Effects of Yarn, Fabric and Machine Parameters on the Dimensional Properties of Weft Knitted Single Jersey Fabric

Abstract

Weft knit fabrics are popular for traditional wear because of their elastic and light structures, gentle smoothness, low production costs, and high productivity. However, due to asymmetrical loop formation, spirality causes serious dimensional problems in single jersey fabrics (SJF). This study investigates the effects of various parameters on spirality, including yarn count, yarn tension, tightness factor, stitch length, fabric weight per unit area, machine speed, needle gauge, and number of feeders. All the sample fabrics were knitted with Z-twisted, combed, 100% cotton yarns and went through a scouring, bleaching, and whitening process before being dried in the same conditions. Fabric spirality was found to increase as stitch length, number of feeders, yarn count, and twists per unit length in constituent yarn increased whereas the tightness factor and needle gauge, on the other hand, had opposite effects on spirality. The test results were analyzed statistically, and a significant impact was discovered.

Keywords

• spirality
• single jersey
• shrinkage
• stitch length
• tightness factor
• knitting speed
• yarn tension