Method for knitting knitted fabric

Abstract

There is provided a method for knitting a knitted fabric, different from a conventional method, of forming a suppressing section for suppressing a stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in the knitting process of the knitted fabric. One side in a longitudinal direction of needle beds (FB, BB) is assumed as a moving direction (DR). A suppressing section (4) is formed by repeating performing of a bind-off process, in which a first stitch (11) held on one needle bed (FB) is overlapped with a second stitch (12) that is proximate in the moving direction (DR) and a retaining stitch (15) is knitted following in a wale direction of a double stitch (13) of the first stitch (11) and the second stitch (12), and forming of a new base stitch (14) branched from at least one of the first stitch (11) and the second stitch (12).

Claims

1. A method for knitting a knitted fabric comprising: forming a suppressing section for suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in a middle of a wale direction of the knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine including at least a pair of a front and a back needle beds and in which stitches are transferrable between the front and back needle beds; wherein a direction to one side of a longitudinal direction of the needle beds defines a first direction, and process .sub.1 of moving a first stitch that serves as a basis in the first direction and overlapping the first stitch and a second stitch that is forward from the first stitch relative to the first direction on the one needle bed to form a double stitch, and process .sub.2 of continuously carrying out forming of a new base stitch on a knitting needle of the one needle bed, on which the first stitch was held before being moved, and knitting of a retaining stitch following in the wale direction of the double stitch formed in the process .sub.1, are repeated, so that the suppressing section is formed by a bind-off process in which the double stitch is formed and the retaining stitch is knitted, and a plurality of the new base stitches are formed from the suppressing section (4); provided that n is a natural number greater than or equal to one, the n+1.sup.th process .sub.1 is carried out assuming the retaining stitch in the n.sup.th process .sub.2 is the first stitch in the n+1.sup.th process .sub.1.

2. A method for knitting a knitted fabric comprising: forming a suppressing section for suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in a middle of a wale direction of the knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine including at least a pair of a front and a back needle beds and in which stitches are transferrable between the front and back needle beds; wherein a direction to one side of a longitudinal direction of the needle beds defines a first direction, process .sub.1 of carrying out split knitting continuously on a first stitch that serves as a basis and on a plurality of moving side stitches lined in the first direction with respect to the first stitch to transfer the first stitch and the moving side stitches from the one needle bed to the other needle bed, and knitting a plurality of new base stitches on the knitting needles of the one needle bed, on which the first stitch and the moving side stitches were held, is carried out, and process .sub.2 of defining the moving side stitch that is forward from the first stitch relative to the first direction, among the moving side stitches transferred to the other needle bed by the split knitting of the process .sub.1, as a second stitch, and moving the first stitch in the first direction and overlapping the first stitch and the second stitch on the other needle bed to form a double stitch, and process .sub.3 of knitting a retaining stitch following in the wale direction of the double stitch formed in the process .sub.2, are repeated, so that the suppressing section is formed by a bind-off process in which the double stitch is formed and the retaining stitch is knitted, and a plurality of the new base stitches are formed from the suppressing section; provided that n is a natural number greater than or equal to one, the n+1.sup.th process .sub.2 is carried out assuming the retaining stitch in the n.sup.th process .sub.3 is the first stitch in the n+1.sup.th process .sub.2.

