12 Types of Knit Fabric and What to Sew With Them
Knit fabrics are a popular choice among sewists for their stretch, comfort, and versatility. When choosing a knit fabric for your sewing projects, you need to consider the amount of stretch and the desired fit of the finished item, as well as the overall weight and drape of the material. By exploring the various types of knit fabrics and their applications, you can create comfortable, stylish pieces that move with the body, making them perfect for everyday wear.
Fabrics with more stretch are excellent for activewear and form-fitting styles, while heavier knits can be used for sweaters and cold-weather garments. Sewing with knits also requires specific tools, such as using a ballpoint needle and a stretch stitch to accommodate the fabric’s elasticity.
1. Bamboo
Bamboo is actually a type of rayon fiber used to make material, so it’s not always a type of knit fabric. However, it is much more often used to make soft knit fabrics, such as jersey and sweater knits. Bamboo is known for being extremely soft with a flowy drape. It also has a reputation of being more sustainable than many other types of synthetic fibers.
- Bamboo fabric can be used for a wide range of clothing but is most common in activewear. Bamboo is also frequently used for bedding, baby products, and accessories (such as scarves)
2. Bouclé
Like bamboo, not all bouclé fabric is knit, but it is frequently used for knit fabric. Bouclé is a distinctive type of fabric that is known for its unique curled and looped yarns, which give it a nubby texture you can feel and see. When you’re considering a fabric like bouclé, picture something like cozy sweaters – the sort of clothing that feels like a warm embrace on a chilly day.
- Bouclé can be used for Sweaters, coats and outerwear, upholstery, winter suits, skirts, and dresses
3. Fleece
Fleece is what you think of when you imagine a nice warm blanket or a cozy, fuzzy jacket. It’s a great insulating fabric, making it so great for winter garments and accessories. There are many types of fleece fabric from plush polar fleece that’s great for winter clothing, to thinner microfleece, that’s better for comfy pajamas.
- Fleece can be used for Used for blankets, coats, jackets, linings, pajamas, and winter accessories
4. French Terry
French Terry is an extremely comfortable and cozy knit fabric that is excellent for cold-weather loungewear. It is created with a looped yarn texture on the reverse face of the material, while the front face is smooth and soft. The fabric is generally quite breathable, yet still manages to have good insulating properties
- French Terry can be used for sweaters, hoodies, warm leggings, sweatpants, cardigans, long-sleeved T-shirts
5. Interlock
Interlock material is a double-knit jersey fabric, making it thicker and more opaque than standard jersey. While it tends to have considerable stretch across the grain, there is usually very little elasticity, if any, along the length of the fabric.
- Interlock can be used for long-sleeved T-shirts, polos, structured knit dresses, cardigans, joggers, pants, and any type of knit garment that needs some structure
6. Jersey
Jersey is a category of knit fabrics that is known for being fairly lightweight while also having a flowy drape. It also tends to be quite stretchy, especially across the width. Jersey is one of the most common types of fabric that is used in casual garments, and it’s probably the most comfortable (in my own humble opinion).
- Jersey can be used for almost any type of sewing project from flowing skirts to T-shirts.
7. Stretch Lamé
Stretch lamé is made to mimic metallic lamé fabric with a highly elastic, knit structure. Stretch lamé has an extremely flowy, fluid-like drape.
- Stretch lamé is commonly used in garments that require stretch and flexibility, such as dancewear, activewear, and costumes.
8. Ponte
Ponte is a type of double-knit fabric that is known for being a comfortable and soft fabric with a little bit of stretch. It’s mostly matte with a beautiful, subtle sheen to it, and doesn’t cling to the body too much. It can soften lumps and curves, giving an overall pleasant shape to any body type.
- Ponte can be used for Jackets and cardigans, tops with some structure, long-sleeved T-shirts, medium-weight dresses and skirts, pants of all sorts
9. Ribbed Knit and Ribbing
Ribbed knit material is probably the most easy-to-recognize types of knit fabric. It is characterized by distinct lines (or ribs) running lengthwise along the fabric. Ribbed knit fabric is made to be extremely elastic across the ribs with a high ability to bounce back and recover quickly from being stretched. Ribbing is a subset of ribbed knit fabrics that is almost exclusively used for cuffs, collars, and waistbands.
- Ribbed knits can be used for cuffs and collars, sweaters and cardigans, summer tank tops and undershirts; novelty rib knit fabrics can be used for winter accessories (like scarves), shirts, and dresses too
10. Sweater Knits
Sweater knits are a general category of knit fabrics that are soft, often cozy, and designed to provide warmth and comfort. Many sweater knit fabrics are constructed to try to mimic the appearance and texture of a hand-knitted sweater, but sweater knits come in various patterns and textures, from chunky cable knits to jersey knits. Sweater knits also usually have some level of stretch, making them highly comfortable to wear.
- Sweater knits can be used for sweaters, jackets, cardigans, hats, dresses, some skirts, blankets
11. Tricot
Tricot is a highly stretchy knit fabric that is typically used for swimwear and athletic clothing. It is almost always made of entirely synthetic fibers (such as spandex and polyester), which helps the fabric to retain its elasticity even after heavy use. Tricot is a warp knit fabric, making it unique from most other types of knits. The warp knit gives the tricot fabric its soft and smooth texture, while also allowing the fabric to remain quite dense and durable.
- Tricot can be used for bathing suits, leggings, undergarments, lingerie, sportswear, jackets, linings
12. Velour
Velour is the knit version of velvet with stretching capabilities that make it more comfortable to wear. It also tends to be denser and a little less shiny than velvet fabric while also being more durable and useful for everyday clothing.
- Velour can be used for tracksuits, sweatpants, hoodies, loungewear, some casual dresses or skirts, dancewear, and costumes
