Tips About Knits
admin | June 26, 2009
The world of knits is a large and varied one. There are so many different kinds of knitted fabrics from which to choose. Knit fabrics are used to make a huge variety of clothing and retail items. You might be surprised by the many types of knit styles that there are and by the many items that utilize knit fabrics. While knitting, knit size is controlled by the size of the knitting needles and the yarn weight.
There are many different ways to achieve a knit fabric, and an experienced knitter will know how to make many different knit styles with her or his knitting needles. Some common knits are: the double knit, the sweatshirt knit, the jersey knit, ribbing, the spandex knit, the sweater knit, the interlock knit, the velour and velvet knit, and the fleece knit. The double knit fabric is a heavy to medium weight, and is generally used for designs such as pants and dresses. The sweatshirt knit is generally used for clothing styles that have a sporty design.
The jersey knit is a light to medium weight fabric and has ribs on one side, and horizontal lines on the other. Jersey knit fabrics are used for many different styles, such as dresses, skirts, sheets and more. Ribbing is a tough fabric that is generally only used for cuffs and collars. A spandex knit is a very small knit, and is used when a lot of stretch is needed, such as in bathing suits. A sweater knit can vary from being the heaviest weight, to one of the lightest, depending on the yarn used.
An interlock knit is a light to medium weight, and has a light ribbing on both sides. This knit is used for anything from dresses to sleepwear. The velour knit is a shiny, stretchy fabric that can be used for anything from sweatpants to dress tops. A fleece knit is a bulky, soft fabric, usually used for outdoor garments or blankets.
Most of these knits can be made through knitting. Some of the more intricate patterns may require the use of a knitting machine; however, you might be surprised at what you can do with just a pair of knitting needles. There is a pretty easy formula to follow when creating a knit. The bigger the knitting needles, the bigger the holes will be, and the bulkier the yarn, the bigger the pattern. So for a small, lightweight fabric, a knitter would use lightweight, thin yarn and small needles. There are many different knitting books that outline the procedures for creating the different knit styles. There are also books that cover the same topics for crocheting, if someone prefers that method of knitting. Of course, a hand knit fabric is never going to look the same as a machine knitted one; however, many people appreciate the time and thoughtfulness it takes for someone to create something by hand for them. It is not necessary to create garments that look store-bought.
So that is a little information about knits. There are a lot of fabrics which are knitted and you may not have known about them before. If you want to learn how to knit, then you should consider joining a knitting club in your area, or try a knitting blog. A club is a great place to learn more about the intricacies of knitting, but studying knitting books will work almost as well, if there is no club in your community.
