The Basics of Knitwear

Knitwear is a must-have in every wardrobe. It’s warm, comfortable and versatile. In addition, a good quality knit will last a long time if taken care of.

Pair a rugged fawn rollneck with leather pieces for a cool, modern trend look. Or playfully oversized knitwear with denim for an everyday look that’s on-point.

Stitches

In knitting, stitches are made by creating loops on your needles with your yarn. These loops can be slipped Knitwear up or down the needles to make new loops and change the pattern of the stitch. There are two basic stitch types, knit and purl. A knit stitch is’smooth’ under the needle and a purl stitch creates a ‘bump’ on the needle. These two stitches are worked in different ways to create different effects in the fabric and to make different types of garments.

As you work, the stitch will become a part of your muscle memory and you can do it without thinking. This is how a skill becomes second nature, just like driving a car or playing an instrument. The more you practice, the faster and easier it will become and before you know it you’ll be knitting with your eyes closed!

Knit fabrics have a great deal of elasticity. This is because whereas in weaving the threads are straight and run either lengthwise (warp threads) or crosswise (weft threads), knitted threads follow a meandering path, forming symmetric loops called wales. These wales can be stretched in different directions, giving the fabric much more elasticity than woven fabric.

When seaming a garment with a knitted fabric, be sure to use a zigzag stitch on your sewing machine so that the seams will not break when the knitted fabric is stretched. Also, pin basting will hold the edges of the fabric together and prevent it from stretching as you sew the seams.

Materials

Several different types of yarn are used in knitting, ranging from natural fibers such as wool and cotton to synthetic fibres like polyester and acrylic. The combination of yarn type, needle size, stitch type and pattern can produce a wide range of knit fabrics with different properties.

Because of their elasticity, knitted garments are usually more form-fitting than woven garments. Extra curvature is often introduced into knitted fabric without seams, whereas most woven fabrics can only be shaped with sewn darts, flares, gussets and gores, which reduce the fabric’s elasticity even further.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are looking for garments that are warm but also chic and Knitwear comfortable to wear. Therefore, products such as oversized sweaters with a fashionable cut are in demand.

Knitting is a relatively fast process, but it takes a lot of patience and practice to achieve perfect results. Most professionals will wash their finished projects before they are worn the first time in order to get them into their final shape. To do this, they use so-called blocking mats which are basically foamed plastic mats that can be pinned to the garment in a way that it will retain its shape once dry.

When it comes to the production of knitwear, sustainable production methods are becoming increasingly important for brands. The raw materials, the yarns, are expected to be sourced ethically and responsibly, with a clear focus on ensuring the humane treatment of animals.

Styles

When it comes to knitwear, there are many styles to choose from. From classic cable-knit sweaters to unique statement pieces like open-weave ponchos, there are plenty of options to fit your personal style.

Different knitting techniques also lend themselves to different looks, including jacquard knitting that uses patterns to create unique designs on the fabric and ribbed knitting that uses wide columns of yarn on alternating sides to give the garment a distinctive texture. In addition to these, various point-like ornaments can be added to the fabric for either aesthetic or practical reasons; bobbles, sequins and beads are a few examples. Some knitwear also features a number of closures, such as buttonholes and zippers.

Knitwear can be made from a variety of fibres, ranging from animal hair (lambswool, angora and cashmere) to plant-based materials such as cotton, polyester and acrylic. Many knitwear manufacturers are choosing to use ethical, sustainable fibres and re-using old yarns to make their products. Some brands, such as PH5, also make their garments in house so they can be customised and designed to suit individual wearers.

Light neutrals and earthy tones are great staple colours for knitwear, as they’re easily matched with anything in your wardrobe. Darker shades are a little more tricky, however, as black knitwear can sometimes be quite difficult to match with the right trousers.

Care

Regardless of their composition, all knitwear needs to be handled gently. They’re delicate and stretchy fabrics, so laundering them incorrectly can lead to them becoming misshapen and weakened. Excessive washing is also bad for the environment, so it’s best to only wash your knitwear when necessary – especially if you choose a cotton, wool or cashmere blend – opting for a delicate machine cycle with gentle wool detergent is ideal.

A good thing about knitwear is that it breathes, so a simple airing out overnight can be enough to refresh it. However, if you do need to wash it, always check the care label on your garment. Those little tags are there for a reason, as different fabrics require slightly different care instructions. If the care instructions state that a particular knit is machine or tumble dry only, or it must be dry cleaned, you should wash it by hand to protect its unique texture and avoid any shrinking or stretching.

It’s important to spot-clean your knitwear whenever you notice stains, as they can set in quickly. To do this, blot the stain with a damp cloth without scrubbing or rubbing. If you find that a particularly stubborn stain has set, use a diluted mixture of mild soap and water to remove it. Always remember that holes in your knitwear can be invisiblely mended with a special technique called darning – and it’s usually easier than you might think!