Improvement of elastic property of circular weft knit three-thread fleece fabric by changing stitch length

The market demand for three-thread fleece fabric is increasing steadily due to its soft and bulky texture. Garments made from knitted fleece fabric, such as sweaters and jackets, are generally used for outdoor wear, especially in the winter season because of their warmth, moisture, and absorption properties. However, the elastic properties of three-thread fleece fabric is reduced significantly after the raising operation. This study aimed to increase the elastic recovery of three-thread fabric by changing the stitch length during the manufacturing process in industrial-scale production. The results showed that by varying the stitch length, the elastic recovery was improved by around 9%. Hence, the developed method can be used in textile knitting industries to improve the elastic recovery of fleece fabric.