Knitting technology, Third Edition

21.7
Ladder-resist structures
The fine smooth filaments in plain knit ladies’ hosiery structures make them very
susceptible to 
laddering
. It is therefore important to reduce this tendency without
impairing either the appearance or the extension and recovery properties of the
structure too greatly [2].
Any stitch that reduces the likelihood of one loop being withdrawn through
another (for example tight knitting), or that spreads the tension (knitting on alter-
nate needles), will produce ladder-resist properties from the end knitted last. An
alternate knit-and-miss or knit-and-tuck structure will be ladder-proof from the end
knitted first.
Float-plated fishnet
(Fig. 9.3) is one popular ladder-resist structure; all needles
take the fine yarn (for example 15 denier) whereas alternate (or in the case of pat-
terned fishnet – selected) needles rise high enough to take the thicker yarn (for
example 30 denier). The two yarns are knitted in 
a plating relationship
. This struc-
ture is popular for use in stockings to produce an anti-ladder band that prevents
ladders from running down from the top of the leg.
1
¥
1 Cross tuck
is another ladder-resist structure, where alternate needles tuck
at alternate courses.
Micromesh
is similar although less effective because it contains less tuck stitches.
In this structure, the tuck stitches spiral around the leg, reducing light reflectance
and presenting an attractive appearance. There is usually a course of all-knitting in
between each course of tuck stitches; the notation given in Fig. 21.2 shows the
popular 
3
¥
1 micromesh
.
Fig. 21.2
Notation of 3 
¥
1 micromesh.

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Knitting technology