Double knitting
Encyclopedia
Double knitting is a form of knitting in which two fabrics are knit simultaneously with two yarn
s on one pair of needles. The fabrics may be inseparable, as in interlock knitted fabrics, or they can simply be two unconnected fabrics. In principle, an arbitrary number
of fabric
s can be knitted simultaneously on one pair of knitting needle
s with
yarns, as long as one is careful.
s by Anna Makarovna, the nanny in Leo Tolstoy
's War and Peace
Double knitting became popular within 1970s fashion
; in the 1989 Grammy Award-winning
song "Parents Just Don't Understand
," Will Smith
comically excoriates his mother for forcing him to wear outdated, 1970s-era "double-knit reversible slacks."
on doubled-pointed knitting needle
s; after one row has been knit with one yarn, the crafter slides the stitches to the other end of the needle and begins the next row with the next yarn. Only half the stitches are knit with any one yarn; the rest are slipped. After both rows are done, you then turn the work and begin another pair of rows.
Another common method is to alternate a knit stitch of yarn A with a purl stitch of yarn B. Since the yarn is held to the back for a knit, and to the front for a purl, this results in two sheets of stockinette stitches, with the wrong (purl) sides facing each other. Switching colors ties the two sides together for a single double-thick fabric. This method is often used for elaborate two-color designs, as there are few constraints on how the colors may be used. The finished item from this method is reversible, each side holding the negative image of the other.
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
s on one pair of needles. The fabrics may be inseparable, as in interlock knitted fabrics, or they can simply be two unconnected fabrics. In principle, an arbitrary number
of fabricTextile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
s can be knitted simultaneously on one pair of knitting needle
Knitting needle
A knitting needle or knitting pin is a tool in hand-knitting to produce knitted fabrics. They generally have a long shaft and taper at their end, but they are not nearly as sharp as sewing needles. Their purpose is two-fold...
s with
yarns, as long as one is careful.History
The most famous example of double knitting is the pair of socks knitted simultaneously on one set of knitting needleKnitting needle
A knitting needle or knitting pin is a tool in hand-knitting to produce knitted fabrics. They generally have a long shaft and taper at their end, but they are not nearly as sharp as sewing needles. Their purpose is two-fold...
s by Anna Makarovna, the nanny in Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
's War and Peace
War and Peace
War and Peace is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1869. The work is epic in scale and is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature...
-
- When the pair was finished, she made a solemn ceremony of pulling one stocking out of the other in the presence of the children.
Double knitting became popular within 1970s fashion
1970s in fashion
1970s fashion, which began with a continuation of the mini skirts, bell-bottoms and the androgynous hippie look from the late 1960s, was soon sharply characterized by several distinct fashion trends that have left an indelible image of the decade ...
; in the 1989 Grammy Award-winning
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance was an honor presented to recording artists at the 31st Grammy Awards in 1989 and the 32nd Grammy Awards in 1990 and again from 2012 for quality rap performances...
song "Parents Just Don't Understand
Parents Just Don't Understand
"Parents Just Don't Understand" is the second single from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's second studio album, He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989, one of only two songs to ever do so before the award was discontinued in 1991. It peaked at...
," Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
comically excoriates his mother for forcing him to wear outdated, 1970s-era "double-knit reversible slacks."
Methods
There are several methods for double knitting, including flat knittingFlat knitting
Flat knitting is a method for producing knitted fabrics in which the work is turned periodically, i.e., the fabric is knitted from alternating sides...
on doubled-pointed knitting needle
Knitting needle
A knitting needle or knitting pin is a tool in hand-knitting to produce knitted fabrics. They generally have a long shaft and taper at their end, but they are not nearly as sharp as sewing needles. Their purpose is two-fold...
s; after one row has been knit with one yarn, the crafter slides the stitches to the other end of the needle and begins the next row with the next yarn. Only half the stitches are knit with any one yarn; the rest are slipped. After both rows are done, you then turn the work and begin another pair of rows.
Another common method is to alternate a knit stitch of yarn A with a purl stitch of yarn B. Since the yarn is held to the back for a knit, and to the front for a purl, this results in two sheets of stockinette stitches, with the wrong (purl) sides facing each other. Switching colors ties the two sides together for a single double-thick fabric. This method is often used for elaborate two-color designs, as there are few constraints on how the colors may be used. The finished item from this method is reversible, each side holding the negative image of the other.