Knitting method for tubular knitted fabric, and tubular knitted fabric

Abstract

 Provided is a knitting method for a tubular knitted fabric capable of directly joining a starting end and a terminating end of a bind-off process. Stitches of a one side knitted fabric portion (back knitted fabric portion 20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (front knitted fabric portion 10) held in a tubular form on front and back needle beds are subjected to a bind-off process using a flat knitting machine. First, a starting end 0 and a connecting portion 9 comprising stitches (pickup stitches) are formed on an outer side in a knitting width direction of the back knitted fabric portion 20 (Fig. 1A). With the starting end 0 as a beginning point, the bind-off process of repeating the formation of a lower stage stitch row 2 and an upper stage stitch row 3, which are bind-off process stitch rows, and the overlapping of one of the stitches of the upper stage stitch row 3 with an end stitch next to the upper stage stitch row 3 of the stitches of the back knitted fabric portion 20 is carried out. After the process on the back knitted fabric portion 20 is finished, a similar bind-off process is also carried out on the front knitted fabric portion 10 (Fig. 1B). The upper stage stitch row knitted last is then joined with the connecting portion (9) (Fig. 1C).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a knitting method for a tubular knitted fabric for carrying out a bind-off process on a stitch at an end in a wale direction of a tubular knitted fabric held on a needle bed when knitting the tubular knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine, and a tubular knitted fabric obtained by applying such a knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] When knitting a tubular knitted fabric with a flat knitting machine, methods for processing so that stitches of a final course (stitches at end in a wale direction) of the tubular knitted fabric do not ravel include a bind-off process. In the conventional bind-off process, the stitches at the end in the wale direction of the tubular knitted fabric held on a needle bed are first overlapped. Then, a process of forming a new stitch following the overlapped stitches (double stitch), and overlapping the new stitch with another stitch at the end in the wale direction of the tubular knitted fabric is repeated over the entire periphery of the tubular knitted fabric.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

PATENT DOCUMENT

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-65258

[0004] However, a starting end and a terminating end of the bind-off process cannot be joined on the flat knitting machine in the conventional bind-off process, and thus the starting end and the terminating end need to be joined by a post-process such as sewing. This is because the stitches of the final course of the tubular knitted fabric are sequentially removed from the needle bed by the bind-off process, and the starting end is already removed from the needle bed at the time point the terminating end of the bind-off process is formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In view of the above situations, it is an object of the present invention to provide a knitting method for a tubular knitted fabric capable of joining a starting end and a terminating end of a bind-off process on a flat knitting machine, and a tubular knitted fabric knitted by applying such a knitting method.

[0006] A knitting method for a tubular knitted fabric according to the present invention is a knitting method for a tubular knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine, which has at least a pair of front and back needle beds and a yarn feeder for supplying a knitting yarn to knitting needles of the needle beds, a stitch held on the knitting needle being transferrable to another knitting needle, for carrying out a bind-off process on a stitch at an end in a wale direction of a one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion held in a tubular form on the front and back needle beds, the method including the following steps A to F.

[Step A] Continuously forming a plurality of stitches to become a starting end of the bind-off process and a plurality of stitches to become a connecting portion to be used in a post-step on an outer side in a knitting width direction of the one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion.

[Step B] Knitting at least one or more bind-off process stitch rows continuing in the wale direction of a base portion, with the starting end defined as the base portion.

[Step C] Moving an upper stage stitch row at an uppermost stage of the bind-off process stitch rows knitted in the step B towards the one side knitted fabric portion to overlap one of the stitches of the upper stage stitch row on an end stitch next to the upper stage stitch row of the stitches of the one side knitted fabric portion.

[Step D] Repeating the knitting similar to the step B and the step C with respect to the base portion, with the upper stage stitch row moved towards the one side knitted fabric portion defined as the new base portion, to carry out the bind-off process on the one side knitted fabric portion.

[Step E] Carrying out the bind-off process similar to the step D on the other side knitted fabric portion with left and right positions of the stitches constituting the upper stage stitch row formed last in the step D interchanged and the upper stage stitch row defined as the new base portion.