3. A method for knitting a knitted fabric comprising: forming a suppressing section for suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in a middle of a wale direction of the knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine including at least a pair of a front and a back needle beds and in which stitches are transferrable between the front and back needle beds; wherein a direction to one side of a longitudinal direction of the needle beds defines a first direction, and process .sub.1 of carrying out split knitting on a first stitch that serves as a basis, to transfer the first stitch from the one needle bed to the other needle bed, and knitting a new base stitch on the knitting needle of the one needle bed on which the first stitch was held; process .sub.2 of defining a stitch that was forward from the first stitch relative to the first direction on the one needle bed before carrying out the split knitting as a second stitch, and moving the first stitch in the first direction and overlapping the first stitch and the second stitc on the one needle bed to form a double stitch; and process .sub.3 of knitting a retaining stitch following in the wale direction of the double stitch formed in the process .sub.2, are repeated, so that the suppressing section is formed by a bind-off process in which the double stitch is formed and the retaining stitch is knitted, and a plurality of the new base stitches are formed from the suppressing section; provided that n is a natural number greater than or equal to one, the n+1.sup.th process .sub.1is carried out assuming the retaining stitch in the n.sup.th process .sub.3 is the first stitch in the n+1.sup.th process .sub.1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a knitting process diagram of a method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention shown in a first embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 is a knitting process diagram of a method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention shown in a second embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a knitting process diagram of a method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention shown in a third embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration view of a shoe upper including a portion knitted by applying a method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention shown in a fourth embodiment.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(5) Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described based on the drawings. The knitting shown in the embodiments is all knitting examples using a two-bed flat knitting machine including at least a pair of a front and a back needle bed and in which stitches can be transferred between the front and back needle beds. The flat knitting machine used in the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention is not, of course, limited to the two-bed flat knitting machine, and may be, for example, a four-bed flat knitting machine.

(6) <First Embodiment>

(7) In a first embodiment, a specific example of a method for knitting a knitted fabric of the present invention of knitting a suppressing section for suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric in the middle of a wale direction of the knitted fabric will be described based on a knitting process diagram of FIG. 1. The application object is not particularly limited, and for example, may be a sweater, knit pants, or shoe upper as shown in a fourth embodiment, to be described later.

(8) <<Knitting Process>>

(9) Alphabet+number in a left column in a knitting process diagram of FIG. 1 indicates the number of a knitting process, and a right column indicates a held state of the stitches in each knitting process. A black dot in the right column indicates a knitting needle arranged in a front needle bed (hereinafter referred to as FB) and a back needle bed (hereinafter referred to as BB), an arrow indicates a direction of transfer of a stitch, indicates an old stitch, indicates a newly knitted stitch, indicates a double stitch, and V-mark indicates a pickup stitch. The upper case alphabets A to M in the figure indicate the positions of the knitting needles, and an outlined arrow indicates the direction of a moving direction DR (one side in longitudinal direction of FB, BB). The manner of seeing FIGS. 2 and 3, to be described later, is similar to FIG. 1.

(10) S0 shows a state in which stitches of a knitted fabric in the process of knitting are held on knitting needles B, D, F, H, J, and L of the FB. From this state, a suppressing section 4 (see S4) of suppressing stretch in a knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is knitted. First, a first stitch 11 that serves as a basis for starting the knitting of the suppressing section 4 is determined. In the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle B of the FB is assumed as the first stitch 11. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle D of the FB is assumed as a second stitch 12 to be overlapped with the first stitch 11 in the bind-off process, to be described later. The second stitch 12 is a stitch that is proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR on the FB.

(11) In S1, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle B of the FB is moved in the moving direction DR, and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle D of the FB (corresponding to first process .sub.1). The transfer of the stitch and the racking of the BB are used for the movement of the first stitch 11. According to S1, a double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle D of the FB.

(12) In S2, knitting of a pickup stitch (new base stitch 14) on the knitting needle B of the FB and knitting of a retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed on the knitting needle D of the FB are continuously carried out (corresponding to first process .sub.2). By continuously carrying out the forming of the new base stitch 14 and the knitting of the retaining stitch 15, a state in which the new base stitch is directly connected to the retaining stitch 15, that is, a state in which the new base stitch 14 is branched from the retaining stitch 15 is obtained. A stitch may be knitted continuously in the wale direction of the pickup stitch, and such stitch may be assumed as the new base stitch 14. In this case, a small mesh hole can be formed in the suppressing section 4.

