Project

Knitting needles and sinkers

Submitted to
Sir. Mushtaq Managat

Submitted by
Rana Wajid Ali(040420-070)
Abudallah Goraya(040420-049)

Subject
Knitted Fabric Manufacturing

University of Management and

Technology
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In the name of Allah[God], The Most Merciful. The Most
Beneficent

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 Table of contents
Knitting needle and sinkers history………………………………………… 01

Knitting needles ……………………………………………………………… 01

Types of needles……………………………………………………………… 01

Hand pin needle………………………………………………………………. 01

Bearded Needles……………………………………………………………… 02

Latch Needles………………………………………………………………… 03

Spring needle ………………………………………………………………… 06

Some important concepts related to needles…………………………………. 07

Web sites which sell knitting needles………………………………………… 08

Actual samples of needles……………………………………………………. 09

Sinkers………………………………………………………………………… 10

Types of sinkers………………………………………………………………. 11

Sinkers for Large circular knitting machine………………………………….. 11

Sinkers for small circular knitting machine…………………………………... 11

Flat bed sinkers………………………………………………………………... 11

Warp sinkers………………………………………………………………....... 12

Web sites which sell knitting sinkers…………………………………………. 12

Modernization in knitting needles and sinkers ………..……………………… 12

Actual sample of sinkers……………………………………………………… 13

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………. 14

References…………………………………………………………………… 14

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Abstract
In this project knitting needles and sinkers are studied and what changes are made with
the passage of time. And what are their types, characteristics, uses and their
manufacturers. How these knitting needles and sinkers are important element of knitting
industry. These two are the basics pillars of knitting machine and consequently knitting
industry. Without these (needles and sinkers) industry cannot exists.

Knitting Needle and Sinker History:-

Knitting may be one of the first technique which used by human being to keep warm and
protect our body from different seasons. In ancient times, this technique is used by ladies,
who make the fabric with the help of one or two wooden needles. This technique is used
for new born babies and some people do it as past time hobby. As time passes, scientific
changes occur and wooden needles change to steel needles and pushing of old loops is
done by sinkers rather than hands. But now a day, it became a big industry which is
grooming very rapidly. This industry also faces many challenges like other industries
with the passage of time. i.e. Improvement in production, better quality and quick service,
which are still unanswerable. That is why, people started to work hard to increase the
production in minimum time, and they face more challenges and finally succeeded to
improve the production by inventing modern machines. All this is possible for doing
knitting according to scientific techniques. And needles and sinkers are the essential parts
of knitting which are described below.

(A) Knitting Needles

Knitting needles are most essential part to do knitting without it knitting can not stand.
It is the main part of knitting machine and consequently knitting industry, if needles are
not present you cannot perform even a single stitch for knitting.

Types of needles
Different machines have different needles.

1-Hand pin needle:-

First technique which is used to make knitted fabric is with the help of hand pin needle.
Initially these needles were made with wood, but now iron and steel needles are available
in the market to make stitches. Hand pin knitting is first used in Egypt then goes to Italy
and finally this reach to England. In England this, became a popular industry.

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Figure (1)

Figure (2)

2-Bearded Needles:-
It is one of the earliest needles which form just after the formation of simple or iron steel
needle. In bearded needle, the beard is open and close to hold old loop and help in the
formation of new loop.
Main parts of bearded needle:
Head Beard

Eye

Stem Shank (tail)

Figure ( 3)

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Working of bearded needle:
First yarn is fed into the stem of the needles. Fixed and jack sinkers move toward the yarn
in a sequence to avoid yarn breakage. Fixed sinkers move downward to tight the thread.
Sinker moves forward which push the yarn loop into the beard of the needle or hook of
the needle. Sinker moves backward and allow pressure bar to do work. Presser bar press
the bear of the needle which touches the stem, so that loop ca not come out. Sinker moves
forward again to push the previously formed loop. Thus a stitch is performed while the
new loop remains in the hook of the bearded needle.

