rows or by increasing/decreasing the number of stitches. In Knitting, a short row is a row that is not fully knitted the work is turned before reaching the end of the row In Knitting, an increase is the creation of one or more new stitches which may be done by various methods with distinctive looks A decrease in Knitting is a reduction in the number of stitches usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it The thread used in weaving is usually much finer than the yarn used in knitting, which can give the knitted fabric more bulk and less drape than a woven fabric.

If they are not secured, the loops of a knitted course will come undone when their yarn is pulled; this is known as ripping out or unravelling knitting. To secure a stitch, at least one new loop is passed through it. Although the new stitch is itself unsecured ("active"), it secures the stitch(es) suspended from it. A sequence of stitches in which each stitch suspended from the next is called a wale. ^[1] To secure the initial stitches of a knitted fabric, a method for casting on is used; to secure the final stitches in a wale, one uses a method of binding off. In Knitting, casting on is a family of techniques for adding new stitches that do not depend on earlier stitches i In Knitting, binding off, or casting off, is a family of techniques for ending a column (a wale) of stitches During knitting, the active stitches are secured mechanically, either from individual hooks (in knitting machines) or from a knitting needle or frame in hand-knitting.

Basic pattern of warp knitting. Parallel white, red and green yarns zigzag lengthwise along the fabric, each loop securing a loop of an adjacent strand from the previous row. Thus, the two central wales in this picture are alternating white-red-white and red-green-red stitches.

Weft and warp knitting

See also: Warp knitting

There are two major varieties of knitting: weft knitting and warp knitting. Warp knitting is a family of Knitting methods in which the Yarn zigzags along the length of the Fabric, i Warp knitting is a family of Knitting methods in which the Yarn zigzags along the length of the Fabric, i ^[2] In the more common weft knitting, the wales are perpendicular to the course of the yarn; however, in warp knitting, the wales and courses run roughly parallel. Warp knitting is a family of Knitting methods in which the Yarn zigzags along the length of the Fabric, i In weft knitting, the entire fabric may be produced from a single yarn, by adding stitches to each wale in turn, moving across the fabric as in a raster scan. A Raster scan, or raster scanning, is the pattern of image detection and reconstruction in television and is the pattern of image storage and transmission used in most computer By contrast, in warp knitting, one yarn is required for every wale. Since a typical piece of knitted fabric may have hundreds of wales, warp knitting is typically done by machine, whereas weft knitting is done by both hand and machine. ^[3] Warp-knitted fabrics such as tricot and milanese are resistant to runs, and are commonly used in lingerie. Lingerie is a term for fashionable and alluring women's Undergarments It derives from the French word linge, "washables" — as in faire le linge

Weft-knit fabrics may also be knit with multiple yarns, usually to produce interesting color patterns. The two most common approaches are intarsia and double knitting. Intarsia is a Knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours Double knitting is a form of knitting in which two fabrics are knit simultaneously with two Yarns on one pair of needles In intarsia, the yarns are used in well-segregated regions, e. g. , a red apple on a field of green; in that case, the yarns are kept on separate spools and only one is knitted at any time. In the more complex double knitting, two or more yarns alternate repeatedly within one row and all the yarns must be carried along the row, as seen in Fair Isle sweaters. Double knitting is a form of knitting in which two fabrics are knit simultaneously with two Yarns on one pair of needles Fair Isle is a traditional Knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours Double knitting can produce two separate knitted fabrics simultaneously, e. g. , two socks; however, the two fabrics are usually integrated into one, giving it great warmth and excellent drape.

In the knit stitch on the left, the next (red) loop passes through the previous (white) loop from below, whereas in the purl stitch (right), the next stitch enters from above. Thus, a knit stitch on one side of the fabric appears as a purl stitch on the other, and vice versa.

Knit and purl stitches

In securing the previous stitch in a wale, the next stitch can pass through the previous loop either from below or above. If the former, the stitch is denoted as a knit stitch; if the latter, as a purl stitch. The two stitches are related in that a knit stitch seen from one side of the fabric appears as a purl stitch on the other side.

The two types of stitches have a different visual effect; the knit stitches look like "V"'s stacked vertically, whereas the purl stitches look like a wavy horizontal line across the fabric. Patterns and pictures can be created in knitted fabrics by using knit and purl stitches as "pixels"; however, such pixels are usually rectangular, rather than square, depending on the gauge of the knitting. In Digital imaging, a pixel ( pict ure el ement is the smallest piece of information in an image In Knitting, the word Gauge, technical abbreviation GG refers to "Knitting Machines" fineness size (not to the proportion thickness or fineness of the finished knitted Individual stitches, or rows of stitches, may be made taller by drawing more yarn into the new loop (an elongated stitch), which is the basis for uneven knitting: a row of tall stitches may alternate with one or more rows of short stitches for an interesting visual effect. In Knitting, an elongated stitch is a stitch that is longer than others In Knitting, the word Gauge, technical abbreviation GG refers to "Knitting Machines" fineness size (not to the proportion thickness or fineness of the finished knitted Short and tall stitches may also alternate within a row, forming a fish-like oval pattern.

Two courses of red yarn illustrating two basic fabric types. The lower red course is knit into the white row below it and is itself knit on the next row; this produces stockinette stitch. The upper red course is purled into the row below and then is knit, consistent with garter stitch.

In the simplest knitted fabrics, all of the stitches are knit or purl; these fabrics are denoted as stockinette and reverse stockinette, respectively. Vertical stripes (ribbing) are possible by having alternating wales of knit and purl stitches; for example, a common choice is 2x2 ribbing, in which two wales of knit stitches are followed by two wales of purl stitches, etc. In Knitting, ribbing is a pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse stockinette stitch. Horizontal striping (welting) is also possible, by alternating rows of knit and purl stitches; the simplest of these is garter stitch, so-called because its great elasticity made it well-suited for garters. In Knitting, welting is the horizontal analog of ribbing; that is one or more horizontal rows of knit stitches alternating with one or more rows of purl stitches Checkerboard patterns (basketweave) are also possible, the smallest of which is known as seed stitch: the stitches alternate between knit and purl in every wale and along every row. In Knitting, a basketweave pattern is characterized by intersecting ribs and welts.

