Knitting Performance of Wool Yarns: Effects of Yarn/Metal Friction, Loop Length, and Cover Factor on Knitting Performance

Abstract

The knitting performance of wool yarns, in terms of the work required to form the loop configuration of the plain-jersey structure, is shown to be dependent not only on the magnitude of the yarn tensions developed in the knitting zone, but also on the yarn forces at "knock-over," the loop length, and the design of the latch needle hook. On measuring knitting performance against cover factor for a range of worsted count wool yarns and a multi-filament nylon yarn, knitting performance is found to be inde pendent of the type of yarn being knitted and only dependent on the effective yarn diameter. However, at the standard commercial cover factor of 1.25, knitting perform ance is independent even of count. The concept of the "knitting performance factor" is introduced as a means of comparing the knittability of wool yarns of differing physical properties.