H. Stoll GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, has applied for a patent for the production of a plated Stoll knit and wear® seamless sweater knitted in gauge E 7.2 with all needles on the CMS 730 T knit and wear with additional beds. The process may be used to manufacture active sportswear; functional clothing; or sport, color-plated versions for outerwear.

According to Stoll, the process allows the sleeves and body of the garment to be knitted simultaneously, with shaping of the three parts achieved by widening or narrowing stitch groups by goring at the edges or within the fabric sections. Where the sleeves join the body, the separate pieces are opened, and all three pieces are knitted together as one tubular fabric.

The process uses the plating technique to form the fabric, while eliminating errors that can occur during traditional knit-and-wear production. It also enables imitation of the side seams using the purl stitch technique, thus improving the fit and comfort of the garment on the body, the company reports. The process also allows a number of pattern options including single-jersey jacquards; piqués; cables; long-sized stitches; lace-effect, floating-thread, tuck or cast-off patterns; and knops; among others.

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May/June 2007