Basic knitted fabrics facts for kids
Knitting uses different ways to make fabric. Some basic types of knitted fabrics are stockinette stitch, reverse stockinette stitch, garter stitch, seed stitch, faggoting, and tricot. When you knit, one side of the fabric is called the right side. The other side is the wrong side. Sometimes, these two sides look different.
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Stockinette Stitch and Reverse Stockinette Stitch
Stockinette stitch is a very common knitted fabric. In places like the UK, it's called stocking stitch. On the right side of the fabric, every stitch looks like a "knit" stitch.
If you are knitting in a circle (like for a hat), you make stockinette stitch by knitting every stitch. If you are knitting flat (like for a scarf), you knit one row and then purl the next row.
Stockinette fabric feels very smooth. Each column of stitches looks like a stack of "V" shapes. This fabric tends to curl up at the edges. This happens because the two sides of the fabric are not the same.
Reverse stockinette stitch is made in a similar way. But this time, the purl stitches are on the right side. The knit stitches are on the wrong side. If you are knitting in a circle, you make reverse stockinette by purling every stitch.
Garter Stitch
Garter stitch is another basic knitted fabric. It's also known as the knit stitch. It creates a bumpy, ridged fabric.
If you are knitting in a circle, you make garter stitch by knitting one row and then purling the next row. If you are knitting flat, you make garter stitch by knitting every single stitch. (You could also purl every stitch, but knitting is more common.)
In garter stitch, the rows of "purl" stitches stick out. This creates the ridges. Garter stitch fabric stretches a lot lengthwise. It also doesn't tend to curl, because both sides of the fabric look the same.
Seed Stitch
Seed stitch is sometimes called moss stitch in the UK. It's a type of basketweave pattern. In seed stitch, knit and purl stitches take turns in every column and every row. This means that a knit stitch will always have purl stitches next to it on all four sides. And a purl stitch will always have knit stitches next to it.
Seed stitch fabric lies flat and doesn't curl. This is because both sides of the fabric look the same. It's a great choice for edges, like on a cardigan. However, seed stitch has a bumpy feel, not as smooth as stockinette stitch.
Faggoting Lace
Faggoting is a type of lace knitting. In this pattern, every stitch is either a yarn over (adding a new loop) or a decrease (making stitches smaller). There are different kinds of faggoting. All of them create a very open, net-like fabric.
Like most lace fabrics, faggoting is not very strong. It can stretch and change shape easily. It doesn't tend to curl, even though its two sides are not exactly the same. Faggoting is stretchy and open. Most faggoting stitches look the same on both sides. This makes them good for things like lacy scarves or stockings.
Tricot Knitting
Tricot is a special kind of warp knitting. In tricot, the yarn moves up and down in a zigzag pattern. It follows a single column of knitting, instead of going across a single row. Tricot fabrics are very strong and don't easily get "runs" (where a stitch unravels). They are often used to make lingerie.
Other Knitted Fabrics
There are many other types of basic knitted fabrics. Some of these include ribbing, welting, and cables.
