We use fabrics daily, and we rarely give much thought to the specifics of their manufacturing. However, a fabric’s design, the thread or yarn used, and the method of stitching significantly impact its quality.
Fabric is made using a variety of techniques, including knitting and weaving. The difference between knitting and weaving is that the fabric used in weaving is thin, while the fabric used in kitting is thicker.
A knitted fabric is created by knitting, whereas a woven fabric is created by weaving.
Let’s learn the definitions of kiting and weaving to gain a better understanding of them:
Table of Contents
Knitting
Knitting is one of the earliest methods of producing clothing out of the numerous basic materials available.
Knitting is the manual process of creating a fabric chain from yarn by converting it, searching for it, and then locking the slope with a sturdy structure.
The Middle East is where knitting is thought to have started in the fifth century.
Several pieces of clothing are made with knitting. Weirdly, both hands and machines are used to complete it. Utilizing needles, the yarn is utilized to create interconnected loops.
Knitting activities include making a dress, a sweater, etc.
Weaving
One of the first technologies humans use is weaving, which is the technique of creating fabric using two shades of yarn called warp and weft.
Weaving is creating cloth by interlacing warp and weft threads.
Two sets of threads, the first known as the warp, two raw stretched lengthwise, are the essential components required for weaving.
The second set, known as the weft, alternates between weaving the threads into a piece of fabric and pushing them together to prevent them from unraveling.
A weaving machine, often known as a loom, is used to weave. The textile industry uses many developed machineries, such as the air jet loom, rapier loom, water jet loom, jacquard loom, etc.
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What is the Difference Between Knitted and Woven Fabric?
The difference between knitted and woven fabric are given below:
Knitted Fabric
A knitted fabric is one that is made from a single yarn that is continuously looped to give it a braided look. This fabric can be effectively put together into smaller pieces, which makes it ideal for making hats and socks.
Silk, linen, cotton, wool, and rayon are the top raw materials used to make knit fabrics. Suppliers of knitted fabrics use a variety of artificial materials to achieve the best possible combination of their knit quality with good durability.
Woven Fabric
Woven fabrics are created during the weaving process, where the warp and weft yarns cross over and under one another.
The tighter weave of woven materials prevents them from being stretchy. Men’s denim, and household items like curtains and bed sheets are examples of woven fabrics.
Differences Between Knitting and Weaving
Below are the detailed differences between knitting and weaving:
1. Thread Creation
Thread creation is the main difference between knitting and weaving.
In weaving vs knitting, knitting is the interloping of yarns while weaving is the interlacing of threads.
2. Dimensional Stability
Due to the title weave, woven fabrics are much more dimensionally stable than knitted materials.
The difference between knitted and woven fabric is that knitted fabrics have a lot of leeway to shrink up due to their porosity, however woven fabrics will hold onto their dimensional structure over time.
Knitted fabrics will lose between 5 to 10 percent of their size after being washed, dried, and removed from the machine.
3. Durability
Because of how tightly they open, woven fabrics are much more durable and can withstand greater wear and tear over time.
Compared to knitted materials, which are much less durable and have a tendency to lose their shape or tension over time.
4. Moisture Absorption
Knitted materials tend to retain a lot more moisture than woven fabrics do, which is why wearing a cotton t-shirt on a hot day will cause it to soak sweat.
Woven fabrics drain moisture away from their surfaces.
5. Number of Yarns
In comparison between knitting vs weaving, knitted fabrics use a single thread which is looped repeatedly to create a fabric that resembles braiding.
While a woven fabric is created by interlacing two or more threads at correct angles.
6. Yarn Costing
Compared to knitted fabrics, woven fabrics require more yarn per square meter, which raises the cost of manufacture and overall consumption.
7. Stretching Ability
Knitted fabrics may be easily stretched along their width and just slightly along their length. Furthermore, it could lose its shape if you stretch it too much.
On the other hand, woven fabrics have a minimal amount of stretching along their length but nearly none along their width.
8. Wrinkle
Knitted fabric will always regain its smoothness and shape after some time if it is balled up.
Woven fabrics, when rolled up, will simply wrinkle up severely and retain their original shape only after being properly pressed.
Comparison Table: Weaving Vs Knitting
Highlighting the comparison between weaving and knitting in the following table:
| Weaving | Knitting |
| The process of weaving involves the interlacing of threads to produce a fabric. | The act of knitting is the process of using yarn to make a textile or fabric. |
| Weaves are less flexible than fabrics. | Knits can stretch more than other fabrics. |
| The weaving of the fabric is thin. | In the process of knitting, the fabric thickens. |
| Warp and weft are the two types of threads used in weaving. | Two different knits are employed: coarse (horizontal loops) and wales (vertical loops). |
| Weaving has a high cost of manufacture. | Knitting has a low cost of manufacture. |
| Examples: Denim and Canvas | Examples: Sweaters |
Conclusion
Fabric is a type of cloth often created from yarns consisting of interlaced threads. The Latin root of the word “fabric” is Faber, which means “to weave.” Because woven materials have less elasticity than knitted ones, they are typically more durable.
Stretching is one of the tests to determine the type of fabric, whether it is knit or woven. The difference between knitting and weaving is that the surface of knit fabric is typically soft and elastic. Inversely, the woven fabric’s surface is stiff and non-stretch.
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