What is the Difference Between Knitting and Weaving?

Weaving & knitting are two distinct techniques used to create fabrics. Learn about their differences & how they're used in textile design.

What is the Difference Between Knitting and Weaving?

Weaving and knitting are two distinct techniques used to create fabrics. Knitting produces a knitted fabric, while weaving produces a woven fabric. Generally, woven fabrics can only be stretched in one direction. Knitting is the process of transforming yarn or thread into fabric and other crafts.

It involves stitches or loops of material that are connected consecutively. Weaving, on the other hand, is the process of intertwining two types of yarn or threads to form a fabric. The two types of yarns run in different directions, with the warp yarns running lengthwise and the weft yarns running transversely or horizontally. Although weaving and knitting are both fabric-making techniques, they have many differences. The following are the differences between knitting and weaving:

  • Yarn: Knitted fabrics are produced by a set of loops connected from a series of yarns, while fabrics are produced by interlacing two types of yarns.
  • Yarn Preparation: Yarn preparation is not necessary for knitting, while it is imperative for weaving.
  • Production Capacity: Fabric production capacity is larger than fabric production capacity.
  • Production Cost: Fabric production cost is lower than fabric cost of weaving.
  • Percentage of Production: Approximately 52% of fabrics are produced by weaving technology in the textile section, while approximately 48% of fabrics are produced by weaving techniques in the textile section.
  • Manufacturing Technique: Weaving is done by means of looping, while weaving is done by shadow forming.
  • Elastic Property: The elastic property of knitted fabrics is higher than woven fabric, while the elastic property of woven fabrics is lower than that of knitted fabric.
  • Used Machinery: Flat and circular machines are used for knitting production, while most flat machines are used for weaving production.
  • Wrinkle Property: Knitted fabrics are more resistant to wrinkles, so they do not require ironing.

    Woven fabrics are less wrinkle resistant, so it requires ironing.

  • Tearing Property: Not easy to tear knitted fabric, not difficult to tear woven fabric.
  • Moisture Absorption: Due to the loose construction of knitted fabrics, they absorb more moisture than woven fabric, while woven fabric absorbs less moisture than knitted fabric.
  • Air Permeability: Due to the bulky structure of the knitted fabric, the knitted fabric is more permeable to air. Woven fabric is less permeable to air due to its compact construction.
  • TPI (Yarn): The TPI is comparatively lower than the fabric for knitting yarns, while the TPI of the yarn is comparatively higher than the knitted fabric for weaving yarns.
  • Stability: Dimensional stability is lower than woven fabric for knitting, while dimensional stability is higher than in knitted fabric for weaving.
Knitting can be done with two knitting needles or with a knitted loom. The loom holds the yarns in place where the weaver moves the stitches between the pegs of the loom. These loops form a fabric that can be sewn or attached to other fabrics and threads.

The fabric can also be used to create images, but it is distinctly different from the images created with weaving. Both types of images are created as if they were pixels, but woven images contain a distinctive ribbed V-pattern. In weaving, two sets of yarns are intertwined at right angles according to the design to produce fabric. Knitting and weaving can be used in fine art works, create clothing and accessories, and decorate indoor and outdoor locations. Knitting machines were invented during the industrial revolution and allowed for a larger scale of knitted items.

Crochet tools are much simpler in terms of choosing what you need to create your crochet fabric. Once you know what to look for, it will be easy to distinguish between these three different types of fabrics. Fabrics are created when you take two strands of yarn - one vertical (warp) and one horizontal (weft) - and cross one over the other to create fabric. Knitting produces tubular projects such as scarves, hats, and scarves that can be knitted faster than with needles. There are several types of knitting machines available today that help us manufacture different types of knitting fabrics on a large scale.

Jaclyn Easterbrooks
Jaclyn Easterbrooks

Passionate zombie fanatic. Friendly musicaholic. Hipster-friendly beer maven. Total internet lover. Evil beer ninja.

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