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Warp knitting is a family of knitting methods in which the yarn zigzags along the length of the fabric, i.e., following adjacent columns ("wales") of knitting, rather than a single row ("course"). For comparison, knitting across the width of the fabric is called weft knitting.

Since warp knitting requires that the number of separate strands of yarn ("ends") equals the number of stitches in a row, warp knitting is almost always done by machine, not by hand.

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.

Types

Warp knitting comprises several types of knitted fabrics, including tricot, raschel knits, and milanese knits. All warp-knit fabrics are resistant to runs and relatively easy to sew.

• Tricot is very common in lingerie.
• Milanese is stronger, more stable, smoother and more expensive than tricot and, hence, is used in better lingerie. Milanese is now virtually obsolete.
• Raschel knits do not stretch significantly and are often bulky; consequently, they are often used as an unlined material for coats, jackets, straight skirts and dresses.

The largest outlet for the Raschel Warp Knitting Machine is for Lace fabric and trimmings.

References

Shaeffer, C. (1994) Claire Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide, updated ed., Chilton Book Co. ISBN 0-8019-7802-5

External links

• Warp knit fabrics in Italy

v • d • e Knitting Tools and materials: Bouclé · Eyelash yarn · Knitting needle · Needle gauge · Novelty yarn · Yarn · Variegated yarn Styles: Circular · Combined knitting · Continental knitting · English knitting · Flat · Warp knitting · Weft knitting Stitches: Decrease · Dip stitch · Elongated stitch · Increase · Plaited stitch · Yarn over Techniques: Basketweave · Bead knitting · Bias knitting · Binding off · Bobble · Brioche knitting · Buttonhole · Cables · Casting on · Double knitting · Drop-stitch knitting · Entrelac · Faggoting · Fair Isle · Finger knitting · Gather · Grafting · Hemming · Intarsia · Lace · Medallion knitting · Picking up stitches · Pleat · Ribbing · Shadow knitting · Short row · Slip-stitch knitting · Spool knitting · Tuck · Uneven knitting · Weaving · Welting Patterns: Aran · Argyle Machine knitting: Complete garment knitting · Fully-fashioned knitting · Knitting machine · Stocking frame Knitters and designers: Nicky Epstein · Kaffe Fassett · Knitters in literature · Marianne Kinzel · William Lee · Gwen Matthewman · Shannon Okey · Stephanie Pearl-McPhee · Alice Starmore · Debbie Stoller · Meg Swansen · Barbara G. Walker · Elizabeth Zimmermann Related: Basic knitted fabrics · Blocking · Dye lot · Gauge · History · Knitta · Knitted fabric · Knitting abbreviations · Selvage · Steek · Stitch 'n Bitch

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