🧵 How to manage knots on industrial knitting machines (practical factory method)
In the world of industrial knitting, knots in yarn are inevitable.
No yarn is completely free of joins.
The difference is not in eliminating them, but in managing them correctly, without compromising the garment and without unnecessarily stopping production.
In this article, I will explain a practical method used in knitting mills:
👉 managing the knot by passing it behind the needle, keeping it out of the work
⚙️ The role of the knot detector: the first check
All knitting machines have a knot detector, which:
- detects the knot
- automatically stops the machine
👉 This is the key moment:
the operator can intervene before the knot enters the working area
When seeking efficiency without sacrificing quality, this technique is often used:
✔️ Procedure
1️⃣ The knot detector stops the machine
2️⃣ The knot is identified
3️⃣ The knot is positioned behind the needle
4️⃣ The knot is ensured to:
- not be worked
- remain outside the fabric
5️⃣ The machine restarts
6️⃣ The fabric panel is completed
7️⃣ The knot is cut at the end of the process
🎯 Why this technique works
This solution has a great advantage:
✔️ It does not introduce thickening into the fabric
✔️ It does not create visual defects
✔️ It does not require immediate joining
✔️ Reduces machine downtime
👉 In practice: quality + speed
✂️ The final step: fabric panel cleaning
Once the fabric panel is finished:
➡️ the knots left out are identified
➡️ they are cut
➡️ the spot is finished
👉 This step is essential to ensure a clean and professional result.
🧵 Cashmere and fine yarns: even more attention
When working with:
- cashmere
- recycled cashmere
- noble yarns
this technique is even more useful, because it:
✔️ avoids visible marks
✔️ maintains the hand of the garment
✔️ preserves perceived quality
🧠 Knitting mill mindset
The truth is this:
There is no single absolute right way.
There is the smartest way depending on the situation.
👉 Always stopping and redoing the join
👉 or managing the knot outside the work
The difference is made by:
- experience
- sensitivity
- knowledge of the material
Managing knots is not just technique. It's knowing how to read the machine, the yarn, and the final product.
The method of the knot outside the work is one of those details that:
- are not seen
- but make a difference
👉 And this is precisely what distinguishes an experienced knitting mill from any other.
💬 Want to learn more?
If you work in knitting or truly want to understand how production works:
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