Fabrics in which the number of knit and purl stitches are not the same, such as stockinette, have a tendency to curl; by contrast, those in which knit and purl stitches are arranged symmetrically (such as ribbing, garter stitch or seed stitch) tend to lie flat and drape well. Wales of purl stitches have a tendency to recede, whereas those of knit stitches tend to come forward. Thus, the purl wales in ribbing tend to be invisible, since the neighboring knit wales come forward. Conversely, rows of purl stitches tend to form an embossed ridge relative to a row of knit stitches. This is the basis of shadow knitting, in which the appearance of a knitted fabric changes when viewed from different directions. Shadow knitting is a Knitting technique that produces patterns that vary with the direction of viewing ^[4]

Typically, a new stitch is passed through a single unsecured ("active") loop, thus lengthening that wale by one stitch. However, this need not be so; the new loop may be passed through an already secured stitch lower down on the fabric, or even between secured stitches (a dip stitch). In Knitting, a dip stitch is made by knitting into a stitch (or even the space between stitches of an earlier row Depending on the distance between where the loop is drawn through the fabric and where it is knitted, such dip stitches can produce a subtle stippling or long lines across the surface of the fabric, e. g. , the lower leaves of a flower. The new loop may also be passed between two stitches in the present row, thus clustering the intervening stitches; this approach is often used to produce a smocking effect in the fabric. In Knitting, a gather is a generic term for several methods that draw stitches closer together laterally i Smocking is an Embroidery technique used to gather Fabric so that it can stretch The new loop may also be passed through two or more previous stitches, producing a decrease and merging wales together. A decrease in Knitting is a reduction in the number of stitches usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it The merged stitches need not be from the same row; for example, a tuck can be formed by knitting stitches together from two different rows, producing a raised horizontal welt on the fabric. In Knitting, welting is the horizontal analog of ribbing; that is one or more horizontal rows of knit stitches alternating with one or more rows of purl stitches

Not every stitch in a row need be knitted; some may be left as is and knitted on a subsequent row. This is known as slip-stitch knitting. Slip-stitch knitting is a family of Knitting techniques that use slip stitches to make multiple fabrics simultaneously to make extra-long stitches and/or to carry over colors ^[5] The slipped stitches are naturally longer than the knitted ones; for example, a stitch slipped for one row before knitting would be roughly twice as tall as its knitted counterparts. This can produce interesting visual effects, although the resulting fabric is more rigid, because the slipped stitch "pulls" on its neighbours and is less deformable. Slip-stitch knitting plays an important role in mosaic knitting, an important technique in hand-knitting patterned fabrics; mosaic-knit fabrics tend to be stiffer than patterned fabrics produced by other methods such as Fair-Isle knitting. Fair Isle is a traditional Knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours ^[6]

In some cases, a stitch may be deliberately left unsecured by a new stitch and its wale allowed to disassemble. This is known as drop-stitch knitting, and produces a vertical ladder of see-through holes in the fabric, corresponding to where the wale had been. Drop-stitch knitting is a Knitting technique for producing open vertical stripes in a garment.

The stitches on the right are right-plaited, whereas the stitches on the left are left-plaited.

Within limits, an arbitrary number of twists may be added to new stitches, whether they be knit or purl. Here, a single twist is illustrated, with left-plaited and right-plaited stitches on the left and right, respectively.

Right- and left-plaited stitches

See also: Plaited stitch (knitting)

Both knit and purl stitches may be twisted: usually once if at all, but sometimes twice and (very rarely) thrice. In Knitting, a plaited stitch is a single knitted stitch that is twisted clockwise (right over left or counterclockwise (left over right usually by one half-turn (180° but When seen from above, the twist can be clockwise (right yarn over left) or counterclockwise (left yarn over right); these are denoted as right- and left-plaited stitches, respectively. Hand-knitters generally produce right-plaited stitches by knitting or purling through the back loops, i. e. , passing the needle through the initial stitch in an unusual way, but wrapping the yarn as usual. By contrast, the left-plaited stitch is generally formed by hand-knitters by wrapping the yarn in the opposite way, rather than by any change in the needle. Although they are mirror images in form, right- and left-plaited stitches are functionally equivalent. Both types of plaited stitches gives a subtle but interesting visual texture, and tend to draw the fabric inwards, making it stiffer. Plaited stitches are a common method for knitting jewelry from fine metal wire.

Illustration of entrelac. Entrelac is a Knitting technique used to create a textured diamond pattern The blue and white wales are parallel to each other, but both are perpendicular to the brown and gold wales, resembling basket weaving.

Edges and joins between knitted fabrics

The initial and final edges of a knitted fabric are known as the cast-on and bound-off edges. In Knitting, casting on is a family of techniques for adding new stitches that do not depend on earlier stitches i In Knitting, binding off, or casting off, is a family of techniques for ending a column (a wale) of stitches The side edges are known as the selvages; the word derives from "self-edges", meaning that the stitches do not need to be secured by anything else. The selvage of a Knitted fabric consists the stitch(es that end each row ("course" of knitting Many types of selvages have been developed, with different elastic and ornamental properties. Vertical and horizontal edges can be introduced within a knitted fabric, e. g. , for button holes, by binding off and re-casting on again (horizontal) or by knitting the fabrics on either side of a vertical edge separately.

Two knitted fabrics can be joined by embroidery-based grafting methods, most commonly the Kitchener stitch. In Knitting, grafting is the joining of two Knitted fabrics using yarn and a needle in one of three types of Seams selvage -to- New wales can be begun from any of the edges of a knitted fabric; this is known as picking up stitches and is the basis for entrelac, in which the wales run perpendicular to one another in a checkerboard pattern. In Knitting, picking up stitches means adding stiches to the Knitting needle that were previously bound off or belong to the selvage. Entrelac is a Knitting technique used to create a textured diamond pattern

Illustration of cable knitting. Cable knitting is a style of Knitting in which the order of stitches is permuted The central braid is formed from 2x2 ribbing in which the background is formed of purl stitches and the cables are each two wales of knit stitches. In Knitting, ribbing is a pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse stockinette stitch. By changing the order in which the stitches are knit, the wales can be made to cross.