[Step F] Through the steps A to E, a band-shaped knitted fabric portion is formed along the one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion in a circular form to carry out the bind-off process on a stitch at an end in the wale direction of the one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion. In step F, a terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion (i.e., upper stage stitch row formed last in the step E) is joined with the connecting portion formed in the step A using a knitting yarn connecting to the terminating end.

[0007] The number of stitches constituting the starting end in the step A is two or more, and is preferably three or more and 16 or less. The number of stitches of the starting end and the number of stitches of the connecting portion in the step A may be different or may be the same. The stitches of the starting end and the stitches of the connecting portion are preferably alternately formed. Furthermore, the number of stitches constituting the bind-off process stitch row formed with the starting end as the base in the steps B to D after the step A may be increased or decreased in the middle of the steps B to D. The starting end and the connecting portion are formed in the step A at the outer side in the knitting width of the one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion, and thus are normally pickup stitches. The starting end and the connecting portion may be formed by further forming stitches with respect to the pickup stitches. The starting end and the connecting portion are preferably formed by twisted pickup stitches formed while reversing the knitting direction.

[0008] The number of the bind-off process stitch row in the steps B to D is one or more, and is preferably two or more and four or less. The number of the bind-off process stitch row may be increased or decreased in the middle of the steps B to D. Each bind-off process stitch row may include only front stitches or only back stitches, or the front stitch and the back stitch intermingled. For example, when knitting a plurality of bind-off process stitch rows in each step, one of the bind-off process stitch rows adjacent in the wale direction is formed solely with front stitches (or back stitches) and the other is formed solely with back stitches (or front stitches). Alternatively, formation of front stitches/back stitches, miss knitting, and tuck knitting may be combined to knit the bind-off process stitch row, so that a structure pattern can be formed in the band-shaped knitted fabric portion. The "front stitch" referred to herein is the state of the stitch when the tubular knitted fabric is seen from the outer side of the tube.

[0009] When the upper stage stitch row is overlapped with the one side knitted fabric portion (the other side knitted fabric portion) in the steps C, D (step E), any one of the stitches of the upper stage stitch row may be overlapped with the one side knitted fabric portion (the other side knitted fabric portion). The stitch of the upper stage stitch row may be overlapped with either side, inner side or outer side, of the tube of the one side knitted fabric portion (the other side knitted fabric portion). If the stitch is overlapped with the outer side of the tube, an edge that appears to be raised can be formed at the end in the wale direction of the tubular knitted fabric, as shown in a photograph of Fig. 7 of the embodiment to be described later.

[0010] The number of stitches of the terminating end and the number of stitches of the connecting portion to be joined in the step F may be different or may be the same. The latter case is particularly preferable since the terminating end and the connecting portion can be joined without a step difference. Most preferably, the number of stitches of the terminating end, the connecting portion, and the starting end are the same.

[0011] According to one aspect of the knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention, in the step E, it is preferable to move the yarn feeder to the outer side in the knitting width direction of the one side knitted fabric portion so that the knitting yarn extending from the yarn feeder is drawn to the outer side of a tube of the tubular knitted fabric before interchanging the left and right positions of the stitches constituting the upper stage stitch row.

[0012] According to one aspect of the knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention, the following two operations are preferably repeated alternately in the step F.

[Operation 1] an operation of moving a stitch of one part of the upper stage stitch row towards a boundary portion of the upper stage stitch row formed last in the step E and the connecting portion formed in the step A to form double stitches at a position proximate to the boundary portion and form a new stitch following the double stitches.

[Operation 2] an operation of moving a stitch of one part of the connecting portion towards the boundary portion to form double stitches at a position proximate to the boundary portion and form a new stitch following the double stitches.

[0013] A tubular knitted fabric of the present invention is a tubular knitted fabric in which a stitch at an end in a wale direction of a one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion knitted to a tubular form is subjected to a bind-off process using a flat knitting machine which has at least a pair of front and back needle beds and a yarn feeder for supplying a knitting yarn to knitting needles of the needle beds, a stitch held on the knitting needle being transferrable to another knitting needle. In the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention, the stitches at the end in the wale direction of the one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion are subjected to the bind-off process by a band-shaped knitted fabric portion formed along the one side knitted fabric portion and the other side knitted fabric portion in a circular form. A starting end and a terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion are joined by a knitting yarn connecting to the terminating end.

