Woven fabric and knitted fabric are two common types of textiles widely used in the fashion and home furnishing industries. Each type of fabric has its own unique characteristics in terms of structure, properties, and applications. Let’s explore them in the following article.
1. Introduction to Woven Fabric and Knitted Fabric
Woven fabric and knitted fabric are the two most common types of fabric in the apparel industry. Woven fabric is created by interlacing horizontal and vertical yarns on a loom. In contrast, knitted fabric is created by looping yarns together in a specific pattern.
Each type of fabric has distinct characteristics and properties that lead to different applications. Understanding the similarities and differences between these two fabrics will help manufacturers choose the right material for their intended use, while also optimizing costs and product quality.
2. Comparing Woven Fabric and Knitted Fabric
Below is a comparison of woven fabric and knitted fabric based on factors such as production process, stability, thickness, breathability, applications, and environmental impact.
Equipment Used
Woven fabric Woven fabric is produced by interlacing two sets of perpendicular yarns: warp yarns and weft yarns. The tight interlacing creates a strong, stable structure that is not easily torn or loses its shape during use. Woven fabric looms can be divided into two main types:
- Automatic Looms: These are controlled electronically or electromechanically, allowing for faster and more precise fabric production.
- Manual Looms: These require manual operation to interlace the yarns. They are often used in small-scale or artisanal production.
Knitted fabric On the other hand, knitted fabric is formed from a series of interlaced and looped yarns. The knitting process can be done on flat knitting machines or circular knitting machines. The yarn loops are tightly connected vertically (wale) and horizontally (course). The outstanding features of knitted fabric are its high stretch and elasticity, which allow it to conform to the wearer’s body shape. There are two main types of knitting machines:
- Flat Knitting Machines: These create flat pieces of fabric, often used to produce sweaters or products that need to be sewn together.
- Circular Knitting Machines: These are used to create tubular fabric or products like T-shirts and sweaters.
Production Costs
Knitted fabric generally has lower costs compared to woven fabric. This is due to its continuous, highly automated production process and lower costs for materials, equipment, and labor. In contrast, modern weaving looms are often expensive, require complex operation, and have high maintenance costs. Therefore, the production cost of woven fabric is typically higher.
Stability and Shape Retention
Woven fabric has superior dimensional stability compared to knitted fabric. Woven fabric can maintain its original shape even when wet or subjected to friction. However, this type of fabric has a poorer shape recovery after being folded or compressed.
Knitted fabric is more easily deformed when stretched, especially weft-knitted fabric. However, knitted fabric wrinkles less and easily maintains a fresh appearance after many uses.
Thickness and Feel
Woven fabric has a tight fiber structure, creating a smooth and flat fabric surface. Meanwhile, knitted fabric, with its three-dimensional loop structure, provides a soft and elastic feel.
Woven fabric is often thinner and lighter than knitted fabric. The dense fiber structure of knitted fabric enhances its thickness and weight, providing a warm and substantial feel.
Woven fabric feels cool and breathable, making it suitable for use in hot weather. Knitted fabric feels warm and comfortable, making it ideal for cold weather.
Breathability
The tight fiber structure of woven fabric limits air circulation, making it less breathable than knitted fabric. Conversely, the looped structure creates more open spaces in knitted fabric, which enhances its ability to absorb sweat and wick away moisture. Knitted fabric provides a comfortable feel when worn, especially during strenuous activity.
Applications of Woven and Knitted Fabric
Woven fabric is typically used to produce fashion items that require high durability, good shape retention, and minimal stretch, such as trousers, suits, and dresses. Thanks to its smooth and wrinkle-resistant properties, this fabric is also a perfect choice for interior decor products like curtains, sofas, and throw pillows.
Knitted fabric is used to produce stretchy, soft, and form-fitting products like T-shirts, sportswear, socks, gloves, and underwear. The looped fiber structure creates an effective thermal insulation layer that retains warmth. As a result, knitted fabric is suitable for many types of winter clothing like sweaters and scarves.
Environmental Impact of Production
Woven fabric undergoes a complex production process, including many stages like spinning, weaving, and dyeing. This poses a potential risk of environmental pollution, especially from the dyeing stage.
Meanwhile, knitted fabric typically does not require as many yarn preparation stages as woven fabric. The production process for knitted fabric is simpler and has less of an environmental impact because it uses fewer chemicals in the yarn preparation.
3. How to Differentiate Between Woven Fabric and Knitted Fabric
With just a few simple steps, you can distinguish between woven fabric and knitted fabric even with the naked eye.
Differentiating by Observing the Fabric Grain
Woven fabric typically has a tight texture, with interlaced fibers in a grid pattern. When you look closely, you will see the fibers overlapping, with a structure similar to a tennis racket net. Both sides of woven fabric are often identical and have a certain crisp feel when touched.
When you look closely at knitted fabric, especially weft-knitted fabric, you will see a “V” shape on the fabric surface. For warp-knitted fabric, the texture is not as clear, but you can still see straight lines running along the length of the fabric grain.
Differentiating by Wrinkle Resistance
When you grab and crumple the fabric, if it wrinkles easily and does not immediately return to its original state, it is woven fabric. Woven fabric needs to be ironed to regain its flat surface. Knitted fabric has better wrinkle resistance. When crumpled or grabbed, the fabric quickly returns to its original state, without too many creases.
Differentiating by Stretch
The stretch of woven fabric is lower. When you pull woven fabric horizontally and vertically, the edges often become loose and unravel, especially at the connection points.
Knitted fabric has high stretch and better shape recovery. When you stretch weft-knitted fabric, it will return to its original state horizontally. Similarly, warp-knitted fabric will also recover vertically after being stretched.
Differentiating by Selvedge
Knitted fabric is often sold in rolls or cut to width. The selvedge has an added stiffener to minimize curling or stretching. This helps the knitted fabric maintain its durability during shipping or sale.
Woven fabric has a soft, firm selvedge that does not require additional stiffener to hold its shape. The woven fabric selvedge is often meticulously treated to ensure durability and tear resistance during use. You can also try to pull a small piece of fabric vertically or horizontally to identify the fabric type. Knitted fabric is easy to pull apart, while the structure of woven fabric is tighter and more difficult to separate.
4. VieTextile – A High-Quality Woven and Knitted Fabric Production Company
VieTextile is a leading company in the production of high-quality woven fabric and knitted fabric. Committed to providing the best products to customers, VieTextile has built a strong network with reputable partners in the industry, from material suppliers to modern weaving and knitting mills.
This article has described the differences and similarities between woven fabric and knitted fabric. Each fabric type has its own advantages and disadvantages, making it suitable for different uses. Understanding the characteristics and applications of both fabric types will help you choose the right one for your production needs.