Cables, increases and lace

Ordinarily, stitches are knitted in the same order in every row, and the wales of the fabric run parallel and vertically along the fabric. However, this need not be so. The order in which stitches are knitted may be permuted so that wales cross over one another, forming a cable pattern. Cables patterns tend to draw the fabric together, making it denser and less elastic;^[7] Aran sweaters are a common form of knitted cabling. The Aran (or Arran) is a style of jumper/ Sweater that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the West Coast of Ireland. ^[8] Arbitrarily complex braid patterns can be done in cable knitting, with the proviso that the wales must move ever upwards; it is generally impossible for a wale to move up and then down the fabric. Cable knitting is a style of Knitting in which the order of stitches is permuted Knitters have developed methods for giving the illusion of a circular wale, such as appear in Celtic knots, but these are inexact approximations. ||-||-||-||-||} Celtic knots are a variety of (mostly endless) Knots and stylized Graphical representations of knots used for decoration, adopted However, such circular wales are possible using Swiss darning, a form of embroidery, or by knitting a tube separately and attaching it to the knitted fabric.

In lace knitting, the pattern is formed by making small, stable holes in the fabric, generally with yarn overs. Lace knitting is a style of Knitting characterized by stable "holes" in the fabric arranged with consideration of Aesthetic value In Knitting, a yarn over is technique in which the Yarn is passed over the right-hand Knitting needle.

A wale can split into two or more wales using increases, most commonly involving a yarn over. In Knitting, an increase is the creation of one or more new stitches which may be done by various methods with distinctive looks In Knitting, a yarn over is technique in which the Yarn is passed over the right-hand Knitting needle. Depending on how the increase is done, there is often a hole in the fabric at the point of the increase. This is used to great effect in lace knitting, which consists of making patterns and pictures using such holes, rather than with the stitches themselves. Lace knitting is a style of Knitting characterized by stable "holes" in the fabric arranged with consideration of Aesthetic value ^[9] The large and many holes in lacy knitting makes it extremely elastic; for example, some Shetland "wedding-ring" shawls are so fine that they may be drawn through a wedding ring.

By combining increases and decreases, it is possible to make the direction of a wale slant away from vertical, even in weft knitting. This is the basis for bias knitting, and can be used for visual effect, similar to the direction of a brush-stroke in oil painting. Bias knitting is a method by which the grain of a Knitted fabric is skewed from the vertical by decreasing on one side and increasing on the other

Ornamentations and additions

Various point-like ornaments may be added to knitting for their look or to improve the wear of the fabric. Examples include various types of bobbles, sequins and beads. In Knitting, a bobble is a localized set of stitches forming a raised bump Bead knitting is a type of knitting in which the stitches are decorated with ceramic or glass beads Long loops can also be drawn out and secured, forming a "shaggy" texture to the fabric; this is known as loop knitting. In loop knitting, long dangling loops are introduced into the middle of a knitted fabric or along an edge (fringe border Additional patterns can be made on the surface of the knitted fabric using embroidery; if the embroidery resembles knitting, it is often called Swiss darning. Embroidery is the Art or Handicraft of decorating fabric or other Materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or Various closures for the garments, such as frogs and buttons can be added; usually buttonholes are knitted into the garment, rather than cut.

Ornamental pieces may also be knitted separately and then attached using applique. In its broadest sense an applique or appliqué is a smaller ornament or device applied to another surface For example, differently colored leaves and petals of a flower could be knit separately and applied to form the final picture. Separately knitted tubes can be applied to a knitted fabric to form complex Celtic knots and other patterns that would be difficult to knit. ||-||-||-||-||} Celtic knots are a variety of (mostly endless) Knots and stylized Graphical representations of knots used for decoration, adopted

Unknitted yarns may be worked into knitted fabrics for warmth, as is done in tufting and "weaving" (also known as "couching"). Tufting is a type of textile weaving which in which a thread is inserted on a primary base In Knitting, weaving is a family of techniques for introducing extra yarn(s into a knitted fabric without knitting them

Types of knitting

A modern knitting machine in the process of weft knitting. Warp knitting is a family of Knitting methods in which the Yarn zigzags along the length of the Fabric, i

Circular knitting on a circular needle

Flat knitting. The loops on the metal needle are the active stitches, and the yarn coming out of the knitting on the right is the working yarn.

Flat knitting versus circular knitting

Main articles: Circular knitting and Flat knitting

Circular knitting (also called "knitting in the round") is a form of knitting that creates a seamless tube. Circular knitting or knitting in the round is a form of Knitting that creates a seamless tube Flat knitting is a method for producing Knitted fabrics in which the work is turned periodically i Knitting is worked in rounds (the equivalent of rows in flat knitting) in a spiral. Originally, circular knitting was done using a set of four or five double-pointed knitting needles. A knitting needle or knitting pin is a Tool in Hand-knitting to produce Knitted fabrics They generally have a long shaft and taper Later, circular needles were invented. A circular needle resembles two short knitting needles connected by a cable between them. Flat knitting, on the other hand, is used, in its most basic form, to make flat, rectangular pieces of cloth. ^[10] It is done with two straight knitting needles and is worked in rows, horizontal lines of stitches.

Circular knitting is employed to create pieces that are circular or tube-shaped, such as hats, socks, mittens, and sleeves. A hat is a headcovering It may be worn for protection against the elements for religious reasons for safety or as a Fashion accessory. A sock is a knitted or Woven type of Hosiery garment for enclosing the human foot A glove ( Middle English from Old English glof) is a type of Garment (and more specifically a Fashion Sleeve ( O Eng ''slieve'' or ''slyf'', a word allied to slip, cf Flat knitting is usually used to knit flat pieces like scarves, blankets, afghans, and the backs and fronts of sweaters. Uses and types In cold climates a thick Knitted scarf often of Wool, is tied around the Neck to keep warm A blanket is a type of Bedding, generally speaking a large piece of cloth intended to keep the user warm especially while Sleeping Blankets are distinguished from An Afghan is a Blanket, wrap or Shawl of colored wool knitted or Crocheted in geometric shapes A sweater, pullover, jumper, or jersey is a relatively heavy Shirt intended to cover the torso and arms of the human body (though in some cases

There is also such a thing as finger knitting. Finger knitting is a simple form of Knitting in which yarn is knitted into a shorter but thicker twine It is not done like knitting on needles, it is done on your fingers. This produces a tube like piece.