Figure 4
Uses:
It is usually used in warp knitting machines.

3-Latch Needles:-
It is the most popular needle now days. In knitting industry 99% latch needles are used.
First latch needle is invented in 1806 and practically used in 1849. It‘s name is given due
to the latch, which is present in this needle.

Main Parts of latch needle:

Stem – Is used to hold the of old loops.
Hook – The hook is used to catch the yarn to form new loops.
Rivet – Is used to holds the latch in place and allows it to pivot.
Latch – Close the hook so that newly formed loop cannot go back, and is used to
open and close the hook.

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 Butt – The butt enables the movement of the needle to be controlled by a cam
mechanism.
Tail – Give support to the needle.

Figurer 5
Rivet
Working of latch needle:
Needles act as to give a path, if a knit cam path given it will work as knit. If we give tuck
came it will perform as tuck and if miss cam is used it will miss the stitch. As the needle
pass through the knit cam following action takes place

1st position is called rest position in which hook hold the old loop and latch is closed.
2nd position is called tuck off position in which loop through pressure push the latch.
3rd position is called cleaning position in which latch goes down and old loop goes down
in to stem.
4th position is called feeding position in which old loop in stem and new loop is feed to
the hook of needle.
5th position is called cost off in which loop insertion take place.
6th position is called knock over in which with the help of sinker push the knitted loop
forward and new loop remains in between the hook and latch of needle.

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When this latch needle is passed through the tuck cam it perform the following action

1st position is called rest position in which hook hold the old loop and latch is closed.
2nd position is called tuck off position in which loop through pressure push the latch.
3rd position is called feeding position in which old loop in also between the latch and
hook, and new loop is feed to the hook of needle.
4th position is called cost off in which loop insertion take place.
5th position is called knock over in which with the help of sinker push the knitted loop
forward and new loop remains in between the hook and latch of needle.

When latch needle is passed through the miss cam it just miss the loop. Entering and
leaving position of latch needle is same.

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Uses:
It is usually used in weft knitting machines.

4-Spring latch needles

Only difference is that, in spring latch needle and latch needle is used of spring in the
rivot in the latch needle while in latch needle no spring is used. Due to the spring effect
the latch opens automatically after knock over. Therefore an extended latch tip is not
required. This allows an easier knock-over resulting in a much more uniform loop
formation.

Figurer 6 (a)

Working
Working of spring latch needle is same as latch needle with the addition of following
properties.

Figure 6(b)

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  Uniform loop structure and high fabric quality.
 Knitting with low take down tension, thus less breakage of yarn.
 Maximum patters are obtains.
 Les needle breakage.
 Time saving, more production in less time.

Some important concepts related to

needles
Gauge
Gauge may be defined as
“Number of needles per inch”
Pitch:
Pitch may be defined as
“Distance between two needles”
Needles Calculation:
For Flat knitting machine:
In flat knitting machine if length and guage of the machine is given then we calculate
numbers of needles.

For Example:
If gauge is 20 and length is 40inch then
Number of needles = G * L
Number of needles = 20 * 40
Number of needles = 800

For Circular knitting machine:

In Flat knitting machine If gauge and diameter of machine is given then we can calculate
the number of needles as

For Example:
If gauge is 20 and dia of machine is 30
Number of needles = Pi * D* G
Number of needles = 3.14 * 30 *20
Number of needles = 1884

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Web sites which sell knitting needles
http://www.groz-beckert.com/website/default.html
http://catalogs.indiamart.com/manufacturers/knitting-sewing-needles.html
http://www.commerce.com.tw/Global_Knitting_Needle.htm
http://www.b2bchinasources.com/China-Manufacturers-13827/Knitting-Needles.html
www.ardithkeef.com
www.thewoolshack.com
www.tradekey.com
www.alibaba.com/

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 Actual samples of needles
Needle machine ‘Knitting auto strippers’ Needle machine ‘Jacquard’ knit needles

