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 is then manufactured according to the machine instructions.

Methods for fabrication of articles, in particular knitted articles, using computer-controlled machines. A three-dimensional (3D) model defined in a 3D space may be transformed into a two-dimensional (2D) knitting map that specifies respective locations of stitches for a knitted article. Groups of the stitches forms courses and wales of the knitted article. The 2D knitting map contains apexes which terminate an end of respective pairs of the courses. A spatial distance between respective ones of the apexes within a portion of the 2D knitting map may be decreased or increased. An amount of the spatial distance decreased or increased between respective ones of the apexes of the portion of the 2D knitting map may be based on a user-provided input. The 2D knitting map is subsequently converted to knitting instructions for a computer-controlled knitting machine.

A knitting system includes a seamless circular knitting machine. It has a circular set of needles having a particular number of needles (M), in the range of 500 to 2,500 needles, arranged in a circular pattern; and a knit controller to selectively operate each one of the needles on a needle-by-needle basis. The system includes a digital computational design tool, to receive a bitmap image, having a pixel width resolution that is identical to the particular number of needles; and based on analysis of the bitmap image, to generate and to send knitting instructions to the knit controller of the seamless circular knitting machine, based on direct correlation between (I) a particular Nth pixel in a particular Rth row of the bitmap image, and (II) needle activity of a corresponding particular Nth needle when said Nth needle knits the Rth row of a knitted product.

A method of making a bespoke knitted compression garment. The method comprises providing a representation of a body part on which the compression garment is to be worn (S102), the representation comprising a plurality of datapoints. A desired pressure configuration to be applied by the compression garment on the body part is determined (S104). Representation courses around the representation are defined (S106). Sets of datapoints for each representation course are selected (S107). A curve for each set of datapoints and a circumference value of each curve is calculated (S108, S109). A pressure to be applied by each course is determined (S111) and a material for knitting, and a number of needles for each representation course, is determined based on the course pressure of the associated material course, a strain characteristic of the material, and the circumference value of the associated curve (S112). A garment is knitted according to the number of needles and the material (S113, S114).

A method for updating knitting instructions begins by defining virtual reference indicators on a surface of a three-dimensional (3D) model of an article to be knitted by a knitting machine, the virtual reference indicators partitioning the surface of the 3D model into one or more regions. Then, knitting instructions that specify the virtual reference indicators defined on the surface of the 3D model are to be knitted as physical reference indicators that form part of the knitted article are generated. These knitting instructions are subsequently updated by adjusting a number of courses and/or wales within the one or more regions of the 3D model based on a compensation factor that accounts for differences between a physical measurement that specifies a distance along a path defined by one or more of the physical reference indicators that form part of the knitted article, and an intended dimension of the distance.

Computer based systems and methods for designing and manufacturing consumer products, including knit footwear uppers, and the like. The system simulates deformations of knit structures and allows the user to control and visualize compensations in the structure(s) of the knitted component to better match between an intended knit design and the actual physical knitted component outcome. The system may modify a knit design of a knitted component to compensate for a predicted/estimated deformation behavior of the knitted component, for example, by duplicating one or more portions of a knit structure associated with the knit design.

Computer based systems and methods for designing and manufacturing consumer products, including knit footwear uppers, and the like. The system simulates deformations of knit structures and allows the user to control and visualize compensations in the structure(s) of the knitted component to better match between an intended knit design and the actual physical knitted component outcome. They system may modify a knit design of a knitted component to compensate for a predicted/estimated deformation behavior of the knitted component.