History and culture

This woman is knitting at a coffee shop; although it is usually done by one person alone, knitting is commonly a social activity. There are many knitting guilds and other knitting groups or knitting clubs. See also Knitting Knitting clubs are a feature of the recent revival of hand knitting which began in America and has spread to most of Europe

Main article: History of knitting

One of the earliest known examples of knitting was finely decorated cotton socks found in Egypt in the end of the first millennium AD. Knitting as defined by Wiktionary, is "Combin a piece of thread with two needles into a piece of fabric This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The first millennium is a period of time that commenced on January 1, 1, and ended on December 31, 1000, of the Julian calendar. ^[11] The first knitting trade guild was started in Paris in 1527. ^[12] With the invention of the knitting machine, however, knitting "by hand" became a useful but non-essential craft. The knitting machine, sometimes called knitting frame, knitting loom,or hand knitting machine, is used to produce knit fabrics on a fixedbed of hooked needles Similar to quilting, spinning, and needlepoint, knitting became a social activity. Quilting is a Sewing method done either by hand by Sewing machine, or by a longarm quilting system Spinning is an ancient textile art in which plant, animal or synthetic Fibers are twisted together to form Yarn (or thread Needlepoint is a form of Canvas work Embroidery, in which Yarn is stitched through a Canvas ground fabric.

Hand-knitting has gone into and out of fashion many times in the last two centuries, and at the turn of the 21st century it is enjoying a revival. According to the industry group Craft Yarn Council of America, the number of women knitters in the United States age 25–35 increased 150% in the two years between 2002 and 2004. The Craft Yarn Council of America (CYCA is an industry association representing organizations that retail 85% of the crochet and knitting supplies in the USA. ^[13] While some may say knitting has never really gone away, this latest reincarnation is less about the make do and mend of the 1940’s and 50’s and more about making a statement about individuality as well as developing an innate sense of community. Additionally, many contemporary knitters have an interest in blogging about their knitting, patterns, and techniques. A blog (a contraction of the term " Web log " is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary descriptions of ^[14]

Properties of knitted fabrics

Schematic of stockinette stitch, the most basic weft-knit fabric

The topology of a knitted fabric is relatively complex. Topology ( Greek topos, "place" and logos, "study" is the branch of Mathematics that studies the properties of Unlike woven fabrics, where strands usually run straight horizontally and vertically, yarn that has been knitted follows a loopy path along its row, as with the red strand in the diagram at left, in which the loops of one row have all been pulled through the loops of the row below it. This article describes textile weaving For other senses of this word see Weaving (disambiguation.

Because there is no single straight line of yarn anywhere in the pattern, a knitted piece can stretch in all directions. This elasticity is unavailable from woven fabrics, which only stretch along the bias. The bias (US or cross-grain (UK direction of a piece of woven fabric, usually referred to simply as "the bias" or "the cross-grain" Many modern stretchy garments, even as they rely on elastic synthetic materials for some stretch, also achieve at least some of their stretch through knitted patterns.

Close-up of stockinette stitch

Close-up of reverse stockinette stitch

The basic knitted fabric (as in the diagram, and usually called a stocking or stockinette pattern) has a definite "right side" and "wrong side". A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease Flat knitting is a method for producing Knitted fabrics in which the work is turned periodically i On the right side, the visible portions of the loops are the verticals connecting two rows, arranged in a grid of V shapes. On the wrong side, the ends of the loops are visible, both the tops and bottoms, creating a much more bumpy texture sometimes called reverse stockinette. A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease (Despite being the "wrong side," reverse stockinette is frequently used as a pattern in its own right. ) Because the yarn holding rows together is all on the front, and the yarn holding side-by-side stitches together is all on the back, stockinette fabric has a strong tendency to curl toward the front on the top and bottom, and toward the back on the left and right side. A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease

Stitches can be worked from either side, and various patterns are created by mixing regular knit stitches with the "wrong side" stitches, known as purl stitches, either in columns (ribbing), rows (garter, welting), or more complex patterns. In Knitting, ribbing is a pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse stockinette stitch. A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease In Knitting, welting is the horizontal analog of ribbing; that is one or more horizontal rows of knit stitches alternating with one or more rows of purl stitches Each such fabric has different properties: a garter stitch has much more vertical stretch, while ribbing stretches much more horizontally. A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease In Knitting, ribbing is a pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse stockinette stitch. Because of their front-back symmetry, these two fabrics have little curl, making them popular as edging, even when their stretch properties are not desired. Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance such that it reflects beauty or

Different combinations of knit and purl stitches, along with more advanced techniques, generate fabrics of considerably variable consistency, from gauzy to very dense, from highly stretchy to relatively stiff, from flat to tightly curled, and so on.

Close-up of knitting

Texture

The most common texture for a knitted garment is that generated by the flat stockinette stitch—as seen, though very small, in machine-made stockings and T-shirts—which is worked in the round as nothing but knit stitches, and worked flat as alternating rows of knit and purl. A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease A T-shirt (or tee shirt) is a Shirt which is pulled on over the head to cover most of a person's Torso. Other simple textures can be made with nothing but knit and purl stitches, including garter stitch, ribbing, and moss and seed stitches. A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease In Knitting, ribbing is a pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse stockinette stitch. A few types of Knitted fabric are so fundamental that they have been adopted as part of the language of knitting similar to techniques such as Yarn over or decrease Adding a "slip stitch" (where a loop is passed from one needle to the other) allows for a wide range of textures, including heel and linen stitches, and a number of more complicated patterns.

Close-up of ribbing

Some more advanced knitting techniques create a surprising variety of complex textures. In Knitting, ribbing is a pattern in which vertical stripes of stockinette stitch alternate with vertical stripes of reverse stockinette stitch. Combining certain increases, which can create small eyelet holes in the resulting fabric, with assorted decreases is key to creating knitted lace, a very open fabric resembling lace. In Knitting, an increase is the creation of one or more new stitches which may be done by various methods with distinctive looks A decrease in Knitting is a reduction in the number of stitches usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it Lace knitting is a style of Knitting characterized by stable "holes" in the fabric arranged with consideration of Aesthetic value Changing the order of stitches from one row to the next, usually with the help of a cable needle or stitch holder, is key to cable knitting, producing an endless variety of cables, honeycombs, ropes, and Aran sweater patterning. Cable knitting is a style of Knitting in which the order of stitches is permuted The Aran (or Arran) is a style of jumper/ Sweater that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the West Coast of Ireland. Entrelac forms a rich checkerboard texture by knitting small squares, picking up their side edges, and knitting more squares to continue the piece. Entrelac is a Knitting technique used to create a textured diamond pattern

The appearance of a garment is also affected by the weight of the yarn, which describes the thickness of the spun fibre. The thicker the yarn, the more visible and apparent stitches will be; the thinner the yarn, the finer the texture.

