Knitting

Knitting is the process of interlooping yarn to create textile fabric made of interconnected loops, done by hand, machine or both. Knitting creates stitches: loops of yarn in a row. When done by hand, the loops are created with a pair of knitting needles where the loops are created one at a time. When done by machine the loops are created on hook type needles that work on the entire row of knitting at a time. Hand knitting needles are either straight and cylindrical or in the round with plastic tubes or wire (cables) joining the ends of both. Knitted fabric consists of a number of consecutive rows of connected loops that intermesh with the next and previous rows. As each row is formed, each newly created loop is pulled through one or more loops from the prior row and placed on the 'gaining needle' (the needle that is receiving newly created stitches) so that the loops from the prior row can be pulled off the other needle without unraveling. Differences in yarn (varying in fiber type, weight, uniformity, twist, needle size, and stitch type) allow for a variety of knitted fabrics with different properties, including color, texture, thickness, heat retention, water resistance, and integrity. A small sample of knitwork is known as a swatch and helps the maker determine the gauge of the intended work.