WARP KNIT FABRICS

A FABRIC MADE BY WARP KNITTING
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").
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.

In warp knitted fabric the loops interlock vertically along the length of the fabric. Warp knits are
slightly stretchy and do not ladder. Warp-knitted fabric is made by machine. It is used for swimwear,
underwear and geotextiles. Because of the multiple-needle configuration of warp-knitting machines,
the warp knit fabrics produced can be very complex and intricate in structure; and they don't fall
neatly into groups or categories.
     
Warp knitting represents the fastest method of producing fabric from yarn. Warp knitting differs from
other types of knitting in that each needle loops its own thread. The needles produce parallel rows
of loops simultaneously that are interlocked in a zigzag pattern. Fabric is produced in sheet or flat
form using one or more sets of warp yarn. The yarns are fed from warp beams to a row of needles
extending across the width of the machine.

Warp Knitting are four types

• Tricot Knit: Tricot fabric is soft, wrinkle resistant & has good drapability.
  Tricot knits are used for a wide verity of fabric weights & design.
  It makes light fabric weighting less than 4 ounce/square yard.
  Some examples of tricot fabric are sleepwear, boluses, dresses etc.
• Raschel Knit: The Raschel knit ranks in importance of production with tricot
  but it makes varieties of products ranging from laces, power nets for foundation
  garments, swimwear to carpets. Raschel knitting is done with heavy yarns &
  usually has a complex lace-like pattern.
• Crochet Knit: This basic stitch is used in hand crochet. This construction is used in
  a wide variety of fabrics ranging from nets & laces to bed spreads & carpets,
  various types of edgings or trimmings lace are also produced.
• Milanese Knit: The milanese stitch produces a fabric very similar to tricot.
  It can be identified by the fine rib on the face & a diagonal pattern on the back.
  However, milanese fabric is superior to tricot in smoothness, elasticity,
  regularity of structure & friction resistance.

Warp Knitted Fabric is used for many types of sectors and applications. Such as:

• Inner wears (brassieres, panties, camisoles, girdles, sleepwear, hook & eye tape.)
• Apparel (sportswear lining, track suits, leisure wear and safety reflective vests.)
• Household (mattress stitch-in fabrics, furnishing, laundry bags, mosquito nets, fish nets.)
• Shoes (inner lining and inner sole lining in sports shoes and industrial safety shoes.)
• Automotive (car cushion, head rest lining, sun shades and lining for motorbike helmets.)
• Industrial (pvc/pu backing, production masks, caps and gloves (for the electronic industry.)

Tricot machines are available in a number of different versions. Depending on the intended end-use
and fabric construction, can choose between machines equipped with two, three or four guide bars.
Specialist machines are also available for producing stretch/non-stretch fabrics.