(13) In the next S3 and S4, knitting similar to S1 and S2 is repeated. In repeating such knitting, the retaining stitch 15 knitted with the knitting needle D of the FB in S2 is assumed as the first stitch 11. The stitch of the knitting needle F of the FB that is proximate to the first stitch 11 (retaining stitch 15) in the moving direction DR is assumed as the second stitch 12. Here, since the new base stitch 14 is branched from the retaining stitch 15 in S2 and the retaining stitch 15 is assumed as the new first stitch 11, the new base stitch 14 can be said as being branched from the first stitch 11.

(14) In S3, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle D of the FB is moved in the moving direction DR, and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle F of the FB (corresponding to second process .sub.1). According to S3, the double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle F of the FB.

(15) In S4, the forming of the pickup stitch (new base stitch 14) on the knitting needle D of the FB and the knitting of the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed on the knitting needle F of the FB are continuously carried out (corresponding to second process .sub.2).

(16) As described above, the suppressing section 4 can be formed by carrying out the knitting of the new base stitch 14 once each time the bind-off process is carried out once (see S4). Furthermore, if the suppressing section 4 is to be extended in the moving direction DR, knitting similar to S3 and S4 may be carried out assuming the retaining stitch 15 of the knitting needle F of the FB as the first stitch 11 and the stitch of the knitting needle H of the FB as the second stitch 12, as shown in S4.

(17) <<Effect>>

(18) The suppressing section 4 knitted according to the knitting process of FIG. 1 is less likely to stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric. This is because the double stitch 13 is formed by the bind-off process when forming the suppressing section 4, and the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 configuring the double stitch 13 restrict the respective movement.

(19) The suppressing section 4 is formed when the new base stitch 14 branched from the first stitch 11 which is removed from the needle bed by the bind-off process is held on the needle bed in place of the first stitch 11. Since the knitting of the knitted fabric can be continued following the new base stitch 14, the suppressing section 4 can be formed in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric although the bind-off process is being used.

(20) The suppressing section 4 can be formed successively in the wale direction. In this case, the knitting process shown in FIG. 1 is to be performed on the new base section 14. The effect of preventing the stretch of the suppressing section 4 can be enhanced by successively forming the suppressing section 4.

(21) <Second Embodiment>

(22) In a second embodiment, a method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention that uses split knitting when branching the new base stitch 14 from the portion to be bind-off processed in the suppressing section 4 will be described based on the knitting process diagram of FIG. 2.

(23) T0 shows a state in which the stitches of the knitted fabric in the process of knitting are held on the knitting needles B, D, F, H, J, and L of the FB. From this state, the suppressing section 4 (see T5) of suppressing the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is knitted. First, the first stitch 11 that serves as a basis for starting the knitting of the suppressing section 4 is determined. In the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle B of the FB is assumed as the first stitch 11. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the stitches held on the knitting needles D, F, H, J, L of the FB lined in the moving direction DR with respect to the first stitch 11 is assumed as a moving side stitch 20. The number of stitches selected as the moving side stitch 20 determines the width of the suppressing section 4.

(24) In T1, the split knitting is carried out continuously on the first stitch 11 of the knitting needle B of the FB and the moving side stitches 20 of the knitting needles D, F, H, J, and L of the FB (corresponding to process .sub.1). The first stitch 11 and the moving side stitches 20 are respectively transferred to the knitting needle B of the BB and the knitting needles D, F, H, J, and L of the BB by the split knitting. The new base stitch 14 pulled out from the first stitch 11 is knitted on the knitting needle B of the FB and the new base stitch 14 pulled out from each moving side stitch 20 of the knitting needles D, F, H, J, L of the BB is knitted on the knitting needles D, F, H, J, L of the FB by the split knitting. The new base stitch 14 branched from the first stitch 11 is knitted by the split knitting of T1.

(25) In T2, the first stitch 11 of the knitting needle B of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR and overlapped with the moving side stitch 20 (see T1) of the knitting needle D of the BB to form the double stitch 13 (corresponding to first process .sub.2). The moving side stitch 20 of the knitting needle D in T1 is the second stitch 12 that is proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR. The moving side stitch 20 (second stitch 12) of the knitting needle D of the BB is the stitch transferred from the FB to the BB by the split knitting of T1, and the new base stitch 14 of the knitting needle D of the FB is branched from the moving side stitch 20 (second stitch 12) as shown in T1.

