Stretch Knit Fabric: Understanding its Stretchability and Applications

Nowadays, everyone is concerned about their sense of fashion and stretchable clothing has become an ongoing trend of modern fashion. The stretch fabric offers flexibility, comfort, and versatility for all garments and impossible to complete a garment without using materials like rayon, georgette, and chiffon. As for designers, designing an outfit requires a lot of hard work but thanks to this material, their workload has been reduced as the material is super easy to work with. The fabric provides both functionality and aesthetics between various factors. Although stretch knit fabric is an universal material, there are things to consider such as fabric structure and selecting the appropriate yarn and knit density.

Why Knit Fabric stretch?

It is a cloth with the ability to stretch. The fabric is made of elastic fibers like spandex, lycra and elastane. These fabrics are light, soft, and wrinkle-free and mostly used in making cuffs, waistbands, and neckbands. These can also be used in garments like tees, dresses, leggings, and tights. These fabrics are also used in sportswear because of their flexibility. These fabrics are knitted over machines which makes the stretch fabric super affordable compared to the hand woven fabric. Because of this, manufacturing is easy and rapid.

Structure Of the Knit Fabric

The Stretchability of the clothing lies in its fabric and yarn selection. Depending on the type of garments,the stretch fabric can have 3% to7% elastane. It allows clothing to expand and later retain its original shape and form. It needs to be breathable along with elasticity. To achieve such properties, careful selection must be done.

Elastane is an elastomeric fiber and manufactured as a high temperature vulcanization(HTV) and low temperature vulcanization(LTV). The fabric is widely known as spandex and lycra.

Among the sectors for elasticity, spandex is filled yarn. These possess excellent elasticity which allows the dress to retain its original shape. Although spandex is well known for its elasticity, it is mixed with other fabrics to bring out the best performance. Depending on the fabric's weight about around 3.5% to 15% of spandex is used.

Spandex and elastomeric fiber are the same. Elastomeric polyester has been introduced into the garment industry for decades. Polyurethane elastomeric fibers are known as spandex, elastane and  lycra. Spandex can stretch upto four times than its actual size. Polyester, nylon, spandex are the most common fabric blends. The combination of elastane and polyester has shown us great durability, stretch, and recovery. Incorporating this into the garment provides great elastic retention after prologue uses.

Applications of Stretch Knit Fabric

The knit fabric is versatile and reliable which make it suitable for a wide range of uses. Sportswear, yoga pants, maternity clothes, and other elastic clothing benefited from its ability to regain its shape. Undergarments also rely on these fabrics to provide greater fit and comfort. It has been widely practiced in medical industries by promoting mobility and faster recovery.

Elasticity

Elastic fabrics have a low modulus since they stretch very easily compared to rigid fabric with higher modulus. The modulus is the measurement of the elasticity of a material. These properties provide elastic behavior to the knitted fabrics. For making knit clothes, single and continuous threads are being used. It allows the cloth to expand in every direction. 

Comfortability

Elastic fabrics are mostly made of rubber mixed with cotton, nylon, and polyester but the versatile fabrics are made from a combination of polyester and rubber. It makes the fabric super soft and comfy.

Lightweight

The knit fabric is feathery and soft which makes you feel like wearing a lump of cloud.

Types of Stretch Knit Fabric

2 way stretch and 4 way stretch are the two main types of stretch knit fabric. These types of fabrics are soft and comfortable but not suitable for garments and sportswear. The major disadvantage of 2 way stretch fabric is it doesn't regain shape after stretch because of very low stretch level.

4 way stretch fabric is highly elastic and can expand both ways. This fabric is commonly used for activewear. 

Characteristics of Different Stretch Knit Fabric

Uses of Stretch Knit Fabric

Why Knit Fabric is the Best Fabric

Ease of manufacturing

Knit fabrics can be mass-produced by knitting machines than hand-woven fabrics. It requires fewer steps and procedures than the traditional woven fabric.

Low Cost

It can be manufactured swiftly because of the straightforward procedures. The cost for making the fabric is less than other fabrics. Requires less effort since the finished product is cheaper than other fabrics.

Versatility

Knit fabric offers a wide range of colors because the fabric can be dyed with any color at ease. The color is long-lasting and doesn't lose its shine and elasticity after numerous washes.

Conclusion

The wide range of applications of stretch fabric contributes to our textile industries as well as our daily lives. It provides elasticity and flexibility which makes them perfect for clothing and sportswear. This shows us the passion for creating new innovative technology and their advancements yet in progress. Hopefully, the evolution will bring us to a greater height of fashion, functionality, and comfortability in the upcoming years.