[0014] According to the knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention, the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention can be knitted with the stitches at the end (final course) in the wale direction of the tubular knitted fabric is subjected to the bind-off process by the band-shaped knitted fabric portion and the starting end and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion joined. The band-shaped knitted fabric portion does not require post-process such as sewing, which has been necessary for joining the starting end and the terminating end in the conventional bind-off processing section. Thus, if the starting end and the terminating end are joined without sewing, the stretching can be absorbed with the entire band-shaped knitted fabric portion so that yarn breakage or the like are less likely to occur in the band-shaped knitted fabric portion.

[0015] As described above, the starting end and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion can be joined because the starting end of the bind-off process (starting end of band-shaped knitted fabric portion) is formed and also the connecting portion connecting to the starting end is formed in the knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention. The connecting portion remains held on the needle bed while the band-shaped knitted fabric portion for carrying out the bind-off process on the final course of the tubular knitted fabric, with the starting end as a beginning point, is being formed, and the connecting portion is eventually joined with the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion. Since the connecting portion is connected to the starting end, the starting end and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion are joined. In the knitting method of the present invention, since the starting end is formed on the outer side in the knitting width direction of each knitted fabric portion, the stitches can be smoothly transferred when carrying out the knitting after the starting end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] 

Figs. 1A to 1C are image diagrams of a knitting step showing a procedure of carrying out a bind-off process on an end of a collar portion of a sweater shown in an embodiment, where Fig. 1A shows a state at the start of the bind-off process, Fig. 1B shows a state in the middle of carrying out the bind-off process in a circling manner on the collar portion, and Fig. 1C shows a state immediately before the bind-off process is finished;

Fig. 2 is a knitting step diagram showing a first half of a knitting step at the start of the bind-off process;

Fig. 3 is a knitting step diagram showing a second half of the knitting step at the start of the bind-off process;

Fig. 4 is a knitting step diagram of a case where the bind-off process is shifted from a back needle bed to a front needle bed;

Fig. 5 is a knitting step diagram showing a first half of a knitting step at the termination of the bind-off process;

Fig. 6 is a knitting step diagram showing a second half of the knitting step at the termination of the bind-off process; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing an enlarged photograph of a collar portion of a sweater knitted according to the knitting step shown in the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, a knitting method for a tubular knitted fabric of the present invention, and a sweater knitted using such a knitting method will be described based on the drawings while describing a case of performing a bind-off process on an end in a wale direction of a collar portion of a sweater to be knitted to a tubular form by way of example. The knitting described in the embodiment is a knitting example using a two-bed flat knitting machine having a pair of front and back needle beds extending in a traverse direction and disposed opposite to each other in a cross direction, stitches capable of being transferred between the front and back needle beds. The flat knitting machine to use may, of course, be a four-bed flat knitting machine.

[0018] Figs. 1A to 1C show image diagrams related to a knitting step for performing the bind-off process on the end in the wale direction of a collar portion 30 from a state in which the collar portion 30 of a sweater 100 is knitted. First, as shown in Fig. 1A, a plurality of pick-up stitches of a same knitting yarn is formed on an outer side in a knitting width direction of a front knitted fabric portion 10 and a back knitted fabric portion 20 of the collar portion 30 held on the needle beds. Half of such a plurality of pickup stitches become a starting end 0 used when starting the bind-off process on stitches of a final course of the collar portion 30, and the remaining pickup stitches become a connecting portion 9 used when completing the bind-off process.

[0019] Then, as shown in Fig. 1B, a bind-off process stitch row (lower stage stitch row) 2 following in a wale direction of the starting end 0 (base portion 1) and a bind-off process stitch row (upper stage stitch row) 3 following in a wale direction of the lower stage stitch row 2 are formed. One of a plurality of stitches forming the upper stage stitch row 3 is overlapped with a stitch at an end of the back knitted fabric portion (one side knitted fabric portion) 20, that is, the stitch of the collar portion 30, and then the upper stage stitch row 3 including such a double stitch is redefined as a new base portion 1. Thereafter, the knitting of the lower stage stitch row 2 and the upper stage stitch row 3 following in the wale direction of the base portion 1, the overlapping of one of the stitches of the upper stage stitch row 3 with the stitch of the back knitted fabric portion 20, and the redefining of the upper stage stitch row 3 as the base portion 1 are repeated to carry out the bind-off process on the stitches at the end in the wale direction of the back knitted fabric portion 20. After the bind-off process on the back knitted fabric portion 20 is finished, the processing direction is reversed and similar knitting is carried out on the front knitted fabric portion (other side knitted fabric portion) 10. A band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 is thus knitted at the edge of the collar portion 30 while carrying out the bind-off process on the stitches of the collar portion 30.

