Specific Attributes of the Knitwear Designer Collection
Apparel brands without knitwear are incomplete. Knitwear forms the most critical part of any collection. Particularly with commercial designs and daily wear apparel, knitwear is a must. A fashion brand without a collection of knitwear lines does not appeal to fashion buyers. So, adding a knitwear collection would give an extra boost to your collection. From here, you can understand the importance of the Jersey collection and the importance of knitwear design. Unlike other tech pack designers, Knitwear Designers must have proper experience handling jersey fabrics.
Difference Between Woven and Knitwear Designs
The fundamental difference between woven and knitwear designs lies in the fabric structure and the approach to designing garments made from these fabrics. A knitwear designer is a specialist working on knitted jersey fabrics and knows the techniques used in the design, tech packs, and apparel production of knitted garments.
Fabric Structure
Woven fabrics are stiff, so the designer and pattern master must precisely shape the garment and prepare the measurements. The tolerance is less than that of knitwear fabric. Woven fabrics interlace two yarns (warp and weft) at right angles. They are usually less stretchy and more structured, offering a crisp finish. Common examples include denim, cotton shirting, and twill.
On the other hand, knitwear fabrics are stretchy and woven together in a loop. So, the fabric is flexible and adopts body shapes. The tolerance is a bit flexible compared to woven fabrics. Knitwear fabrics include single jerseys, interlock, rib knits, and sweater fabrics.
Design and Pattern Making
The tolerance and stretch of woven fabrics are lower than those of knitted fabrics. So, Woven garment design and pattern-making require more precision in fit and measurements. The seams, darts, and other tailoring techniques are more critical in shaping the garment. Moreover, woven garments often require fastening through zippers or buttons. On the contrary, the flexibility in stretch in knitted fabric allows more flexibility in sizing and fit. It does not have complex construction techniques. The knitwear garments’ shape often relies on the fabric’s natural elasticity. There are few uses for zippers or buttons; they can stretch and take the body’s shape.
Applications
With their structured nature, woven garments are often associated with formal wear, such as button-down shirts, trousers, blazers, and dresses. In contrast, knitwear garments are more versatile and comfortable, ideal for casual and activewear. Knitted garments suit various occasions, from casual outings to active sports and loungewear. This versatility and comfort make knitwear garments a popular choice for many. Also, you can see a wide range of prints and embellishments on knitwear garments. Knitwear designers can show creativity in terms of print artwork and graphics.
Usage of Machines
Each fabric type also influences the production techniques and machinery used to manufacture these garments. Knitted garments are often stitched using cover stitch or flatlock machines. The usage of single-needle lock stitch machines is minimal. However, the single-needle lock stitch machine is the primary machine for Woven garment stitching. So, knitwear designers must know stitching techniques and machines used in knitted garment production.
Understanding Knitwear Fabric
To become a knitwear designer, understanding jersey fabric is essential. Knitwear designers should know G.S.M (grams per centimeter), yarn count, combing, etc. Knitted fabrics come in various varieties. The most prominent are cotton knits, Milange, fleece, Interlock, terry, viscose, anger, etc. With every fabric, the knitting process and procedures are different. You can know the construction and composition of fabrics with this link. Jersey fabrics come tubular. So, the cutting technique differs slightly from that of woven fabrics. Consumption is calculated in kilograms, including the wastage after cutting the fabric. The MOQ of the knitted fabrics mostly goes beyond 30kg. Therefore, the production quantity for t-shirts and other knitwear styles is usually higher than for woven garments.
The best part of knitted garments is that they give us many options to experiment with our creativity. So, there are a lot of opportunities for knitwear designers to try and test to showcase their creativity. You get to experiment with lots of printing techniques in knitwear. Other fabrics do not offer that many options. For a knitwear designer, the most critical parts are knowing about fabrics, printing techniques, washing, and dying. So you must have practical experience in these four areas. Also, for knitwear, stitching machines are different. Lock stitch and running stitch machines are rarely used for knitwear garment stitching. Clothing manufacturers use Flat Lock, Overlock, and cylinder bed flat lock machines for stitching t-shirts and other knitwear garment styles. You need to provide special training to tailor the operation of those machines.
About Our Knitwear Design Service
We offer Tech Pack Design Services for all kinds of apparel brands. Check out our Fashion Portfolio and contact our freelance fashion designer to prepare your clothing line sheet. If you are new to the field and having difficulty communicating with the tech pack designer, follow our instructions on How to prepare yourself before approaching the clothing tech pack designer.
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