Fabric is a plain sheet of cloth, which is made from natural or man-made fibres by weaving or knitting process. Most fabrics are knitted or woven, but some are produced by non-woven processes such as braiding, felting, twisting, etc. Fabric considers a major raw material in the footwear manufacturing process.
3. Comparison of
WOVEN FABRIC vs KNITTED FABRIC
WOVEN FABRIC KNITTED FABRIC
It is the made by
interlacement of yarn
It is the interloping of
yarn
Different looms are used.
Different knitting m/cs
are used.
No need of needle Needle is needed.
Lengthwise & widthwise
directions are named as
warp & weft respectively.
Lengthwise & widthwise
directions are named as
Wales & course
respectively.
6. Difference between woven and knitted fabrics
Fabric
Construction
Woven fabric is at
least made up of two
separate groups of
yarns (warp and weft) and knitted fabric can be made up of one yarn only.
Weaving is interlacing of 2 set of yarn to form a fabric.
Knitting is a process of converting yarn to fabric by forming a series of
loops dependent on each other.
7. Difference between woven and knitted fabrics
Elasticity
◦ Elasticity is the ability of the fabric to extend and recover
to its original shape and length.
◦ Knitted fabric has higher extensibility and instant recovery
ability than woven fabric.
8. Difference between woven and knitted fabrics
Fabric Density and Cover
◦ In general, woven fabric can be produced in extremely tight and higher coverage when
compared with knitted fabric.
◦ Range of density variation is much higher than knitted fabric.
◦ Knitted fabric in general, is looser in structure.
10. Difference between woven and knitted fabrics
Thickness and Handle
Knitted fabric is much thicker and softer than woven fabric as it has a
complicated 3-dimensional structure.
Knitted fabric seems to be softer because the knitted loops are more easily
compress and extensible than straight yarn (warp and weft in woven fabric)
11. Difference between woven and knitted fabrics
Production Cost
◦ Weaving requires expensive preparation processes like warping, sizing, draw-in; while
knitting only requires yarn waxing.
◦ The production rate of circular knitting is roughly FIVE times faster than modern
weaving loom.
13. Flow Chart For Knitted fabric
Input Process Output
Yarn → Winding → Yarn
Yarn → Knitting → Fabric
14. WINDING
The process of transferring yarn from ring bobbin to
suitable packages is called winding.
Objects of winding:
- To transfer yarn from one package to another which is suitable for next process.
- To clean yarn.
- To improve the quality of yarn.
19. Types of Drive
Direct Drive
◦ A= Motor
◦ B= Motor pulley.
◦ C= M/c pulley.
◦ D= Package.
Indirect Drive
◦ A= Motor
◦ B= Motor pulley.
◦ C= M/c pulley.
◦ D= Cylinder.
◦ E= Package.
20. Auxiliary functions in winding
1. Creeling:
This is the placement of full packages in position ready to be unwound as
part of the transfer operation.
2. Piecing:
This is the joining of two ends of yarn. It can be done by knotting or
adhesion.
3. Doffing:
This is the removal of the newly wound package & replace by an empty
package.
21. WARPING
The parallel winding of warp ends from many little packages to a common package (warp beam) is called Warping.
Object of Warping:
To arrange a suitable number of warp yarns of required length so that they can be collected from a single warp beam
as a continuous sheet of yarn which can be used in weaving.
24. SIZING
◦ Sizing is the process of applying a protective adhesive coating on the surface of yarn.
Object of Sizing:
◦ To improve weavability of yarn.
◦ To maintain good fabric quality by reducing hairiness, weakness, etc.
25. Size Ingredients
1. Adhesive:
Generally starch of maize, potato, etc are used to increase strength.
2. Lubricants:
Japan wax, linseed oil, animal fats, etc are used to make the yarn slippery
and smooth.
3. Antiseptics/ Anti mildews:
Fatty acid, Zinc chloride, phenol, etc are used to prevent mildew formation.