[0020] Finally, as shown in Fig. 1C, the stitches at a terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 and the stitches of the connecting portion 9 connecting to the starting end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 are then joined, and the bind-off process of the collar portion 30 is terminated.

[0021] A specific knitting step of the sweater 100 described with reference to Figs. 1A to 1C will now be described with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 6. The knitting steps will be described centering on the time of starting of the knitting (Figs. 2 and 3), the time of returning when the knitting is returned from the back knitted fabric portion 20 to the front knitted fabric portion 10 (Fig. 4), and the time of termination of the knitting (Figs. 5 and 6), which are the main points of the knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention.

[0022] The "alphabet + number" in Figs. 2 to 6 indicates the step number, and the arrow in the up and down direction or the diagonal direction indicates the direction of transfer (racking operation is omitted). A to Z in the figure indicate the knitting needles of the front needle bed (hereinafter referred to as FB) and the back needle bed (hereinafter referred to as BB). Furthermore, ○ in the figure indicates the stitch held on the needle bed, a V-letter indicates the pickup stitch, ⊙ indicates the double stitch, ○ + V-letter indicates the double stitch comprising the stitch and the pickup stitch, V indicates a yarn feeder, and the operation actually carried out in each knitting step is indicated with a thick line. In order to facilitate the understanding of the explanation, the description will be made with the number of knitting needles less than the number used in the actual knitting.

<Time of starting of knitting>

[0023] In Fig. 2, S0 shows a state in which the stitches of the final course of the collar portion 30 of the sweater 100 shown in Fig. 1A are held on the FB and the BB. From such a state, the stitches of the final course of the collar portion 30 are subjected to the bind-off process by the knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric of the present invention.

[0024] First, in S1, a pickup stitch is formed on a knitting needle F of the BB when moving the yarn feeder rightward in a plane of drawing. Then, in S2, a pickup stitch is formed on a knitting needle E of the FB when moving the yarn feeder rightward in the plane of drawing after once moving it to the left side in the plane of drawing. The knitting similar to the knitting of S1 and S2 is repeated two times while changing the knitting needles, whereby twisted pickup stitches are continuously formed on the knitting needles A, C, E of the FB and the knitting needles B, D, F of the BB, which are on the outer side in the knitting width direction of the front knitted fabric portion 10 and the back knitted fabric portion 20, as shown in S2'. Among such pickup stitches, the pickup stitches held on the BB become the starting end 0, and the pickup stitches held on the FB become the connecting portion 9.

[0025] The stitches to become the starting end 0 and the connecting portion 9 may be non-twisted pickup stitches. Alternatively, a pickup stitch may be formed first, then a stitch following the pickup stitch may be formed, and such stitches may be assumed as the starting end 0 and the connecting portion 9. The number of stitches (pickup stitches) forming the starting end 0 and the connecting portion 9 may be two, or may be four or more. The number of stitches (pickup stitches) determines the width of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 (length in the up and down direction in the plane of drawing in Fig. 1C).

[0026] After S2', the starting end 0 is defined as the base portion 1, and the back knitted fabric portion 20 is subjected to the bind-off process. First, in S3, the pickup stitch held on the knitting needle B of the BB, which is on the outermost side in the knitting width direction of the starting end 0 (base portion 1) held on the BB in S2', is transferred to the opposing knitting needle B of the FB. In S4, a new stitch is formed following the pickup stitch of the knitting needle B of the FB while moving the yarn feeder rightward in the plane of drawing. In the following S5 and S6, the pickup stitch of the knitting needle D of the BB is transferred to the opposing knitting needle D of the FB, and then a new stitch following such a pickup stitch is formed. The knitting similar to S3, S4, and S5, S6 is repeated one more time to complete the lower stage stitch row 2 following in the wale direction of the starting end 0 comprising the pickup stitches, as shown in S6'. The stitches of the lower stage stitch row 2 are used when carrying out the bind-off process on the back knitted fabric portion 20, and are back stitches when seen from the outer side of the tube. The stitches of the lower stage stitch row 2 may, of course, be formed as front stitches when seen from the outer side of the tube.

