Flat knit
Also known as: Flatbed knit, Fully-fashioned
Knit fabric produced on flatbed knitting machines; allows shape knitting (fully-fashioned) for sweaters and cardigans.
Description
Flat knit denotes knit fabric produced on flatbed knitting machines: two parallel needle beds face each other horizontally, and a carriage with yarn carriers forms loops. The machine can activate and deactivate needles selectively, enabling shape knitting (fully-fashioned): the knit piece is knitted directly to shape, without cut edges.
Gauges typically E3 (coarse, chunky sweaters) to E18 (fine, business knit). Materials: wool (merino, lambswool, cashmere), cotton, alpaca, man-made fibres. Fabric weights 200-500 g/m². The hand varies with gauge and material — from coarse and rustic to fine and elegant.
Advantages: shape knitting saves material and produces clean edges without seams; cables, ribs, structure and jacquard patterns are possible. Disadvantages: slower and more expensive than circular knit. Uses: sweaters, cardigans, knit dresses, scarves, hats, gloves. Classic trade forms: Wholegarment® (Shima Seiki, completely seamless knit), cut-and-sew flatbed (cut from large panels). Fully-fashioned knits are considered premium apparel.
Properties
| Weave type | Flat knit (shape knitting) |
|---|---|
| Thread density | E3-E18 |
| Handle | Voluminous, often textured |
| Use | Sweaters, cardigans, scarves |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Flachstrickmaschine Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flachstrickmaschine
- Textile Institute textileinstitute.org https://www.textileinstitute.org/
