What is the difference between knitted and woven fabrics?(2)

Medical

Thanks to their extreme stability and impressive durability, woven fabrics are used in medical textiles. Surgical gowns made from this fabric allow doctors to perform procedures in comfort.

In addition, its abrasion-resistant strength eliminates the risk of leaving debris in the operating room.

Woven fabrics are also used in wound dressings, prosthetic aids, compression gauze, sanitary tampons and similar elements used to maintain hygiene.

Construction

Warp and weft threads are the backbone of both knitted and woven fabrics. The difference lies in how they are used to make each fabric.

Knitted fabrics use one of them at a time, while woven fabrics use both alternately on the same piece of cloth. Thus, woven fabrics have interlaced yarns, while knitted fabrics have interlaced yarns. One yarn is usually used to develop an entire knitted fabric, while multiple yarns play a role in the production of woven fabrics.

In addition, they differ in terms of the machines used to construct them. Knitted fabrics are made on regular knitting or weaving machines or sewing machines, while woven fabrics are made only on looms of greater construction.

Stretchability

Knitted fabrics are more easily stretched. Because of their looped structure, you can pull or stretch them in any direction. That's why you'll find that most knitted fabrics are figure-hugging.

In contrast, woven fabric doesn't stretch as easily. It only stretches a little bit along its length, not along its width. This provides them with the necessary stiffness to keep the garment in shape over time.

Washing

You need to be careful when washing knits. They will shrink easily if washed frequently. Woven fabrics retain their original shape and size even after many washes. These can also retain their color over a longer period of time.

Wrinkles

If you don't like ironing your clothes from time to time, knitted fabrics have proven to be more useful to you. They don't show many wrinkles because their structure makes them easy to iron.

On the other hand, because woven fabrics tend to hold their shape, it also keeps the wrinkles that tend to form on the surface. Pressing these fabrics may not get rid of these creases.

Pleating and Pilling

Knitted fabrics are more prone to pilling, while woven fabrics are prone to fraying. Manufacturers prevent fraying of cotton by using an overlocking strategy on the unfinished longitudinal edges. That's why you probably won't see them fray. However, they will still show small lint balls due to pilling.