[0027] In Fig. 3 following Fig. 2, the stitches of the front knitted fabric portion 10 and the pickup stitches of the connecting portion 9 are shown with a dotted line to facilitate the understanding of the relationship between the stitches. In S7 of Fig. 3, the stitches of the lower stage stitch row 2 held on the knitting needles B, D, F of the FB in S6' of Fig. 2 are transferred to the opposing knitting needles B, D, F of the BB. In S8, the upper stage stitch row 3 following in the wale direction of the lower stage stitch row 2 is knitted. The stitches of the upper stage stitch row 3 are front stitches when seen from the outer side of the tube. If the lower stage stitch row 2 is formed to appear as front stitches when seen from the outer side of the tube, the upper stage stitch row 3 is preferably formed to appear as back stitches.

[0028] In S9, the stitches of the back knitted fabric portion 20 held on the knitting needles H, J, L, N, P, R, T, V, X of the BB are transferred to the opposing knitting needles H, J, L, N, P, R, T, V, X of the FB. In S10, the upper stage stitch row 3 held on the knitting needles B, D, F of the BB are transferred to the knitting needles D, F, H of the FB, so that the upper stage stitch row 3 is moved towards the back knitted fabric portion 20 and the stitch at the right side end in the plane of drawing of the upper stage stitch row 3 is overlapped with the stitch at the left side end in the plane of drawing of the back knitted fabric portion 20. The upper stage stitch row 3 is a stitch row connecting in the wale direction of the starting end 0 formed outside the knitting width of the front knitted fabric portion 10 and the back knitted fabric portion 20, and thus can be easily transferred. If the lower stage stitch row 2 and the upper stage stitch row 3 are formed continuously in the wale direction of the knitted fabric portions 10, 20, as in the conventional bind-off process, the upper stage stitch row 3 becomes difficult to transfer due to the influence of the knitted fabric portions 10, 20.

[0029] The upper stage stitch row 3 moved in S10, including the stitch overlapped with the back knitted fabric portion 20, is defined as a new base portion 1. In the following S11, the lower stage stitch row 2, which comprises back stitches, is formed following in the wale direction of the base portion 1 defined in S10, and the upper stage stitch row 3, which comprises front stitches, is formed following in the wale direction of the lower stage stitch row 2 in S12, S13. The stitch at the left side end in the plane of drawing of the back knitted fabric portion 20 (stitch of knitting needle H of FB in S9) is subjected to the bind-off process by knitting the lower stage stitch row 2 in S11. Thereafter, the upper stage stitch row 3 moved towards the back knitted fabric portion 20 is redefined as a new base portion 1, and the knitting similar to the knitting shown in S10 to S13 is repeated so that the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 is knitted while carrying out the bind-off process on the final course of the back knitted fabric portion 20 (see also Fig. 1B).

[0030] In the present embodiment, the stitch (knitting needle F) at the end proximate to the back knitted fabric portion 20 of the upper stage stitch row 3 is overlapped with the stitch (knitting needle H) of the back knitted fabric portion 20 proximate to the upper stage stitch row 3 on the outer side of the tube (see S10), but the present invention is not limited to such an overlapping manner. For example, the stitch of the upper stage stitch row 3 to be overlapped with the stitch (knitting needle H) at the end in the knitting width direction of the back knitted fabric portion 20 may be the stitch held on the knitting needle B of the BB or the stitch held on the knitting needle D of the BB. The stitch of the upper stage stitch row 3 may be overlapped with the inner side of the tube of the back knitted fabric portion 20.

<Time of returning>

[0031] Next, the knitting step at the time of shifting to the bind-off process of the front knitted fabric portion 10 after the bind-off process of the back knitted fabric portion 20 is finished will be described based on Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, a knitting needle A' is illustrated on a further right side of the knitting needle Z for the sake of convenience of the explanation.