Colour

Plenty of finished knitting projects never use more than a single colour of yarn, but there are many ways to work in multiple colors. Some yarns are dyed to be either variegated (changing color every few stitches in a random fashion) or self-striping (changing every few rows). More complicated techniques permit large fields of colour (intarsia, for example), busy small-scale patterns of color (such as Fair Isle), or both (double knitting and slip-stitch colour, for example). Intarsia is a Knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours Fair Isle is a traditional Knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours Double knitting is a form of knitting in which two fabrics are knit simultaneously with two Yarns on one pair of needles Slip-stitch knitting is a family of Knitting techniques that use slip stitches to make multiple fabrics simultaneously to make extra-long stitches and/or to carry over colors

Yarn with multiple shades of the same hue are called ombre, while a yarn with multiple hues may be known as a given colorway — a green, red and yellow yarn might be dubbed the "Parrot Colorway" by its manufacturer, for example. Heathered yarns contain small amounts of fibre of different colours, while tweed yarns may have greater amounts of different coloured fibres.

Process

There are many hundreds of different knitting stitches used by knitters. This is a list of knitting stitches.Over the long history of knitting across the world hundreds of different knitting stitches have been created A piece of knitting begins with the process of casting on (also known as "binding on"), which involves the initial creation of the stitches on the needle. In Knitting, casting on is a family of techniques for adding new stitches that do not depend on earlier stitches i Different methods of casting on are used for different effects: one may be stretchy enough for lace, while another provides a decorative edging — Provisional cast-ons are used when the knitting will continue in both directions from the cast-on. There are various method employed to "cast on," such as the "thumb method" (also known as "slingshot" or "long-tail" cast-ons), where the stitches are created by a series of loops that will, when knitted, give a very loose edge ideal for "picking up stitches" and knitting a border; the "double needle method" (also known as "knit-on" or "cable cast-on"), whereby each loop placed on the needle is then "knitted on," which produces a firmer edge ideal on its own as a border; and many more. The number of active stitches remains the same as when cast on unless stitches are added (an increase) or removed (a decrease). In Knitting, an increase is the creation of one or more new stitches which may be done by various methods with distinctive looks A decrease in Knitting is a reduction in the number of stitches usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it

Most Western-style knitters follow either the English style (in which the yarn is held in the right hand) or the Continental style (in which the yarn is held in the left hand). English knitting, also known as right-hand knitting or throwing, is a style of Western Knitting where the yarn about to be knit into the fabric is carried Knitting with the yarn in one's left hand is commonly referred to as Continental knitting, German knitting, European knitting, or left-hand knitting. A third but less common method, called combination knitting, may also be used. Combined knitting or combination knitting is a style that combines elements of Eastern-style Knitting with the Western techniques ^[15]

Once the knitted piece is finished, the remaining live stitches are "cast off. In Knitting, binding off, or casting off, is a family of techniques for ending a column (a wale) of stitches " Casting (or "binding") off loops the stitches across each other so they can be removed from the needle without unravelling the item. Although the mechanics are different from casting on, there is a similar variety of methods.

In knitting certain articles of clothing, especially larger ones like sweaters, the final knitted garment will be made of several knitted pieces, with individual sections of the garment knit separately and then sewn together. A sweater, pullover, jumper, or jersey is a relatively heavy Shirt intended to cover the torso and arms of the human body (though in some cases In Knitting, grafting is the joining of two Knitted fabrics using yarn and a needle in one of three types of Seams selvage -to- Seamless knitting, where a whole garment is knit as a single piece, is also possible. Elizabeth Zimmermann is probably the best-known proponent of seamless or circular knitting techniques. Elizabeth Zimmermann ( August 9, 1910 &ndash November 30, 1999) was a British-born knitter known for revolutionizing the Smaller items, such as socks and hats, are usually knit in one piece on double-pointed needles or circular needles. (See Circular knitting. Circular knitting or knitting in the round is a form of Knitting that creates a seamless tube )

Knitting materials

Yarn

Main article: Yarn

A hank of wool yarn (center) is uncoiled into its basic loop. This article is about the fiber product For the type of joke see Shaggy dog story. A tie is visible at the left; after untying, the hank may be wound into a ball or balls suitable for knitting. Knitting from a normal hank directly is likely to tangle the yarn, producing snarls.

Yarn for hand-knitting is usually sold as balls or skeins (hanks), although it may also be wound on spools or cones. Skeins and balls are generally sold with a yarn-band, a label that describes the yarn's weight, length, dye lot, fiber content, washing instructions, suggested needle size, likely gauge, etc. In Knitting, the word Gauge, technical abbreviation GG refers to "Knitting Machines" fineness size (not to the proportion thickness or fineness of the finished knitted It is common practice to save the yarn band for future reference, especially if additional skeins must be purchased. Knitters generally ensure that the yarn for a project comes from a single dye lot. The dye lot specifies a group of skeins that were dyed together and thus have precisely the same color; skeins from different dye-lots, even if very similar in color, are usually slightly different and may produce a visible stripe when knitted together. If a knitter buys insufficient yarn of a single dye lot to complete a project, additional skeins of the same dye lot can sometimes be obtained from other yarn stores or online.

The thickness of the yarn is a significant factor in determining the gauge, i. In Knitting, the word Gauge, technical abbreviation GG refers to "Knitting Machines" fineness size (not to the proportion thickness or fineness of the finished knitted e. , how many stitches and rows are required to cover a given area for a given stitch pattern. Thicker yarns generally require thicker knitting needles, whereas thinner yarns may be knit with thick or thin needles. Hence, thicker yarns generally require fewer stitches, and therefore less time, to knit up a given garment. Patterns and motifs are coarser with thicker yarns; thicker yarns produce bold visual effects, whereas thinner yarns are best for refined patterns. Yarns are grouped by thickness into six categories: superfine, fine, light, medium, bulky and superbulky; quantitatively, thickness is measured by the number of wraps per inch (WPI). The related weight per unit length is usually measured in tex or dernier. Denier Denier is a unit of measure for the Linear mass density of Fibers.