(26) In T3, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in T2 is knitted (corresponding to first process .sub.3). The first bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of the retaining stitch 15.

(27) In the next T4 and T5, knitting similar to T2 and T3 described above is repeated. In repeating such knitting, the retaining stitch 15 knitted with the knitting needle D of the BB in T3 is assumed as the new first stitch 11. The moving side stitch 20 of the knitting needle F of the BB that is proximate to the first stitch 11 (retaining stitch 15) in the moving direction DR is assumed as the second stitch 12.

(28) In T4, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle D of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR, and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle F of the BB (corresponding to second process .sub.2). According to T4, the double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle F of the BB.

(29) In T5, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in T4 is knitted (corresponding to second process .sub.3). The second bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of such retaining stitch 15. Thereafter, the knitting similar to T4 and T5 is repeated to complete the suppressing section 4. After the suppressing section 4 is completed, the knitting of the knitted fabric is to be continued following the new base section 14 held on the needle bed.

(30) According to the knitting processes described above as well, the suppressing section 4 in which the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is suppressed can be formed in the middle of the wale direction of the knitted fabric. The interval of the stitches of the suppressing section 4 can be made shorter by using the split knitting when branching the new base stitch 14 from the portion to be bind-off processed in the suppressing section 4.

(31) According to the knitting processes of the present embodiment, the bind-off process is carried out on the back side of the new base stitch 14, and thus the suppressing section 4 does not stand out.

(32) <Third Embodiment>

(33) In the second embodiment, the split knitting of a plurality of times is carried out all at once at the start of knitting of the suppressing section 4 so that all the new base stitches 14 in the suppressing section 4 are knitted at one time. On the contrary, in the third embodiment, a method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention of carrying out the bind-off process each time the split knitting of knitting the new base stitch 14 is carried out once will be described based on the knitting process diagram of FIG. 3.

(34) U0 shows a state in which the stitches of the knitted fabric in the process of knitting are held on the knitting needles B, D, F, H, J, and L of the FB. From this state, the suppressing section 4 (see U6) of suppressing the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is knitted. First, the first stitch 11 that serves as a basis for starting the knitting of the suppressing section 4 is determined. In the present embodiment, the stitch held on the knitting needle B of the FB is assumed as the first stitch 11.

(35) In U1, the split knitting is carried out with respect to the first stitch 11 on the knitting needle B of the FB (corresponding to first process .sub.1). The first stitch 11 is transferred to the knitting needle B of the BB by the split knitting. The new base stitch 14 pulled out from the first stitch 11 is knitted with the knitting needle B of the FB by the split knitting.

(36) In U2, the first stitch 11 of the knitting needle B of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR and overlapped with the second stitch 12 (see U1) on the knitting needle D of the FB to form the double stitch 13 (corresponding to first process .sub.2). The second stitch 12 is a stitch that was proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR in U0, that is, a stitch that was proximate to the first stitch 11 in the moving direction DR before carrying out the split knitting on the first stitch 11.

(37) In U3, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in U2 is knitted (corresponding to first process .sub.3). The first bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of the retaining stitch 15.

(38) In following U4 to U6, knitting similar to U1 to U3 described above is repeated. In repeating the knitting, in U4, the retaining stitch 15 knitted with the knitting needle D of the FB in U3 is assumed as the new first stitch 11, and the split knitting is carried out (corresponding to second process .sub.1). Furthermore, the stitch of the knitting needle F of the FB that is proximate to the first stitch 11 (retaining stitch 15) in the moving direction DR is assumed as the second stitch 12.

(39) In U5, the first stitch 11 held on the knitting needle D of the BB is moved in the moving direction DR and overlapped with the second stitch 12 held on the knitting needle F of the FB (corresponding to second process .sub.2). The double stitch 13 including the first stitch 11 and the second stitch 12 is formed on the knitting needle F of the FB by the U5.