[0032] In Fig. 4, T1 shows a state in which the upper stage stitch row 3 formed for the bind-off process is moved towards a side where the last stitch (knitting needle X of FB) of the back knitted fabric portion 20 is located so that the last stitch and the stitch at the right side end in the plane of drawing of the upper stage stitch row 3 are overlapped. In this case as well, the knitting after T2 is carried out with the upper stage stitch row 3, including the double stitch formed on the knitting needle X, defined as the base portion 1.

[0033] First, a new lower stage stitch row 2 following in the wale direction of the stitches of the knitting needles T, V, X defined as the base portion 1 in T1 is knitted while moving the yarn feeder rightward in the plane of drawing (see T2), and the lower stage stitch row 2 is transferred to the opposing knitting needles T, V, X of the BB (T3). The upper stage stitch row 3 following in the wale direction of the transferred lower stage stitch row 2 is then knitted while moving the yarn feeder leftward in the plane of drawing (T4).

[0034] After T4 is finished, the direction of carrying out the bind-off process is reversed, and hence the positions in the knitting width direction of the three stitches constituting the upper stage stitch row 3 need to be interchanged left to right. In T5, the upper stage stitch row 3 is first transferred from the BB to the FB, and then the yarn feeder is moved to the outer side in the knitting width direction of the upper stage stitch row 3. In T6, the stitches of the knitting needles T, V, X of the FB are transferred to the knitting needles A', Y, W of the BB, respectively, using the racking of the BB. The order of transferring is first the stitch of the knitting needle T of the FB, and then the stitch of the knitting needle V of the FB, and lastly the stitch of the knitting needle X of the FB.

[0035] In T5, the yarn feeder is moved rightward in the plane of drawing after moving the upper stage stitch row from the BB to the FB to arrange the knitting yarn extending from the yarn feeder on the outer side of the tube. Accordingly, the appearance of the return portion of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 (corresponding to return portion of circling arrow in Fig. 1B) can be improved.

[0036] Next, in T7, all the stitches of the front knitted fabric portion 10 held on the knitting needles G, I, K, M, O, Q, S, U, W of the FB are transferred to the opposing knitting needles G, I, K, M, O Q, S, U, W of the BB. As a result, the stitch at the right side end in the plane of drawing of the front knitted fabric portion 10 is overlapped with the stitch at the left side end in the plane of drawing of the upper stage stitch row 3 after the left and right stitches are interchanged in T6. Subsequently, the bind-off process similar to the bind-off process carried out on the back knitted fabric portion 20 is repeated, as illustrated in T8 to T11. Specifically, the upper stage stitch row 3 held on the knitting needles A', Y, W of the BB is defined as the base portion 1, and the lower stage stitch row 2 following in the wale direction of the base portion 1 is knitted in T8. In T9 and T10, the upper stage stitch row 3 following in the wale direction of the lower stage stitch row 2 is knitted. In T11, the upper stage stitch row 3 is moved towards the front knitted fabric portion 10 to overlap one of the stitches of the upper stage stitch row 3 with the stitch at the end of the front knitted fabric portion 10 proximate to the upper stage stitch row 3, and the moved upper stage stitch row 3 (including the double stitch with the stitch of front knitted fabric portion 10) is defined as a new base portion 1.

<Time of termination of knitting>

[0037] Lastly, the knitting step of joining the starting end and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion formed to a tubular form to complete the bind-off process of the collar portion 30 will be described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

[0038] First, in Fig. 5, U1 shows a state in which the upper stage stitch row 3 is overlapped with the second stitch from the last of the front knitted fabric portion 10. The upper stage stitch row 3 held on the knitting needles I, K, M of the BB including such a double stitch is redefined as the base portion 1, and the lower stage stitch row 2 following in the wale direction of the base portion 1 is knitted as shown in U2.

[0039] In the following U3, the lower stage stitch row 2 is transferred to the opposing knitting needles I, K, M of the FB. In U4, the stitches following in the wale direction of the stitches held on the knitting needles I, M of the FB are formed while moving the yarn feeder rightward in the plane of drawing, and in U5, a stitch following in the wale direction of the stitch held on the knitting needle K of the FB is formed while moving the yarn feeder leftward in the plane of drawing, so that the upper stage stitch row 3 with tight stitches is knitted following in the wale direction of the lower stage stitch row 2.