Transformation of a hank of lavender silk yarn (top) into a ball in which the knitting yarn emerges from the center (bottom). The latter is better for knitting, since the yarn is much less likely to tangle.

Before knitting, the knitter will typically transform a hank into a ball where the yarn emerges from the center of the ball; this making the knitting easier by preventing the yarn from becoming easily tangled. This transformation may be done by hand, or with a device known as a ballwinder. When knitting, some knitters enclose their balls in jars to keep them clean and untangled with other yarns; the free yarn passes through a small hole in the jar-lid.

A yarn's usefulness for a knitting project is judged by several factors, such as its loft (its ability to trap air), its resilience (elasticity under tension), its washability and colorfastness, its hand (its feel, particularly softness vs. Laundry can be items of Clothing and other Textiles that require Washing the act of washing clothing and textiles scratchiness), its durability against abrasion, its resistance to pilling, its hairiness (fuzziness), its tendency to twist or untwist, its overall weight and drape, its blocking and felting qualities, its comfort (breathability, moisture absorption, wicking properties) and of course its look, which includes its color, sheen, smoothness and ornamental features. Other factors include allergenicity; speed of drying; resistance to chemicals, moths, and mildew; melting point and flammability; retention of static electricity; and the propensity to become stained and to accept dyes. Different factors may be more significant than others for different knitting projects, so there is no one "best" yarn. The resilience and propensity to (un)twist are general properties that affect the ease of hand-knitting. More resilient yarns are more forgiving of irregularities in tension; highly twisted yarns are sometimes difficult to knit, whereas untwisting yarns can lead to split stitches, in which not all of the yarn is knitted into a stitch. In Knitting, the word Gauge, technical abbreviation GG refers to "Knitting Machines" fineness size (not to the proportion thickness or fineness of the finished knitted A key factor in knitting is stitch definition, corresponding to how well complicated stitch patterns can be seen when made from a given yarn. Smooth, highly spun yarns are best for showing off stitch patterns; at the other extreme, very fuzzy yarns or eyelash yarns have poor stitch definition, and any complicated stitch pattern would be invisible.

The two possible twists of yarn.

Although knitting may be done with ribbons, metal wire and more exotic filaments, most yarns are made by spinning fibers. Spinning is an ancient textile art in which plant, animal or synthetic Fibers are twisted together to form Yarn (or thread In spinning, the fibers are twisted so that the yarn resists breaking under tension; the twisting may be done in either direction, resulting in an Z-twist or S-twist yarn. If the fibers are first aligned by combing them, the yarn is smoother and called a worsted; by contrast, if the fibers are carded but not combed, the yarn is fuzzier and called woolen-spun. The fibers making up a yarn may be continuous filament fibers such as silk and many synthetics, or they may be staples (fibers of an average length, typically a few inches); naturally filament fibers are sometimes cut up into staples before spinning. Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons Staple is a term referring to naturally formed clusters or locks of Wool fibres throughout a fleece that are held together by cross fibres The strength of the spun yarn against breaking is determined by the amount of twist, the length of the fibers and the thickness of the yarn. In general, yarns become stronger with more twist (also called worst), longer fibers and thicker yarns (more fibers); for example, thinner yarns require more twist than do thicker yarns to resist breaking under tension. The thickness of the yarn may vary along its length; a slub is a much thicker section in which a mass of fibers is incorporated into the yarn.

The spun fibers are generally divided into animal fibers, plant and synthetic fibers. Animal fibers are Natural fibers that consist largely of particular proteins Synthetic fibers are the result of extensive research by Scientists to improve upon naturally occurring Animal and plant These fiber types are chemically different, corresponding to proteins, carbohydrates and synthetic polymers, respectively. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most A polymer is a large Molecule ( Macromolecule) composed of repeating Structural units typically connected by Covalent Chemical bonds Animals fibers include silk, but generally are long hairs of animals such as sheep (wool), goat (angora, or cashmere goat), rabbit (angora), llama, alpaca, dog, camel, yak, and muskox (qiviut). Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species The domestic goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat Domesticated from the Wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe The Angora goat (Ankara keçisi is a Goat from the Angora region in Anatolia, near present-day Ankara, Turkey. The changthangi or pashmina goat is a breed of Goat from Ladakh, usually raised for meat or Cashmere wool (also known as Pashmina Rabbits are small Mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world The Angora rabbit is a variety of domestic Rabbit bred for its long soft hair The llama ( Lama glama) is a South American Camelid, widely used as a Pack animal by the Incas and other natives of the Andes The Alpaca ( Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated species of South American Camelid. The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order Camels are Even-toed ungulates within the Genus Camelus. The Dromedary, one-humped or Arabian camel has a single hump and the The yak ( Bos grunniens) is a long-haired Bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Qinghai - The muskox ( Ovibos moschatus) is an Arctic Mammal of the Bovidae family noted for its thick coat and for the strong odor emitted by males Qiviut ( Inuktitut syllabics, ᕿᕕᐅᖅ Inuinnaqtun, qiviuq; sometimes spelled qiveut, and pronounced kiv-ee-yut) is an Plants used for fibers include cotton, flax (for linen), bamboo, ramie, hemp, jute, nettle, raffia, yucca, coconut husk, banana trees, soy and corn. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the genus Linum Linen is a Textile made from the Fibers of the Flax plant Linum usitatissimum. Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily Ramie ( Boehmeria nivea) is a Flowering plant in the Nettle family Urticaceae, native to eastern Asia. This article is about the cultivation and uses of industrial hemp not its psychoactive cousin Cannabis (drug. Jute is a long soft shiny Vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse strong threads Nettle is the common name for between 30-45 species of Flowering plants of the genus Urtica in the family Urticaceae, with a cosmopolitan though The Raffia palms ( Raphia) are a Genus of twenty species of palms native to tropical regions of Africa, Madagascar, with one species The yuccas comprise the Genus Yucca of 40-50 species of perennials Shrubs and Trees in the Agave family The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Rayon and acetate fibers are also produced from cellulose mainly derived from trees. Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic Fiber. Rayon is produced from naturally occurring Polymers and therefore it is not a truly Cellulose acetate, first prepared in 1865 is the Acetate Ester of Cellulose. Cellulose is an Organic compound with the formula, a Polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β(1→4 A tree is a perennial Woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or Common synthetic fibers include acrylics,^[16] polyesters such as dacron and ingeo, nylon and other polyamides, and olefins such as polypropylene. Acrylic fibers are Synthetic fibers made from a polymer ( Polyacrylonitrile) with an average molecular weight of ~100000 Polyester is a category of Polymers which contain the Ester Functional group in their main chain Uses PET can be semi-rigid to rigid depending on its thickness and is very lightweight Ingeo is a Trademark for a man-made Fiber made from renewable resources Overview Nylon is a Thermoplastic silky material first used commercially in a nylon- Bristled Toothbrush (1938 followed more famously by In Organic chemistry, an alkene, olefin, or olefine is an unsaturated Chemical compound containing at least one Carbon Polypropylene or polypropene ( PP) is a Thermoplastic Polymer, made by the Chemical industry and used in a wide variety of applications Of these types, wool is generally favored for knitting, chiefly owing to its superior elasticity, warmth and (sometimes) felting; however, wool is generally less convenient to clean and some people are allergic to it. Felt is a non-woven cloth that is produced by matting condensing and pressing fibers Laundry can be items of Clothing and other Textiles that require Washing the act of washing clothing and textiles It is also common to blend different fibers in the yarn, e. g. , 85% alpaca and 15% silk. Even within a type of fiber, there can be great variety in the length and thickness of the fibers; for example, Merino wool and Egyptian cotton are favored because they produce exceptionally long, thin (fine) fibers for their type. The Merino is the most economically influential breed of sheep in the world prized for its Wool. Pima cotton ( Gossypium barbadense) also known as Extra Long Staple South American Creole Sea Island cotton Egyptian Algodon pais and West Indische katoen

