The Physics of Knitting - unravelling the mysteries

It seems that scientists are finally turning their attentions to trying to understand how knitting works and wondering what a deeper understanding of the physics behind it could lead to in terms of high-tech fabrics.

Thank you for sharing that video Burra. I've always been fascinated by the nature of stretchy knitting, and how the yarn takes on a will of it's own (at least in my case!). I remember when I worked in composite material research coming across sandwich fabrics, which used the tension in yarn to create a space in between layers...I'd quite like to make use of that in knitted garments to make padded areas where the fabric is likely to wear due to rubbing - like elbows and heels.

Mind officially scrambled.   The sock mentioned at the beginning has since been found to be a looped construction, simple nalbinding.

I'd quite like to make use of that in knitted garments to make padded areas where the fabric is likely to wear due to rubbing - like elbows and heels.

  It's possible to do this by working double layered knitting - see video.  It's not necessary to work the layer across the whole width, but it takes a bit of concentration to work as a patch, and is easier when working flat, but possible when working in the round.  It just needs coffee, chocolate and/or cake.   Edit: to correct spelling