[0040] In U6, the upper stage stitch row 3 (terminating end of band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4) formed in U4 and U5 is moved toward the last stitch of the front knitted fabric portion 10 to overlap such a last stitch with the stitch at the left side end in the plane of drawing of the upper stage stitch row 3. In the following U7, the pickup stitches constituting the connecting portion 9 held on the knitting needles A, C, E of the FB are transferred to the opposing knitting needles A, C, E of the BB. In U8, a stitch following the double stitch of the knitting needle G of the BB formed in U6 is knitted, and a stitch following the pickup stitch transferred to the knitting needle E of the BB in U7 is knitted so that a part of the upper stage stitch row 3 and the connecting portion 9 is connected at the boundary portion of the upper stage stitch row 3 and the connecting portion 9.

[0041] Thereafter, the connecting portion 9 and the upper stage stitch row 3 of Figs. 1A to 1C are moved in a direction of approaching each other, and stitches are alternately formed following double stitches formed by the moves to join the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 and the connecting portion 9.

[0042] Specifically, as shown in U9 of Fig. 6, the stitches of the upper stage stitch row 3 held on the knitting needles I, K of the BB are respectively transferred to the knitting needles G, I of the BB through the opposing knitting needles of the FB. That is, the two stitches on the far side from the boundary portion of the upper stage stitch row 3 are moved in the direction of the boundary portion of the upper stage stitch row 3 and the connecting portion 9. According to U9, a double stitch is formed on the knitting needle G of the BB at a position proximate to the boundary portion, and hence a new stitch following in the wale direction of such a double stitch is formed in U10.

[0043] In the following U11, the pickup stitches held on the knitting needles A, C of the BB are respectively transferred to the knitting needles C, E of the BB through the opposing knitting needles of the FB. That is, the two pickup stitches on the far side from the boundary portion of the connecting portion 9 are moved in the direction of the boundary portion. According to U11, a double stitch is formed on the knitting needle E of the BB, and hence a new stitch following in the wale direction of such a double stitch is formed in U12.

[0044] Thereafter, the stitch of the knitting needle I of the BB is transferred to the knitting needle G of the BB (U13), and a new stitch following the double stitch formed by the transfer is formed (U14). The pickup stitch of the knitting needle C of the BB is transferred to the knitting needle E of the BB (U15), and a new stitch following the double stitch formed by the transfer is formed (U16), so that the connecting portion 9 connecting to the starting end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 are joined as shown in Fig. 1C to complete the bind-off process of the collar portion 30.

[0045] If the starting end and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 are joined according to the knitting steps of Figs. 5 and 6, the joint portion can have high stretchability. This is because the stitches of the upper stage stitch row 3 formed at the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 and the stitches of the connecting portion 9 formed at the starting end 0 are indirectly joined by the stitches alternately provided in the upper stage stitch row 3 and the connecting portion 9 rather than being directly overlapped and joined.

[0046] The sweater 100 knitted according to the knitting steps shown in Figs. 2 to 6 described above is the sweater 100 in which the starting end 0 and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 are joined without performing the post-process such as sewing, and hence excels in productivity. Furthermore, since the starting end 0 and the terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 are joined in the sweater 100, when the collar portion 30 of the sweater 100 is stretched, the tension can be received by the entire band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4 and yarn breakage and the like are less likely to occur at the portion subjected to the bind-off process by the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4.

[0047] The sweater 100 of the present embodiment includes the collar portion 30 subjected to the bind-off process by bind-off stitches having higher stretchability than conventional bind-off stitches. Thus, the stretchability of the edge of the collar portion 30 is high and the edge of the collar portion 30 is less likely to slack. The stretchability of the edge of the collar portion 30 is improved because each bind-off stitch for carrying out the bind-off process on the stitch at the end in the wale direction of the collar portion 30 comprises two stitches continuing in the wale direction (stitch of lower stage stitch row 2 and stitch of upper stage stitch row 3 continuing thereto). Furthermore, in the present embodiment, one of the two stitches forming the bind-off stitch is a front stitch and the other is a back stitch, and thus the relevant bind-off stitch is in a compactly folded state so that the bind-off stitch does not become bulky.

