Knitting technology, Third Edition

16.5
Integral garment knitting
An 
integral garment
is one whose various parts have been knitted and knit-
assembled by the knitting machine. It thus requires minimal make-up attention on
leaving the knitting machine.
Integral garment knitting lowers make-up costs (including cutting), shortens
throughput times, reduces work in progress and provides the opportunity to intro-
duce new styling features. The knitting machines, however, are more complex and
expensive and may be more restrictive in their operation and patterning scope.
Shima Seiki
, the Japanese V-bed machine builders, use the term 
WholeGarment
Knitting
to cover their own particular patented technique.
Despite the fact that integral garments are tubular and seamless, few are pro-
duced on circular machines except for hosiery and underwear (where making-up
operations such as toe closing are still required). The reason is that knitting to shape
generally involves wale fashioning achieved by selective loop transfer to and from
needles in the same bed – a technique not readily available on circular machines.
References
1.
anon
., The Basque beret; A survey of manufacturing processes,
Hos. Trade J.
, (1962), July, 92–3.
2.
wignall
,
h
. and 
klee
,
j
., Circular garments with integrally knitted sleeves,
Text Inst. and Ind
., (1965),
3, (6), 143–8.
3.
reider
,
a
., New trends in elastic knitted fabrics (IFKT paper),
Knit. Int
., (1981), 50–2.
Further information
canzler
,
r
. and 
hiemann
,
k
.
h
., 3D and other effects in F/F outerwear and underwear,
Hos. Trade J.
,
(1964), Nov., 104–10.
goadby
,
d
.
r
. and 
millington
,
j
., Aspects of integrated garment production,
Knit. Int
., (1975), March,
61–2.
lancashire
,
j
.
b
., Stitch constructions of knitted welts,
Hos. Trade J.
, (1964), Jan., 110–11.
offermann
,
p
. and 
tausch-marton
,
h
.
h
., Knit to shape and full-fashioned knitting procedures,
Knit.
Times
, (1971), 12 April, 47–55.
wignall
,
h
., The bifurcated garment: new production techniques,
Knit. Times Yr. Bk
., (1974), 101–3.
wignall
,
h
., Garment engineering for knitted goods,
Text. Inst. and Ind
., (1977), 15, (5), 171–3.

---