A single spun yarn may knitted as is, or braided or plied with another. A braid (also called plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibers wire or human hair In the Textile arts, plying is a process used to create a strong balanced Yarn. In plying, two or more yarns are spun together, almost always in the opposite sense from which they were spun individually; for example, two Z-twist yarns are usually plied with an S-twist. The opposing twist relieves some of the yarns' tendency to curl up and produces a thicker, balanced yarn. Plied yarns may themselves be plied together, producing cabled yarns or multi-stranded yarns. Sometimes, the yarns being plied are fed at different rates, so that one yarn loops around the other, as in bouclé. Bouclé is a kind of Novelty yarn. It is a Yarn with a length of loops of similar size which can range from tiny circlets to large curls The single yarns may be dyed separately before plying, or afterwards to give the yarn a uniform look.

The dyeing of yarns is a complex art. Yarns need not be dyed; or they may be dyed one color, or a great variety of colors. Dyeing may be done industrially, by hand or even hand-painted onto the yarn. A great variety of synthetic dyes have been developed since the synthesis of indigo dye in the mid-19th century; however, natural dyes are often favored, although they are generally less brilliant. Indigo dye is Dye with a distinctive blue color (see Indigo) The chemical compound that constitutes the indigo dye is called indigotin The color-scheme of a yarn is sometimes called its colorway. Variegated yarns can produce interesting visual effects, such as diagonal stripes; conversely, a variegated yarn may frustrate an otherwise good knitting pattern by producing distasteful color combinations.

Knitting tools

Knitting needles

Main article: Knitting needle

The process of knitting has three basic tasks: (1) the active (unsecured) stitches must be held so they don't drop; (2) these stitches must be released sometime after they are secured; and (3) new bights of yarn must be passed through the fabric, usually through active stitches, thus securing them. A knitting needle or knitting pin is a Tool in Hand-knitting to produce Knitted fabrics They generally have a long shaft and taper Drop-stitch knitting is a Knitting technique for producing open vertical stripes in a garment. This article is about the fiber product For the type of joke see Shaggy dog story. In very simple cases, knitting can be done without tools, using only the fingers to do these tasks; however, knitting is usually carried out using tools such as knitting needles, knitting machines or rigid frames. A knitting needle or knitting pin is a Tool in Hand-knitting to produce Knitted fabrics They generally have a long shaft and taper The knitting machine, sometimes called knitting frame, knitting loom,or hand knitting machine, is used to produce knit fabrics on a fixedbed of hooked needles Depending on their size and shape, the rigid frames are called knitting boards, knitting rings (also called knitting looms) or knitting spools (also known as knitting knobbies, knitting nancies, or corkers). Other tools are used to prepare yarn for knitting, to measure and design knitted garments, or to make knitting easier or more comfortable.

Knitting needles in a variety of sizes (US 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15 from the bottom). The US size 7 and 15 needles are bamboo and wood, respectively, whereas the others are aluminum. Having a smoother surface, metal needles tend to produce faster knitting but stitches are more likely to slide off by accident.

There are three basic types of knitting needles (also called "knitting pins"). The first and most common type consists of two slender, straight sticks tapered to a point at one end, and with a knob at the other end to prevent stitches from slipping off. Such needles are usually 10-16 inches long but, due to the compressibility of knitted fabrics, may be used to knit pieces significantly wider. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. The most important property of needles is their diameter, which ranges from below 2 mm to 25 mm (roughly 1 inch). The Millimetre ( American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to The diameter affects the size of stitches, which affects the gauge of the knitting and the elasticity of the fabric. In Knitting, the word Gauge, technical abbreviation GG refers to "Knitting Machines" fineness size (not to the proportion thickness or fineness of the finished knitted Thus, a simple way to change gauge is to use different needles, which is the basis of uneven knitting. In Knitting, the word Gauge, technical abbreviation GG refers to "Knitting Machines" fineness size (not to the proportion thickness or fineness of the finished knitted Although knitting needle diameter is often measured in millimeters, there are several different size systems, particularly those specific to the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan; a conversion table is given at knitting needle. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A knitting needle or knitting pin is a Tool in Hand-knitting to produce Knitted fabrics They generally have a long shaft and taper Such knitting needles may be made out of any materials, but the most common materials are metals, wood, bamboo, and plastic. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Bamboo is a group of Woody perennial Evergreen Plants in the True grass family Poaceae, subfamily Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Different materials have different frictions and grip the yarn differently; slick needles such as metallic needles are useful for swift knitting, whereas rougher needles such as bamboo are less prone to dropping stitches. The knitting of new stitches occurs only at the tapered ends, and needles with lighted tips have been sold to allow knitters to knit in the dark.

Double-pointed knitting needles usually come in sets of four (US size 1, on right) or five (US size 8, on left).

