Double Knitting

Double Knit Manufacture

Double knit is a type of knitting very similar to Jersey. It is produced using two sets of needles, hence the name and produces a fabric that is double the regular thickness. These two layers of knitting are joined by interlocking stitches. These two layers are usually inseparable, but they can sometimes be manufactured as two completely separate layers of fabric.

Double knitting usually produces a totally reversible fabric. It was increasingly popular in the 1970’s and was used for garments such as trousers, socks and tops. The two layers can be made using different colours and different yarns, to create an interesting effect of can use the same as each other to create a thicker fabric with no wrong side.

Double knit can be produced in many different ways. It can be made by hand using Double pointed knitting needles. It can also be done using a knitting machine. Lots and lots of loops are created on the back of both pieces of fabric which are then interwoven into the actual fabric so that they cannot be separated. Double knit usually uses a combination of Stockinette stitch and Purl stitch, like regular knitting does but many other stitches can be used.

Properties of Double Knit

• Medium to heavyweight fabric
• Very Versatile
• Stable Fabric
• Dense
• Does not curl at the edges like regular knit
• Reversible
• Crease Resistant
• Does not shrink
• Twice the thickness of regular knitting

End Uses of Double Knit

• Used for Garments required to fit properly
• Can also be used in garments where Plain knit would become distorted as it is a very stable fibre
• Used extensively in the 1970’s
• Trousers
• Reversible Items
• Bandages as it does not curl at the edges