Cotton knit is a very popular type of fabric used for many different uses. However, there are some common misconceptions surrounding this great fabric, like, for example, how cotton knit shrinks, stretches, or expands, and is it the same thing as 100% cotton? So, here are six main things you need to know about cotton knit.
What is Cotton Knit
Cotton knit, though it is made of cotton, is not the same thing as cotton in general. Cotton knit is one of the primary methods of cotton fabric construction.
Cotton can be knitted or weaved in many different ways, and it comes in many different weights and textures. It can also be nonwoven, but this is less common in clothing.
Weaving is the production of cotton fabric by interlacing two sets of yarns so that they cross each other, and knitting is the construction of the elastic, wrinkle-resistant porous cotton fabric by interlocking yarns.
Fabric construction is one of several important factors that define cotton fabric properties and texture.
Most cotton knit is made with a circular knitting machine, which makes a tube-shaped fabric that is seamless.
Since cotton knit is a type of cotton fabric that is stretchy, soft, and comfy, T-shirts, sweaters, underwear, lingerie, sleepwear, and socks are generally produced from cotton knit fabric.
Woven cotton fabrics, on the other hand, don’t stretch much and are stronger. This is why they are used for button-up shirts, pants, jeans, jackets, coats, and towels, for example.
Cotton Knit Is Not the Same as 100% Cotton
Knitted items can be manufactured entirely of cotton (100% cotton), or they can be blended with other fibers like polyester, rayon, acrylic, or spandex.
If you want to know what materials went into making the fabric, you should look at the label or contact the maker, since the term “cotton knit” can be used for items that are predominantly made from cotton.
There is no exact percentage of cotton content that implies whether a fabric is cotton knit or not, although people usually assume that cotton knit fabric is made from 100% cotton.
Cotton Knit – Shrinking, Stretching and Expanding
So, does cotton knit shrink, stretch, or expand? Under certain conditions, cotton knit can perform all of these things.
It is a well-known fact that cotton in general is prone to shrinking. When cotton knit fabric is exposed to water and heat, it tends to shrink. How much something shrinks depends mostly on the quality of the cotton knit fabric, the temperature of the water, how it is dried, and the type of knit.
When it comes to the type of knit, for instance, jersey knit fabrics may shrink more than interlock knit fabrics because they are made with a looser weave. Rib knit fabrics may also shrink more than other knits because of their textured surface.
Most of the time, the first time you wash the cotton knit fabric, it will shrink the most. After that, it will shrink less and less, unless you suddenly decide to wash it at a higher temperature than is usual or recommended.
Cotton knit is also a stretchy material that adapts. However, there are two situations here to consider. Cotton knits can stretch temporarily or sometimes permanently.
Stretch in fabrics refers to the ability of the fabric to elongate when a force is applied to it and then return to its original shape when the force is released. This is the common meaning of the word, and all cotton knits share this characteristic. Some also use the term “flexible” in this sense.
Yet, certain cotton knit textiles can be permanently stretched to retain their new dimensions.
The term “expand” seems more appropriate here, although it suggests that fabric expands in size as a whole rather than in one direction, which is a more common situation.
Because of the structural differences, cotton knit fabrics can be more susceptible to expanding than woven cotton fabrics due to their more rigid construction. So, cotton knit clothes can expand due to repeated wear, tension from seams and stitching, and exposure to moisture.
When cotton knit clothes are worn repeatedly, the fibers in the fabric can become stretched out and lose their elasticity. This can cause the fabric to become larger and more loose-fitting over time.
Additionally, tension from seams and stitching can contribute to the fabric becoming stretched out, particularly in areas where the fabric is pulled tight, such as around the neckline or cuffs.
The extent to which some cotton knit clothing items can expand can depend on many factors, like a specific type of knit fabric, fiber quality, yarn thickness, and the environmental conditions to which the item is exposed.
This appears to be at odds with the fact that cotton tends to shrink. However, shrinking is typically a direct result of exposure to high water temperatures (and usually occurs after a few initial washes), whereas the expansion of cotton knit clothing is typically the result of repeated washing and wearing. So, the cotton usually shrinks after a few initial washes, but it can also expand or permanently stretch over time.
Cotton Jersey and Cotton Knit Are Not the Same
There are many types of cotton knit, each suited to a particular application. Some cotton knits are thin and easy to breathe through, while others are thicker and warmer.
Although cotton jersey is probably the most common type of cotton knit, not all cotton knit fabrics are made from jersey knit.
Here are some examples of knitted fabrics that can be made from cotton, besides jersey:
- Jacquard knit (fabrics with pattern directly woven into the material)
- fleece (soft, fluffy fabrics, although today typically made from polyester)
- rib knit (fabric with raised vertical lines that create a ribbed texture)
- pointelle knit (fabrics with a pattern of decorative holes or openings)
- French terry (fabric with a looped surface on one side and a flat surface on the other)
- pique knit (durable textured fabric)
- interlock knit (thicker, durable, double-knit fabric)
Identifying Cotton Knit Fabrics
It can be difficult to tell if a cotton fabric is knitted or woven just by looking at it, especially if the fabric is very fine or has a printed design. In addition, sometimes there is a trend of mixing knitted and woven fabrics in clothes, for example, in women’s T-shirts.
Stretching cotton fabrics is the simplest way to identify this. Knitted fabric will stretch in all directions, and woven fabrics only stretch diagonally if at all.
Woven fabrics typically have a flat, smooth surface with distinct perpendicular lines (known as the warp and weft) running through them. In contrast, knitted fabrics typically have more textured or ribbed surfaces characterized by distinct loops.
Is Cotton Knit a Good Option?
It can be a great option. However, certain cotton knit fabrics will have different properties depending on different factors, like the exact knit type, fabric thicknesses, and whether they are made entirely of cotton. It will most likely have some of the common characteristics of cotton in general, such as absorbency, breathability, and softness.
For example, a sweater made entirely of cotton knit isn’t the warmest option available for the winter. However, if it’s thick and dense or blended with additional fibers (for example, acrylic), it might be very warm.