Types of Plain Knit Fabrics

Basically, there are 5 types of knit fabrics. They are: Single Jersey, Double Jersey, Stretch Knit, Double Knit, and Jacquard Knit.

Single Jersey
Also known as warp knit, this fabric is knitted using one set of needles. This fabric has a front and back side (front and back). This fabric has 4-way stretch because we can often see a small amount of spandex mixed in when knitting this fabric. It increases the elasticity and makes it bi-elastic.

Single Jersey is often used to make leggings and T-shirts. One of the main features of single jersey is that it is breathable and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Double Jersey
Double Jersey is knitted using 2 sets of knitting needles. Double Jersey, also known as Ponte di Roma, is a double-sided fabric. This means it can be either double-sided or double-sided. It is more stable than single jersey but can only stretch in one direction.

We can see double jersey fabrics being used in tailored garments such as suits, cardigans, and jackets. It is also used to make leggings, dresses, tops, skirts, and dresses.

Stretch knits
As the name suggests, stretch knit fabrics are highly elastic. The characteristic of this fabric is that even when stretched, it remains opaque. Spandex is added to the fiber to make this fabric stretchy.

This fabric is best suited for sportswear, but it is also increasingly used in T-shirts, sweatpants, and vests.

Double knits
Double knits appear to be a compact, elastic, and very tight fabric because the knitting or stitching is very fine. Double knits are double-sided, which means that it has knitting stitches on both sides. The characteristic of double knits is that their edges do not curl up, and they are stronger than single knits. Double knits are easy to use

We can see that double knits are used in sportswear, T-shirts, Polo shirts, dresses, and tops.

Jacquard knits
Like double knits, jacquard knits are also double-sided. This fabric is mainly used to make patterns and other jacquard designs. These patterns are not printed but sewn when making the fabric. It is known for its fine workmanship and sewn patterns, but it is not stretchy.

Jacquard knits make beautiful skirts, cardigans, leggings, jackets, and structured tops.

Knits are very versatile and you can create a variety of designs and garments using these fabrics. We often see many fibers mixed together, such as spandex or lycra, to create a new type of fabric. Before you start designing with these fabrics, it is best to understand their properties.