The warp and weft of weaving

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Weaving involves two types, the weft and the warp. It means two different types of yarns are used to make the weave. The lengthwise yarn is called the warp and the yarn running at right angles to this or  across is the weft. Weft is the yarn that is the filler yarn. On the looms, once the warp yarn is placed, the weft fabric or yarn is weaved in across to fill in. There are basically three types of weave, the satin weave,  the plain weave and the twill weave.

In a plain weave, the weave is such that the weft is alternating up the warp and below the next warp. So it is a simple weave with both warp and weft visible equally. The combination can be double too. In a warp faced weave the warp threads are more per centimeter than in a weft faced weave. Both of these are balanced that is have equal number of warps and wefts to create a balanced weave.

Knitting fabrics have similarly two types of knits,

Weft Knitting : Hand Knitting is weft knitting. On a knitting machine yarn is fed into single or multiple machines. The plain stitch Knit is a weft stitch which is also called jersey stitch. Jersey knit is used for skirts and blouses. There is also the purl knit and the rib knit which are a part of the weft knitting. Purl knit is used to knit sweaters and outer garments mostly.

How do we know whether the fabric is weft or warp knitted?

When the fabric looks like the fabric is going weft to right (as in left to right), it is weft knitting. Warp knits are always parallel and run longitudinally.

Warp Knitting on the other hand has each needle loop its own thread. There are many type sof warp knitting such as , Tricot Knit, raschel Knit, weft insertion warp, simplex Knit. Warp knit fabrics are smoother and shrink resistant and are  more popular due to their long lasting weave, they sag less and do not come off easily.