How to Accurately Distinguish Between Woven and Knitted Fabrics

Oct 30, 2025

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How to Accurately Distinguish Between Woven and Knitted Fabrics

Person A: How to divide knitted shuttle fabrics? Do you know how to divide it?

Person B: So simple, who wouldn't? Then take a look at this. This is knitted. This is woven. That's it.

Person A: Then I'll take out these fabrics. This is knitted. This should also be knitted. Otherwise, how do you say to divide it?

Person B: Then I'll talk about this problem today. Let me explain it carefully for everyone.

How to Truly Distinguish Between Knitted and Woven Fabrics Accurately?

We usually look at the elasticity:

If it's very elastic, we call it knitted.
If it has no elasticity, we call it woven.

It's usually divided like this, right? Yes, but when you encounter fabrics like this – somewhat ambiguous – like this fabric, it seems both knitted and woven.

Because some woven fabrics can also be very elastic, and some knitted fabrics have no elasticity. This type is easy to confuse.

So, How Do You Really Distinguish Between Knitted and Woven Fabrics?

Today, I'll teach you a method. It's very simple – you can learn it in three sentences, and you'll never get it wrong again.

Take this woven fabric:

On this side of the yarn, it's easy to pull out.
On this side, you can't pull it out? Wait, this yarn can be pulled out.
Right? This is woven. It can be pulled out on all four sides.

Now, take this knitted fabric:

If you try to pull here, it won't budge.
If you pull here, the yarn comes out.
So, it moves on two sides, but not on the other two.

This is called weft knitting – usually made on a large circular machine. One side has high elasticity, the other side has much less elasticity, almost none.

This is weft knitting.

There's another type, like this:

Pull here – won't budge.
Pull here – still won't budge.
It can't be pulled out on any side.

This is called warp knitting.

Three-Sentence Summary:

If it can be pulled out on all four sides, it's woven.
If it can be pulled out on two sides but not the other two, it's weft knitting.
If it cannot be pulled out on any side, it's warp knitting.

Did you learn it?

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