Shaped Knitting

Definition and Overview

Shaped knitting is a manufacturing method in which, mainly on a flat knitting machine, the body, sleeves, collar, and other parts are knitted while being shaped close to the pattern form. By increasing stitches and decreasing stitches, it expresses shoulder slope, armholes, waist shaping, and more.

Unlike cut-and-sew, which knits fabric in bolt form and then cuts it, this method is characterized by creating the outline of each part during the knitting process. Fully fashioned is often used to refer to shaped knitting, but the usage should be confirmed with each trading partner.

Features and Appearance

Because there are fewer cut edges, it tends to finish neatly by making use of the selvage of the knitted fabric, and it can bring out the texture of the yarn and knit structure. It also allows for a three-dimensional shape that follows the lines of the body, as well as changes in thickness and fit through gauge adjustments for each section.

Armholes, necklines, and shoulder seams may show shaped lines, which are the lines formed by increases and decreases. In some cases, these lines are intentionally shown as a design feature; in others, they are made less noticeable through knitting method or tailoring.

• This is a manufacturing method that helps reduce cutting waste.
• It is a method that makes it easy to change the knit pattern and knitting density for each section.
• Stretchability, warmth, and hand feel depend not on shaped knitting itself, but on the yarn material, thickness, knit structure, and gauge.

Main Applications

It is used for sweaters, cardigans, vests, knit dresses, knit skirts, and more. It is especially suitable for items where you want to make use of the shape and knit pattern from the body to the sleeves and collar.

The yarn used varies widely, including wool, cashmere, cotton, acrylic, and synthetic fibers. It is used not only for fall and winter items that emphasize warmth, but also for spring and summer knits made with fine yarn or openwork knitting.

Selection and Handling Notes

At the planning stage, check not only the material composition, but also the gauge, stitch density, knit structure, and how the parts are joined. Even with the same shaped knitting, weight, sheerness, stretch, and tendency to lose shape vary greatly depending on the yarn and knitting density.

The degree of shrinkage, stretching, felting, and pilling caused by washing depends on the material and finishing. Follow the care label, and even for products that are generally washable, shaping them and drying them flat can help reduce stretching under their own weight.

For sewing, consider specifications in which the stitches follow the stretch of the knitted fabric. When linking is used to join parts, check with a knitted sample because stitch matching and the accuracy of part shapes affect appearance and comfort when worn.

Differences from Similar Terms

Flat knitting is a classification of knitting methods and machines that knit in the horizontal direction. Shaped knitting refers to the method often used in flat knitting, in which parts are knitted into shape. Therefore, even if something is flat knitted, it is not necessarily shaped knitting if it is knitted in bolt form and then cut.

Seamless knit is a method in which the body, sleeves, and other parts are knitted integrally, minimizing seams. Shaped knitting includes specifications in which parts are knitted separately and joined, so its product structure differs from seamless knit.

Frequently Asked Questions