(40) In U6, the retaining stitch 15 following in the wale direction of the double stitch 13 formed in U5 is knitted (corresponding to second process .sub.3). The second bind-off process is terminated by the knitting of the retaining stitch 15. Subsequently, the knitting similar to U4 to U6 is repeated, and the suppressing section 4 is completed. After the suppressing section 4 is completed, the knitting of the knitted fabric is to be continued following the new base section 14 held on the needle bed.

(41) According to the knitting processes described above, the suppressing section 4 in which the stretch in the knitting width direction of the knitted fabric is suppressed can be formed in the middle in the wale direction of the knitted fabric. The intervals of the stitches of the suppressing section 4 can be made shorter by using the split knitting when branching the new base stitch 14 from the portion to be bind-off processed in the suppressing section 4.

(42) <Fourth Embodiment>

(43) In a fourth embodiment, an example in which the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention is applied to the knitting of the shoe upper will be described based on FIG. 4.

(44) <<Overall Configuration>>

(45) A shoe upper 1 (knitted fabric) of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 4 includes an instep cover section 3 that covers the portion on the instep side of the foot of the wearer, and a sole cover section 2 that covers the portion of the sole of the wearer. The instep cover section 3 is formed with a foot insertion opening 5i and a slit 5s extending from the foot insertion opening 5i toward the toe, so that the foot can be easily inserted from the foot insertion opening 5i. In the shoe upper 1, a plurality of suppressing sections 4 extending toward the side from the vicinity of the hem portion of the slit 5s in the instep cover section 3 is formed. The forming position and the forming range of the suppressing section 4 are not, of course, limited thereto. For example, the suppressing section 4 may be formed on the toe side. Furthermore, the suppressing section 4 of FIG. 4 may be extended to the sole cover section 2 beyond the boundary position of the instep cover section 3 and the sole cover section 2.

(46) <<Procedure for Producing Shoe Upper>>

(47) The shoe upper 1 can be produced by knitting the right side portion 1R of the instep cover section 3 and the sole cover section 2 with one needle bed of the flat knitting machine, and knitting the left side portion 1L of the instep cover section 3 and the sole cover section 2 with the other needle bed. For example, the knitting is started from the toe side of the shoe upper 1, and the shoe upper 1 is knitted to the position of cut end of the slit 5s by tubular knitting and the like.

(48) Next, the right side portion 1R and the left side portion 1L are knitted by C-shaped flechage knitting and the suppressing section 4 is formed using the method for knitting the knitted fabric of the present invention described using FIGS. 1 to 3 at a predetermined position. As already described above, the knitted fabric can be further knitted following the suppressing section 4, so that the knitting of the shoe upper 1 is not interrupted by the suppressing section 4 and the shoe upper 1 can be integrally knitted in a seamless manner.

(49) After the suppressing section 4 arranged closest to heel side in FIG. 4 is formed, the knitting of the shoe upper 1 is continued toward the heel of the shoe upper 1 to complete the shoe upper 1. The shoe upper 1 may be set up from the heel side and the knitting may be terminated on the toe side.

(50) <<Effect of Shoe Upper>>

(51) In the shoe upper 1 knitted according to the knitting procedure described above, the stretch toward the side of the shoe upper 1 is suppressed by the suppressing section 4. The shoe upper 1 is less likely to lose shape and the fitting property of the shoe upper 1 with respect to the foot of the wearer enhances by suppressing the stretch of the relevant portion.

(52) <<Others>>

(53) The knitting yarn configuring the shoe upper 1 preferably includes a heat fusible yarn. The shoe upper 1 thus can be three-dimensionally shaped by fitting the shoe upper 1 to a last and performing heat process after terminating the knitting of the shoe upper 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

(54) 1 shoe upper 1R right side portion 1L left side portion 2 sole cover section 3 instep cover section 4 suppressing section 5i foot insertion opening 5s slit 11 first stitch 12 second stitch 13 double stitch 14 new base stitch 15 retaining stitch 20 moving side stitch DR moving direction