Pattern data for at least two sizes are converted to knit data, regarding knitted products to be graded. Regarding the knit data for at least two sizes, characteristic points specifying shapes of the knitted products and intermediate shapes specifying shapes of the knitted products between the characteristic points are generated. By interpolating or extrapolating the characteristic points and the intermediate shapes, according to a desired size of the knitted products, characteristic points and intermediate shapes for the desired size are generated. Closed loops are generated by connecting the characteristic points and the intermediate shapes, and knit data for the desired size is generated by allocating knitted stitches within patterns specified by the closed loops. Without pattern data for intermediate sizes, knit data for the intermediate sizes are generated from the two size knit data.

Pattern data for at least two sizes are converted to knit data, regarding knitted products to be graded. Regarding the knit data for at least two sizes, characteristic points specifying shapes of the knitted products and intermediate shapes specifying shapes of the knitted products between the characteristic points are generated. By interpolating or extrapolating the characteristic points and the intermediate shapes, according to a desired size of the knitted products, characteristic points and intermediate shapes for the desired size are generated. Closed loops are generated by connecting the characteristic points and the intermediate shapes, and knit data for the desired size is generated by allocating knitted stitches within patterns specified by the closed loops. Without pattern data for intermediate sizes, knit data for the intermediate sizes are generated from the two size knit data.

Apparel patterns may be generated as a function of custom apparel information provided by a user, such as one or more measurements, colors, etc., such that the user can have apparel custom-knitted to their particular size and shape without having to acquiesce the high expense and long wait times typically associated with custom-fit clothing. After a custom apparel pattern is generated, a custom-knitted article can be manufactured based on the pattern by transmitting appropriate information to a knitting machine. Data produced while generating custom apparel patterns can be stored and used to optimize and improve the manufacturing of customized knitwear for subsequent users. Further, such data can be shared with third parties such that manufacturers or others can utilize one or more beneficial aspects of the present disclosure without having to implement all of the functionality that would otherwise be required to obtain such benefits.

Apparel patterns may be generated as a function of custom apparel information provided by a user, such as one or more measurements, colors, etc., such that the user can have apparel custom-knitted to their particular size and shape without having to acquiesce the high expense and long wait times typically associated with custom-fit clothing. After a custom apparel pattern is generated, a custom-knitted article can be manufactured based on the pattern by transmitting appropriate information to a knitting machine. Data produced while generating custom apparel patterns can be stored and used to optimize and improve the manufacturing of customized knitwear for subsequent users. Further, such data can be shared with third parties such that manufacturers or others can utilize one or more beneficial aspects of the present disclosure without having to implement all of the functionality that would otherwise be required to obtain such benefits.

A method for modeling textile structures using bicontinuous surfaces includes selecting a virtual scaffold of bicontinuous surfaces defining textile fabrication pathways to model spatial relationships between the pathways and yarns in a desired yarn pattern of a textile fabric design. The method further includes constructing a yarn pathway across the bicontinuous surfaces that form the virtual scaffold. The method further includes removing or releasing tension from the virtual scaffold, thereby allowing yarns to relax and determining a physical property of the textile fabric design.

A method for modeling textile structures using bicontinuous surfaces includes selecting a virtual scaffold of bicontinuous surfaces defining textile fabrication pathways to model spatial relationships between the pathways and yarns in a desired yarn pattern of a textile fabric design. The method further includes constructing a yarn pathway across the bicontinuous surfaces that form the virtual scaffold. The method further includes removing or releasing tension from the virtual scaffold, thereby allowing yarns to relax and determining a physical property of the textile fabric design.

Custom-fit versions of knitted articles are produced according to digital representations of objects for which the articles are to be manufactured. The digital representations, optionally augmented by surface fitting algorithms, allow for accurate scaling of pattern-specified stitch counts for pattern elements representing the article taking into account wales and courses densities for the material(s) from which the article is to be made. Displayed dimensionally-accurate representations of the custom-fit articles allow for user-specified style and fit preferences to be made and a final digital pattern of the article to be produced. Machine instructions representing pattern pieces to be knitted are automatically produced from the final digital pattern of the article for a target computerized knitting machine and the custom-fit article then manufactured according to the machine instructions.

A method for knitting a three-dimensional fabric with variable thickness through a flat knitting machine includes the following steps: moving two cam groups and driving a plurality of knitting needles to knit a first piece of knitting by a starting cam system; moving the two cam groups and driving the plurality of knitting needles to knit a second piece of knitting by a middle cam system; and moving the two cam groups and driving the plurality of knitting needles to knit a supporting yarn by two tail cam systems respectively. The tail cam systems control each of a plurality of knock-over bit cams to move according to a gap size corresponding to a knitting length of the supporting yarn, so as to promptly change a thickness of the three-dimensional fabric along the length change of the supporting yarn.

The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. The interior surface may define a void. A tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper. The tongue may comprise a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a forward portion. At least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue may be unsecured to the knit element. The tongue and the knit element may comprise a common yarn at least at the forward portion of the tongue.

The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. The interior surface may define a void. A tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper. The tongue may comprise a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a forward portion. At least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue may be unsecured to the knit element. The tongue and the knit element may comprise a common yarn at least at the forward portion of the tongue.