5/11/2014 Count Selection in Knitting | Selection of Count in Knitted Fabric - Textile Learner

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Count Selection in Knitting | Selection of Count in Knitted
Fabric
Count Selection in Knitting:
Knitted fabric is made with the help of yarn loops. Yarn of different counts is used to produce fabric of different
grammage. There is also a need to calculate optimum production of knitting machines. It is the job of knitting
manager to do certain calculation for proper use of machines and production of fabric according to the
demands of the customer.
Most suitable count for knitting machines:
As we know needle hook has to take yarn to convert it into a loop and finally latch has to close the needle
hook so that loop is properly held by the needle hook and ultimately this helps in passing new loop through
the previously held loop. It is clear from this explanation that there should be a proper balance between
needle hook size and the thickness of the yarn or filament. If the yarn is thicker than needle hook then there
will a chance that needle hook will not able to hold this loop and consequently there will be a small hole in the
fabric. If the situation is reverse, means yarn is thinner than the size of the needle hook then the fabric
produced will look like a net. Both situations are not wanted. This situation demands a balance between
needle hook size and count of yarn. It is worth to note that needle hook size depends upon the machine
guage. Furthermore for different garments, fabric of different grammage is required. Every time knitter has to
decide about the yarn count. There are many ways for the selection of proper count. In the following lines we
will discuss most common methods to select count for different machines of different guage. It is also important
to note that selection of yarn counts also depends upon the machine manufactures and type of machines,
like, single and double knit machine. However a general guideline will be given hereunder.
As a thumb rule knitting experts prefer to use such knitting machine whose gauges is near to count of yarn
(English count) i.e. for 20-gaugemachines most suitable yarn count is 20s. This rule is has certain limitations,
like, for 28-gauge yarn of 26s to 30s is most suitable. But for very fine counts this rule is not applicable and
also machines have maximum gauge 32. Normally fine counts are not used as such rather they are make
double, like count 60s double, which means that net count is near to 30s. And this 60 double count is suitable
for 30-gauge machine.
To solve this problem some authors have suggested following formulas.
For single Knitting Machine ,
Suitable count = G*G/18
For Double knitting machine ,
Suitable count= G*G/8.4
Where G is gauge of knitting machine
Some knitting machine manufacturers suggest a range of yarn count for their machine. There is another way
to solve this problem and that is to take help from old record. Every firm is producing many types of fabrics
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and on the basis of experience they develop a database for ready reference. In the following line we give a
table for guidance (table is under construction). One can get a ready reference from the table to produce
fabric of certain grammage. We are also giving expected width of fabric after wet processing. This table can
provide just a reference. Knitters have to decide by themselves after doing a trial production, since there are
many more factors, which can affect yarn and gauge selection process.
Knitting Machine Parameters:
Every knitting machine is made to fulfill certain demands of the customer. There are number of
characteristics of machine which are intimated by the machine manufacturers while delivering the machine to
customers/users. It is helpful for the user to be well aware about these parameters. Furthermore machine
specifications are given in different unit. We will explain these parameters and will also give the conversion
factors to convert parameters from one system to other.
Machine Gauge:
As per Oxford Dictionary the word gauge is a noun and as well as verb. It is used to measure level of any
thing or for an instrument to measure width, length or height of any thing. In knitting it is used to express the
number of needle in a unit length of the needle bed. This needle bed may flat or circular. In double knit
circular machine it is used for cylinder and as well as dial. Generally gauge is defined as number of needles
per inch. According to German standard DIN 60917 (Iyer et al1995) alphabet E is used to denote knitting
machine gauge.
Machine Pitch:
As per German DIN 62125 (Iyer et al1995) the notation gauge is to be avoided in the future. Rather they
prefer to use notation pitch for comparison purpose. Machine Pitch means the distance between the centres
of two neighbouring needles. It is denoted with small t. It is given in mm.

Count Calculation on GSM
F/Type Equation
Single Jersey Count= (-0.141) GSM + 50.22
Pique Count= (-0.146) GSM + 57.16
Double Lacost Count= (-0.167) GSM + 64.36
11 Rib Count= (-0.123) GSM + 54.57
Lycra 11 Rib Count= (-0.119) GSM + 59.12
Lycra 22 Rib Count= (-0.108) GSM + 56.62
Interlock Count= (-0.206) GSM + 80.56

Some Example: Count Selection on Finished GSM
F/Type F/GSM Count S/L G/GSM GSM% Feeder Number
5/11/2014 Count Selection in Knitting | Selection of Count in Knitted Fabric - Textile Learner
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S/J 130-
150
30s 2.65-2.9 110-
120
80% to
85%
1 cm = 18/20 Feeder for Single Jersey
1 cm = 28/32 Feeder for Single Lacost,
S/Pique
1 cm = 30/34 Feeder for Double Lacost,
D/pique
160-
180
26s 2.7-2.9 125-
135
78% to
80%
1 cm = 16/18 Feeder for Single Jersey
1 cm = 26/30 Feeder for Single Lacost,
S/Pique
1 cm = 28/32 Feeder for Double Lacost,
D/pique
175-
190
24s 2.75-
2.95
135-
145
76% to
77%
1 cm = 16/18 Feeder for Single Jersey
1 cm = 24/28 Feeder for Single Lacost,
S/Pique
1 cm = 26/30 Feeder for Double Lacost,
D/pique
190-
210
20s 2.9-3.2 150-
165
76% to
79%
1 cm = 4/18 Feeder for Single Jersey
1 cm = 22/26 Feeder for Single Lacost,
S/Pique
1 cm = 24/28 Feeder for Double Lacost,
D/pique
P/interlock 180-
210
40s 1.55-
1.75
130-
150
72% 1 cm = 32/36 Feeder
210-
230
34s 1.65-
1.85
150-
170
72% 1 cm = 30/34 Feeder
230-
250
30s 1.65-
1.85
170-
190
74% 1 cm = 28/32 Feeder
26s 72%
24s 72%
11 Rib 170-
190
30s 2.65-
2.85
125-
130
1 cm = 17/18 Feeder
195-
225
26s 2.7-2.95 140-
155
1 cm = 16/17 Feeder
230-
250
24s 2.7-2.95 160-
175
1 cm = 16/17 Feeder
Author of This Article:
Saidul Karim Riaz
B.Sc. in Textile Technology
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