The second type of knitting needles are straight, double-pointed knitting needles (also called "dpns"). Double-pointed needles are tapered at both ends, which allows them to be knit from either end. Dpns are typically used for circular knitting, especially smaller tube-shaped pieces such as sleeves, collars, and socks; usually one needle is active while the others hold the remaining active stitches. Circular knitting or knitting in the round is a form of Knitting that creates a seamless tube Dpns are somewhat shorter (typically 7 inches) and are usually sold in sets of four or five. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches.

Circular knitting needles in three different lengths and sizes. The tips of the outermost, longest one is US size 5 and chrome-plated for speed, whereas the innermost tips are wood and US size 15; the middle red metal tips are US size 9.

Cable needles are a special case of dpns, although they usually are not straight, but dimpled in the middle. Cable needles are typically very short (a few inches), and are used to hold stitches temporarily while others are being knitted. Cable patterns are made by permuting the order of stitches; although one or two stitches may be held by hand or knit out of order, cables of three or more generally require a cable needle.

The third needle type consists of circular needles, which are long, flexible double-pointed needles. The two tapered ends (typically 5 inches (130 mm) long) are rigid and straight, allowing for easy knitting; however, the two ends are connected by a flexible strand (usually nylon) that allows the two ends to be brought together. Circular needles are typically 24-60 inches long, and are usually used singly or in pairs; again, the width of the knitted piece may be significantly longer than the length of the circular needle. Special kits are available that allow circular needles of various lengths and diameters to be made as needed; rigid ends of various diameters may be screwed into strands of various lengths. The ability to work from either end of one needle is convenient in several types of knitting, such as slip-stitch versions of double knitting. Slip-stitch knitting is a family of Knitting techniques that use slip stitches to make multiple fabrics simultaneously to make extra-long stitches and/or to carry over colors Double knitting is a form of knitting in which two fabrics are knit simultaneously with two Yarns on one pair of needles Circular needles may be used for flat or circular knitting. Flat knitting is a method for producing Knitted fabrics in which the work is turned periodically i Circular knitting or knitting in the round is a form of Knitting that creates a seamless tube

Ancillary tools

Some ancillary tools used by hand-knitters. Starting from the bottom right are two crochet hooks, two stitch holders (quasi-safety pins), and two cable needles in pink and green. On the left are a pair of scissors, a yarn needle, green and blue stitch markers, and two orange point protectors. At the top left are two blue point protectors, one on a red needle.

Various tools have been developed to make hand-knitting easier. Tools for measuring needle diameter and yarn properties have been discussed above, as well as the yarn swift, ballwinder and "yarntainers". For other uses see Swift (disambiguation A swift is a tool used to hold a Skein of Yarn while it is being wound off Crochet hooks and a darning needle are often useful in binding off or in joining two knitted pieces edge-to-edge. In Knitting, binding off, or casting off, is a family of techniques for ending a column (a wale) of stitches In Knitting, grafting is the joining of two Knitted fabrics using yarn and a needle in one of three types of Seams selvage -to- The darning needle is used in duplicate stitch (also known as Swiss darning), while the crochet hook is also essential for repairing dropped stitches and some specialty stitches such as tufting. Drop-stitch knitting is a Knitting technique for producing open vertical stripes in a garment. Tufting is a type of textile weaving which in which a thread is inserted on a primary base Other tools are used to prepare specific ornaments include the pompom tree for making pompoms conveniently. For large or complex patterns, it is sometimes difficult to keep track of which stitch should be knit in a particular way; therefore, several tools have been developed to identify the number of a particular row or stitch, including circular stitch markers, hanging markers, extra yarn and counters. A second potential difficulty is that the knitted piece will slide off the tapered end of the needles when unattended; this is prevented by "point protectors" that cap the tapered ends. Another problem is that too much knitting may lead to hand and wrist troubles; for this, special stress-relieving gloves are available. Finally, there are sundry bags and containers for holding knitting, yarns and needles.

Industrial applications

Industrially, metal wire is also knitted into a metal fabric for a wide range of uses including the filter material in cafetieres, catalytic converters for cars and many other uses. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" A wire is a single usually cylindrical, elongated string of drawn Metal. A French press, also known as a press pot, coffee press, coffee plunger or cafetière, is a simple Coffee brewing A catalytic converter (colloquially "cat" or "catcon" is a device used to reduce the toxicity of emissions from an Internal combustion engine. These fabrics are usually manufactured on circular knitting machines that would be recognised by conventional knitters as sock machines. The knitting machine, sometimes called knitting frame, knitting loom,or hand knitting machine, is used to produce knit fabrics on a fixedbed of hooked needles A sock is a knitted or Woven type of Hosiery garment for enclosing the human foot

See also

Notes

References

• Hiatt, June Hemmons. (1988). The principles of knitting: Methods and techniques of hand knitting. Simon and Schuster, New York.
• "Knitting". The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. (2003). Columbia University Press. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian  

• Rutt, Richard (2003). A history of handknitting. Interweave Press, Loveland, CO. (Reprint Edition ISBN)
• Spencer, David J. (1989). Knitting Technology: a Comprehensive Handbook and Practical Guide. Lancaster: Woodhead Publishing. ISBN 1 85573 333 1.  
• Stoller, Debbie. Debbie Stoller is an American Author, Publisher and Textile artist whose work includes Knitting and Crochet. (2004) Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook. Workman Publishing Company
• Thomas, Mary. (1938). Mary Thomas's Knitting Book. Dover Publications. New York. (1972 Reprint Edition ISBN)
• Zimmermann, Elizabeth. Elizabeth Zimmermann ( August 9, 1910 &ndash November 30, 1999) was a British-born knitter known for revolutionizing the (1972). Knitting Without Tears. Simon and Schuster, New York. (Reprint Edition ISBN)
• Gschwandtner, Sabrina. (2007). KnitKnit: Profiles and Projects from Knitting's New Wave". Stewart, Tabori and Chang, New York.

External links

• Knitting at the Open Directory Project
• Yarn Weight Relationship between yarn weight and knitting gauge. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory
• Knitting. Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories. Victoria and Albert Museum. The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design housing a permanent collection Retrieved on 2007-09-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians
• A collection of 19th century decorative knitting sheaths

Instructional sites

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• KnittingFool: Knitting abbreviations; Knitting symbols; and free knitting patterns
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