[0048] Looking at Fig. 7 showing an enlarged photograph of the vicinity of the collar portion 30 of the knitted sweater 100, it can be recognized that a band-shaped edge can be formed at the collar portion 30 by carrying out the bind-off process on the end in the wale direction of the collar portion 30 by the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4. The designability of the collar portion 30 can be improved by this band-shaped edge. In Fig. 7, the portion corresponding to the collar portion 30 is formed by a rib structure.

[0049] The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be appropriately changed within a scope not deviating from the gist of the invention. For example, miss knitting, tuck knitting, knitting of front stitch/back stitch, and the like may be carried out in combination in the knitting of the bind-off process stitch rows 2, 3 to form a structure pattern in the band-shaped knitted fabric portion 4.

Claims

1. A knitting method for a tubular knitted fabric using a flat knitting machine, which has at least a pair of front and back needle beds and a yarn feeder for supplying a knitting yarn to knitting needles of the needle beds, a stitch held on the knitting needle being transferrable to another knitting needle, for carrying out a bind-off process on a stitch at an end in a wale direction on a one side knitted fabric portion (20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (10) held in a tubular form on the front and back needle beds the method characterized by:

a step A of continuously forming a plurality of stitches to become a starting end (0) of the bind-off process and a plurality of stitches to become a connecting portion (9) to be used in a post-step on an outer side in a knitting width direction of the one side knitted fabric portion (20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (10);

a step B of knitting at least one or more bind-off process stitch rows (2, 3) continuing in the wale direction of a base portion (1), with the starting end (0) defined as the base portion (1);

a step C of moving an upper stage stitch row (3) at an uppermost stage of the bind-off process stitch rows (2, 3) knitted in the step B towards the one side knitted fabric portion (20) to overlap one of the stitches of the upper stage stitch row (3) with an end stitch next to the upper stage stitch row (3) of the stitches of the one side knitted fabric portion (20);

a step D of repeating the knitting similar to the step B and the step C with respect to the base portion (1), with the upper stage stitch row (3) moved towards the one side knitted fabric portion (20) defined as the new base portion (1), to carry out the bind-off process on the one side knitted fabric portion (20);

a step E of carrying out the bind-off process similar to the step D on the other side knitted fabric portion (10) with left and right positions of the stitches constituting the upper stage stitch row (3) formed last in the step D interchanged and the upper stage stitch row (3) defined as the new base portion (1); and

a step F of joining a terminating end of a band-shaped knitted fabric portion (4), which is formed through the steps A to E along the one side knitted fabric portion (20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (10) in a circular form to carry out the bind-off process on a stitch at an end in the wale direction of the one side knitted fabric portion (20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (10), with the connecting portion (9) which is formed in the step A, using a knitting yarn connecting to the terminating end.

2. The knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the stitches formed in the step A are twisted pickup stitches.

3. The knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the step E, the yarn feeder is moved to the outer side in the knitting width direction of the one side knitted fabric portion (20) so that the knitting yarn extending from the yarn feeder is drawn to the outer side of a tube of the tubular knitted fabric before interchanging the left and right positions of the stitches constituting the upper stage stitch row (3).

4. The knitting method for the tubular knitted fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
in the step F,
moving a stitch of one part of the upper stage stitch row (3) towards a boundary portion of the upper stage stitch row (3) formed last in the step E and the connecting portion (9) formed in the step A to form a double stitch at a position proximate to the boundary portion and form a new stitch following the double stitch; and
moving a stitch of one part of the connecting portion (9) towards the boundary portion to form a double stitch at a position proximate to the boundary portion and form a new stitch following the double stitch,
are alternately repeated.

5. A tubular knitted fabric in which stitches at an end in a wale direction of a one side knitted fabric portion (20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (10) knitted to a tubular form is subjected to a bind-off process using a flat knitting machine having at least a pair of front and back needle beds and a yarn feeder for supplying a knitting yarn to knitting needles of the needle beds, a stitch held on the knitting needle being transferrable to another knitting needle, characterized in that
the stitches at the end in the wale direction of the one side knitted fabric portion (20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (10) are subjected to the bind-off process by a band-shaped knitted fabric portion (4) formed along the one side knitted fabric portion (20) and the other side knitted fabric portion (10) in a circular form; and
a starting end (0) and a terminating end of the band-shaped knitted fabric portion (4) are joined by a knitting yarn connecting to the terminating end.

Drawing