What is the Difference Between Knit and Woven Fabric?

It’s all too easy to choose fabric for your next sewing project based on its looks and feels. Although appearance and texture can help in fabric selection, you must also consider how fabric manufacturers make each type of cloth. 

You’ve chosen your pattern and a print that you really like. Now you’re all set to start sewing! Or maybe you’re now ready to pick the best addition to your wardrobe. Many designs will mention the fabric to be used, either woven or knit, which might be confusing. 

It can be possible that the orange and pink leopard print you had in mind isn’t the best choice for your project. You are torn between the knitted and woven fabric. Thus, let’s discuss the difference between the two.

The Difference Between Knit and Woven

The yarns and threads that makeup textiles give them their identity. Fabrics have been around for 100,000 years, dating back to the Stone Age. According to archaeological evidence, cotton, silk, and linen were first utilized about 5000 B.C. Woven and knitted textiles originated as the two primary types of textile production methods. How do woven and knitted materials differ? One of the most important considerations when selecting textiles is whether you want woven or knitted fabric. Understanding the distinction between the two categories is the best method to answer this issue.

The primary distinction is the yarn or thread that makes up woven and knit textiles. Knit fabrics are created from a single yarn looped continuously to create a braided appearance. Knit fabric has a single looped yarn composition, whereas woven fabric has a crossing yarn structure. When examined closely, the knit cloth resembles a braided sweater. The over-under pattern of warp and weft strands is seen in woven fabric.

Woven Fabric

“Weavers” and their forefathers have invented woven cloths throughout history. The interlacing of two or more strands to form fabric is called weaving textiles. The warp and weft are terminologies used in weaving to define the yarn’s orientation with the loom. The warp is the thread that travels vertically up the loom. They serve as a beam or center through which the weft, or horizontal strands, are intertwined. A shuttle is a tool that repeats the process of weaving the weft thread through the warp to create your completed cloth. The crisscross design on woven fabrics makes them easy to detect. They are also the most convenient since they do not unravel when cut.

Woven textiles can be made in several different methods. Plain weave, often known as a tabby weave, linen weave, or taffeta weave, is a popular woven fabric style. In this weaving form, weft threads, or yarn, are alternated over and beneath the warp threads, or yarn. Because of their longevity, plain weaves are most commonly employed in apparel and household textiles. The twill weave is another sort of woven cloth. Weft threads are weaved diagonally up the warp to make this woven cloth. This method is known to increase the textile’s durability and is best employed in clothes and fabrics used and torn. Shirting and suits, as well as robust upholstery furniture, are made from this sort of cloth.

The satin weave is another kind of woven fabric. Of the three weave varieties, this is by far the most difficult. Longer “floats” of the weft yarn or thread are exposed on the surface in the satin weave to generate glossy and reflective effects. Jackets, sports shorts, nightgowns, and blouses are examples of high-end clothes and fabrics with this weave.

Knitted Fabric

Knit textiles are smooth, somewhat flexible materials made of interlocking loops created out of one continuous thread. Knitting fabric factories utilize massive knitting machines that use the same method as hand-held knitting needles but on a much grander scale.

If you look closely, any knit fabric will have microscopic thread linkages that resemble numerous little braids. These tiny linkages might resemble the knitted loops of yarn in your favorite sweater under a microscope!

Knit textiles can be constructed in two ways, each somewhat different. Vertical loops go up and down the warp-knit fabric, implying that those small braid-like chains run up and down the cloth. Weft-knit fabric features horizontal loops that resemble small braids that run over the fabric.

Knitting has been around for millennia. Nobody knows where knitting originated, but historians have discovered that many ancient tribes used it to build warm garments!

However, the knit fabric used in today’s t-shirts is relatively new. Coco Chanel was famed for wearing a jersey knit pullover in 1916. The knit fabric, which was primarily made of wool at the time, was akin to more traditional hand-knitted jumpers. Women from all around the world desired their own jersey knit clothing as a result of Coco’s tremendous popularity. Jersey knit skirts, pullovers, shirts, and jackets manufactured by machines rapidly became popular.

What more?

Then, in the 1950s, double-knit synthetics like polyester became popular. These contributed to the bright 1960s and 1970s fashion trends. Knit fabric became significantly more prevalent during this period due to the lower cost of synthetic materials.

Much athletic and leisurewear now uses knit materials such as jersey knit. Knit fabric can be found in almost every t-shirt and sweatshirt you possess! Knit fabric is used in leggings, tank tops, sports bras, and other stretchy clothes.

Now, you probably have an idea of which one to choose. Here’s more!

Ease of Care

The material used determines the ease of care for knit and woven fabrics. However, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to both types of cloth structure in terms of upkeep. Knits are wrinkle-resistant and do not need to be ironed. In contrast, the woven fabric does not pill or stretch out as quickly in the wash. However, because it folds so fast, it often needs ironing.

Wash Ability

When washing, woven materials are less prone to shrink. This is the case because of the tension and threads used to make woven upholstery textiles. Knitted fabrics shrink when washed often. Due to their intrinsic fiber qualities, some fibers will not shrink.

Whatever project you’re working on, whether knitting a cap or reupholstering a couch, I hope this blog will help you better grasp the distinctions between knit and woven textiles and provide you with some essential tips for selecting the suitable fabric for your requirements.

Breathability

Knitted fabrics are more breathable than woven fabrics. The air may move thanks to the looping thread structure freely. Although there are small openings between the crossed threads of woven cloth, it tends to act as a barrier between you and the air.

A variety of different factors determines breathability. More delicate threads typically provide higher ventilation in knit and woven fabrics. The material’s breathability is also affected by the tightness of the knit or weave.

Furthermore, the material affects breathability. Cotton, for example, is exceptionally breathable in both knit and woven structures. On the other hand, polyester lacks porous fibers and hence feels less breathable.

Comfort

Knit fabrics are often more comfortable than woven fabrics. Knit fabric is forgiving, form-fitting, and drapey, earning a lot of comfort points! Depending on the type of fabric and the design of the garment, woven cloth may be pretty comfy.

Knit fabric is also quite pleasant due to its suppleness. Knit fabrics are used to make most of your at-home clothing, such as t-shirts, baggy hoodies, and warm sweatpants.

Wrinkle-Resistant

Knit fabric wins hands down in the wrinkle-resistant competition! This type of material’s looping structure and elasticity keep it from creasing readily. In many circumstances, woven cloth, on the other hand, can catch and maintain a crease reasonably persistently.

Here’s a fun fact. Fabric wrinkles because heat and moisture affect the hydrogen bonds inside the substance. This causes the fibers to bend slightly, causing wrinkles in the cloth. 

Knit Vs. Woven Clothing: What is your choice?

Knit and woven fabrics are used in all clothing, although specific garments employ one kind more than others! T-shirts, for example, are always made of knit fabric. 

How about you? What do you choose when it comes to picking the best addition to your wardrobe?

In a Nutshell

The thread structure of each type of material is the most significant variation between knit and woven fabrics. Knit textiles employ interlocking loops in one long, continuous thread to create a looser structure, whereas woven fabrics use a perpendicular over-under of two independent threads.

Knit fabric is flexible and breathable. T-shirts and sportswear commonly contain this material. Although the woven fabric is less stretchy, it is used in a wide range of clothes, from formal to casual.

Has one of your favorite textiles taught you anything new? Let us know by leaving a comment below!