Needle machine “Unity”

Large medium small

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(B) Sinkers
The second most important element in knitting is sinker. Initially sinkers not used
because knitting is done with the hands, but now a days as the production increases there
should need a component which give help needles to perform a stitch, thus sinkers are
invented .
Sinkers are playing significant role in knitting to help to perform second stitch, push the
old loop and help the needle to make a new loop.
In single knit machine one needle is used which is
vertically set in the machine and one sinker is used which is horizontally set in the
machine to push the old when new loop is formed.
In double knit machine no sinker is used only two needles
are used horizontally as well as vertically.
Sinker parts:
Butt

Swinging portion

Pushing portion
Figure 7

Swinging portion – allow sinkers to move.

Butt –butt follow the path of movement
Pushing portion- simply push the old loop when new loop is formed.
Working of sinkers:
As we know that in double knit there is no need of sinker but in single knit there is need
of sinker which can push the old loop. Sinkers are set in horizontal form such that every
needle has one sinker, butt of these sinkers are set in belt while swinging portion allow it
to move. When new loop is formed pushing portion of the sinker push the old loop to
down word thus a stitch is formed.

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 Types of sinkers
Different types of sinkers are available for different machines (single knit).

1.Sinkers for Large circular knitting machine:

This type of sinker is used for large knitting machines, give sufficient space for needle
movement. This type of sinker is most popular and useful now days. Some of them are
given below

Figure 8

2. Sinkers for small circular knitting machine:

These types of sinkers are used for small knitting machine. These types of sinkers for
high quality products as shown given below in figure 9 (a)

Figure 9(a) Figure 9(b)

Figure 9(b) show a sinker which used for double cylinder machine to achieve good speed
for the machine.
3. Flat bed sinkers:
These type sinkers are used for flat knitting machine as shown in the figure.

Figure 10

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4. Warp sinkers
These type of sinkers are used on warp knitting machine as shown in the figure

Figure 11

Uses
All these above describes sinkers are used for flat and circular knitting machine to make
knitted fabric. Butt warp sinkers may be used for curtains, technical knitted fabric.

Web sites which sell knitting sinkers:

http://www.alibaba.com/productsearch/sinker.html
http://www.apparelsearch.com/Machinery/Spare_Parts_Textile/circular_knitting_machine_spare_
parts.htm
http://eckorea.ecplaza.net/offers/knitting_needles.html
http://www.teonline.com/textile-machinery/knitting-machines.html
http://www.maxyellowpages.com/indian_manufacturers_exporters/embroidery_rings_knitting_nee
dles_and_related_products/
http://www.kern-liebers.com
http://www.ec21.com/manufacturers/nagata.html

Modernization in knitting needles and

sinkers.
Modern techniques are used to make needles and sinkers.
 Stronger by using better metal.
 Heat sensitive,
 Electronically control.
 Spring latch needle is the new thing which reduced the needle breakage and
improves production.

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 Actual sample of sinkers
Sinkers types use on ‘Unity’ machine. Unity an ‘Italian’ company of manufacture
machines and spare parts of knit wear.

Sandwich terry Rough terry Long loop

Some other sinkers which are used on ‘Auto strippers’ and ‘Jacquard’ machine.

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Conclusion:
Finally we conclude that needle and sinkers play significant role in production of knitting
industry. This industry is more flourished when electronic machines are discovered and
production of machine increase rapidly.

References:
http://www.woolery.com/Pages/knitting.html#knitting Figure 1

http://www.indiamart.com/alpexexports/#knitting-needles Figure 2

Book “knitting Technology” second edition by David J Spencer Figurer 3

http://www.knittingtogether.co.uk/doc2.asp?docId=14123&catId=771 Figure 4

www.mmangat.com Figure 5

http://www.groz-beckert.com/website/gbkg/en/kn_12.html Figure 6(a) , 6(b)

http://www.kern-liebers.com Figure 7,8,9,10,11

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