26. Size Ingredients
4. Hygroscopic agent:
Magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, etc are used to prevent excessive
drying.
5. Weighting agent:
China clay, Sodium phosphate, etc are used to increase the weight of yarn.
6. Antifoaming agent:
Pyridine, Benzene, etc are used to prevent foam formation.
29. Drying
◦ A= Infra red drying.
◦ B = Hot air Drying.
◦ C = Cylinder Drying.
30. Weaving
◦ The process of making fabric from yarn by interlacement is called
weaving.
31. Mechanism of Weaving (In short)
Weaving is done by different types of loom. It is the interlacement of warp & weft. Warp beam
supplies warp yarn. According to the design, warp yarns are uppered and lowered and the weft
yarns are forced to pass between them. Then interlacement is occurred.
36. KNITTING
Knitting is forming loops
through those previously
formed. This interloping
and the continuous
formation of more loops
into each other produces
the knitted fabric structure.
40. a
The upper part of the loop produced by the needle drawing the
yarn is called the needle loop.
The lower part of the knitted loop is technically
referred as sinker loop
sinker loop
needle loop
Face Loop Back Loop
Face Back
42. Some Important Terminology cont..
Wale(s) : Wale is predominantly
vertical column of needle loops produced
by same needle knitting at successive
knitting cycle.
Course: Course is a predominantly horizontal row of loops produced by
adjacent needles during the same knitting cycle.
Course Length : In weft knitting, the term ‘course length’ refers to the
measurement of a straight length of yarn knitted by all or a fraction of the
needles in the production of a particular course.
43. Some Important Terminology cont..
◦ Gauge/ Machine Gauge :
Gauge is the term used to describe the needle spacing. It can be defined as the
number of needles per unit inch.
◦ The gauge is the major factor in determining the fabric density and appearance.
45. Basic Knitting Elements
Latch needle
The needle consists of six main parts:
Stem – Used to hold the course of old loops
Hook – The hook is used to catch a thread and form loops.
Rivet – Holds the latch in place and allows it to pivot.
Latch – The latch combines the task performed by the presser
bar and the beard of the bearded needle.
Butt – The butt enables the movement of the needle to be
controlled by a cam mechanism. A track raises and lowers the
needle.
Tail – Used to provide support to the needle
46. Basic Knitting Elements cont…
CAMS
The knitting cams are hardened steels, and they are the assembly of different cam plates so that a track
for butt can be arranged. Each needle movement is obtained by means of cams acting on the needle
butts.
48. Knitting cam:
◦ Knitting is an element which acts directly on to the butts of needles or other elements to produce
individual or serial movement.
◦ Knitting cams are attached, either individually or in unit form, to a cam plate and depending upon the
machine design, are fixed, exchangeable or adjustable.
49. Basic Knitting Elements cont…
Knitting Cams/Stitches:
Based on the arrangements knitting stitches are of three types as well as the cams also.
There are three types of cams and as according, three types of Knitted Stitches.
Knit Cam (Stitch),
Tuck Cam (Stitch),
Miss Cam (Stitch).
50. Basic Knitting Elements cont…
◦ Knit Stitch :
◦ The knit stitch is the basic stitch. It is also called the plain stitch. Knit stitch is formed when the
needle carries out a complete cycle, reaching the maximum height on the looping plane.
51. Basic Knitting Elements cont…
◦ Tuck Stitch :
◦ A tuck stitch is formed when a knitting needle holds its old loop and then receives a
new yarn. Two loops then collect in the needle hook. The previously formed knitted
loop is called the held loop and the loop which joins it is a tuck loop.
The tuck loop will always lie at the back of the held loop.
52. Basic Knitting Elements cont…
◦ Miss Stitch :
◦ A miss stitch is created when one or more knitting needles are deactivated and do
not move into position to accept the yarn.
The yarn simply passes by and no stitch is formed.
The float will lie freely on the reverse side of the held loop, which is the technical
back, and in the case of rib and interlock structures it will be inside the fabric.