1 - Introduction to advances in knitting technology

Abstract

Knitting is the second most popular technique of fabric or garment formation by interlooping from one or one set of yarn and its share in fabric production is about 25%. The larger producers of knitted fabrics and products are China, India, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Brazil, and the UAE. In knitting, continuous length of yarn is converted into vertically intermeshed loops either by hand or by machine. Knitting is comparatively simpler and faster technique of fabric/garment formation suitable for almost all purposes including technical textiles. On account of manufacturing flexibility and diversity, knitting technology has been advancing at a very faster speed with the help electronic sensors and computers, and as a result, knitting technology has entered into the era of Industry 4.0. Out of many popular fibers, cotton and polyester are the two major fibers used in knitting for various products. However, the innovations of new types of fibers like Lycra, Kevlar etc., in combination with modern computerized machinery have resulted a revolution in the field of manufacturing of special types of knitted fabrics and products including medical textiles. So, attempt has been made in this chapter to introduce the stages of development in knitting and its role in the manufacture of textile products as per need of the day. The benefits of the advances in knitting technology have also been highlighted in this chapter.