Knitted items can be formed in one of two fundamental ways. The terms “fully fashioned” and “cut and sewn” are widely used to describe these methods.
You can either piece the garment together piece by piece, or you can treat the knit like a fabric, laying out the pattern parts on a huge square of knit, cutting them out, and sewing them together. The term “cut and sew” describes this method.
You can also make what is called “fully fashioned” knitwear, in which each component of the garment is more carefully constructed so that the finished product requires no seam allowances and is knitted together in a seamless form. Knitters use specialized stitches to give their creations the desired form by shortening or lengthening lines of loops in specified areas. This is essentially what you’re doing when you knit by hand, albeit knitting machines would be used for mass manufacturing.
Of course, this is an oversimplification, but in general, properly fashioned knitwear is more expensive and has flatter seams than the other method. In addition, you can employ a combination of methods on the same piece of clothing. In cases when a knitted seam wouldn’t be practical, you may need to fully fashion components of the garment before cutting and sewing them together.
This article will explain every step that goes into making knitwear for mass distribution.
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Exactly what does “Cut and Sew” refer to in the realm of knitwear?
Knitwear is commonly cut and sewn from pre-made cloth that has been pre-cut into individual panel forms. Clothes are assembled by sewing together individual fabric pieces using specialized stitching.
Most knitwear is made using this approach since it needs less effort and is, therefore, more affordable. However, the final results don’t always look as polished because of the gaps between the pattern pieces.
Knitting machines produce flat fabric for a cut and sew knitwear, which is then cut into individual panels for the various body parts. (one front panel, one back, two sleeves). Industrial sewing machines are used to assemble these parts into a whole. The garment can be made with less machinery than in fully fashioned knitting, but it may not fit as well or have a smooth finish because of the bulky seams that result.
What exactly is “fully fashioned” knitwear?
Knitting that is fully fashioned adheres more closely to knitting’s more traditional roots by creating each garment from the ground up. This means that a knitting machine is used to form the fabric before it is put together.
The fact that fully fashioned knitwear doesn’t require any seams makes it appear more premium than cut-and-sewn knitwear. There are no seams anywhere on the seamless garment, making it look more polished. Fully fashioned knitwear is typically more expensive due to the increased effort required to produce it.
Materials used to make knitwear
It is theoretically possible to knit using any long, flexible thread, but in fact, only a small number of materials are employed. Traditional wools come from a wide variety of domesticated and wild animals, although threads derived from plants are also often employed.
1. Sheep wool
Although some breeds of sheep produce wool that is exceptionally soft and gentle, the vast majority of commercially available wool tends to be coarse and itchy, especially for those with sensitive skin. Typically, all that’s required is to put on an underlayer, but that’s not always an option.
2. Cashmere
Everything you may want in high-quality woolen clothing is there in cashmere wool. It’s soft enough to wear next to the skin without irritation but thick enough to keep you warm, sturdy enough to last, and airy enough to allow your skin to breathe, making it ideal for layering. Sometimes modest amounts of synthetic fibers are combined into modern cashmere to increase its flexibility and strength without diminishing the cashmere’s signature softness.
3. Merino wool
Many people choose it because it provides a middle ground between conventional sheep wool and cashmere in terms of comfort, insulation, and expense. It also retains its form well without the addition of any fillers.
4. Mohair
It is often known as the wool of the angora goat, which is another form of wool produced by this animal. Mohair is distinguished by its voluminous, buoyant appearance and feel due to the way it’s wool fibers spring in every direction. In addition, it has a unique luster that you won’t find in any other wool. It’s somewhat of a novelty or statement cloth due to its unconventional appearance, yet it’s still in high demand.
5. Cotton
Cotton is commonly connected with weaving, while wool is typically associated with knitting. However, there is no reason that cotton can’t be knitted, and lovely garments or good material hoodies can be crafted in this way.
Cotton knits are typically less heavy than wool ones because the threads are thinner. As a result of lower production costs in farming, harvesting, and manufacturing, they are also more affordably priced.
Which variety of knitwear is superior, and why?
When deciding between cut-and-sew and fully-fashioned knitwear, there is no one “best” method. Cut and sew clothing is typically less expensive due to the reduced amount of fabric required compared to fully fashioned clothing, which is ideal for patterned designs. If you follow the care directions on the tag of your newly purchased knitwear, whether it be completely fashioned or cut and sewed, it will last longer and look better for longer.
