BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology

Chapter: Knitting Elements

Knitting Elements:
There are 3 basic knitting elements in weft
knitting machine.

❑ Needle
❑ Cam
❑ Sinker
Needle
• There are 3 types of needle.
a) Bearded needle
b) Latch needle
c) Compound needle
First invented needle is bearded needle,
invented in 1589 by William Lee
After almost 250 years later in 1739 latch
needle was invented by Thomas Townsend.
 Needle
❑ Needle is the first and main knitting elements.

❑ The function of needle is to receive the yarn and

formation into a new loop that is enclosed in the hook.
3 types of needles
 Parts of Latch needle
The major components of a latch needle are:

Hook, Latch, Latch spoon (cup), Stem and Butt

• Hook is the curved part of the needle which is responsible for forming the
loop.
• Latch is a tiny component and it is riveted on the upper part of the stem of
the needle.
• Latch spoon is the tip of the latch which encloses the tip of the hook when
the latch closes.
• The upward and downward movements of the needles during the loop
formation are caused by a set of cams in weft knitting and by movement of
bars in warp knitting . The butt is actually the ‘follower’ and it is pressed
against the cam to cause movement of the needle.
LOOP FORMING PROCEDURE BY LATCH NEEDLE:
Later will be discussed

3
4

2 5

1 6

1. Rest position, 2. Latch opening, 3. Clearing,

4. Yarn feed, 5. Latch closing &
6. Knock over or loop forming
LOOP FORMING PROCEDURE BY LATCH NEEDLE
Latch Needle
❖ Advantages:

• Major advantages of being self acting or loop controlled, so that individual

movement and control of the needle enable stitch selection to be achieved.
• Ideally suited for use with computer controlled electronic selection devise.
• Latch needle can operate at any angle.
• Variation of the height of vertical can produce knit, miss and tuck loop
which helps to manufacture different design fabrics.

❖ Limitations:

• Latch needle are thick and rigid, so any deflection in design effect on fabric.
• Needle deflection is difficult
• It imposes a certain strain on yarn
• There is also possibility of fluff or lint accumulation on the latch due to
rubbing of the yarn on needle
 Basic Knitting Elements- Cam

Cam is the second primary

knitting elements.

During the loop formation

time cam act as a running path
for needle.

Cam is also used for designing

purpose of fabric.
Types of Cam
• Cam can be categorized in two classes
1. Engineering cam
2. Knitting cam

• There are 3 types of cam (Knitting cam)

a) Knit cam
b) Tuck cam
c) Miss cam
These cam produce knit loop, miss loop and tuck loop respectively.
Loop structure
Cam
Sinker
❑ Sinker is the third primary knitting elements
❑ It is a metal device which is the second
knitting elements.
❑ The function of sinker is to hold down the
loop that is release by the needle during loop
formation time.
❑ For this reason this sinker is called holding
down sinker.
Sinker
It may perform one or more of the following
functions, depending upon the machine’s knitting
action and consequent sinker shape and movement:
- Loop formation

- Holding-down

- Knocking-over