WARP KNITTING

• Warp knitting forms fabric by interlacing loops of

yarn, but vertically down the length of the fabric in
contrast to weft knitting.
• Each needle in the knitting width must be fed by at
least one yarn and in line with the direction of fabric
production.
• It is the fastest method of fabric production using
mainly continuous filament yarns.
 Weft knitting Warp knitting
The loops are formed across the width The loops are formed vertically down
of fabric the length of fabric
It possible to knit with ONE thread Warp beam is used
Staple as well as Filament yarns can be Filament Yarn can be worked
worked Successfully. Successfully.
Latch Needles are used Latch, Beard or Compound Needles are
used
Less Versatile M/c. Versatile M/c
Speed reduces with Design change in Change in Pattern does not affect the
Cams Speed of M/c
Fabric Quality is not Consistent Fabric Quality is Consistent
Loops are not Uniform Loops are Uniform
Stretch in Both Direction Stretch in Widthwise Direction
Less Dimensional Stability More Dimensional Stability
Cheaper To Produce Costlier To Produce
Construction
• Beams supply the warp sheets in parallel form
to the guide bars, whose pattern control
determines the timing and configuration of the
lapping movements in the form of overlaps and
underlaps.
• The needles intermesh the new overlaps
through the old overlaps to form the
intermeshed loop structure.
Warp knitted laps
• Loops are termed ‘laps’ in warp knitting
because the warp guides lap their yarn around
the needles in order to form the loop structure.
• The loops (overlaps) may be OPEN or
CLOSED.
• If the underlap and overlap are in opposite
directions then the stitch formed would have a
closed character

• If the underlap and overlap are in the same

direction, then the stitch formed will have an
open character
WARP KNITTING MACHINES
Tricot Machine
Compound-Needle Warp Knitting Machine
Raschel Machine
 Tricot Machine Raschel Machine
Needles Beard Latch or Compound
Machine Gauge Finer Gauge 24s-40s Common Gauge 30,40 & 56
No. of Guides bars Two, Three, Four bars Between 4 and 36
Yarn Used Finer continuous Filament Coarser Filament or
Yarn Coarser, Decorative Staple
Spun Yarn
Weight of fabrics Light Weight Heavy Weight
Properties More Resilient, Better Drape, Less Resilient, Poor Drape,
Higher Bursting Strength, Lower Bursting Strength,
Better Dimensional Stability. Poor Dimensional Stability.
Soft Hand & Even. Hard Hand & Uneven.
Opaque & Tight & Loose
Cloth Take up The fabric comes off the The fabric comes off the
machine at 90o to the needle machine at 170o to175o the
bed needle bed
Speed Higher Less
Versatility Less Versatile More Versatile
TRICOT MACHINE
The main parts of TRICOT MACINE are :
• The warp beam carrying warp threads.
• The sley bars which space the warp threads.
• The tension bar which maintains tension in the warp threads,
one bar foe each warp.
• The knitting element, comprising the warp guides, sinkers,
needles & presser bar.
• The fabric take up rollers which take the fabric from the rollers
at a constant rate.
• The batch roller which winds up the fabric on a large rolls &
• The crank shaft drive within a case which holds the
mechanism for driving the knitting elements.
RASCHEL MACHINE
The main Parts of the RASCHEL MACHINE are :
• The ground beams and pattern beams having an access from
front, top and back
• The tension bar (one for each warp) which maintains tension
in the warp threads.
• Guide bars and guide bar levers and the sley bar.
• The knitting elements comprising guides, sinkers, needles,
latch needles and trick plates.
• The fabric tension rollers, situated close to the knitting
elements.
• The fabric batch roller &
• Main drive for the cam shaft.