Knit design method and knit design apparatus

Abstract

 Configuration: A knitted fabric having a plurality of triangular parts is designed so that the knitted fabric is knittable on a flat knitting machine. An external shape (30, 50) of a knitted fabric is input, the position of a center (C) at which apexes of respective parts into which the knitted fabric is divided gather is input, and the number of parts is determined. The knitted fabric is divided into a plurality of parts, each part having the shape of a triangle, the center (C) being the apex of the triangle, a peripheral edge of the knitted fabric being the base of the triangle, and lines connecting both ends of the base to the center (C) being the two sides of the triangle. Assuming that the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric is set in the course direction of knitting, whether the number of stitches corresponding to the length (d) of the base of each part can be decreased during knitting of the number of rows corresponding to the height (h) of that part while satisfying a condition of decrease is evaluated. If it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible, the number of parts is increased, or the base of the part is shortened. Then, flechage lines (60) are produced so as to be parallel to the course direction so that the difference in the number of rows between the two sides of each part due to a difference between lengths of the two sides is compensated for by flechage knitting that turns back in that part, and decrease courses are produced so that the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base are decreased.
Effects: A knitted fabric that is knittable can be substantially automatically designed even in the cases of a knitted fabric having a complicated external shape and a knitted fabric whose center (C) is shifted from the center of its external shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to design of a knitted fabric including a plurality of gores that converge on a center.

Background Art

[0002] In design of knitted fabrics having complicated shapes such as a circle, an ellipse, and the like, the shapes of the knitted fabrics have been approximated using triangular gores. For example, Patent Literature 1 (WO2009/022535) discloses a method in which a knitted fabric having the shape of a segment of a circle is divided into a plurality of gores and knitting is performed from a peripheral edge toward the center. The knitting width is gradually decreased toward the center by performing decrease in the process of knitting, and thus the shape of the knitted fabric becomes circular. The knitting is started at the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric, and thus the base of each gore is on the peripheral edge and is parallel to the course direction of the knitted fabric.

[0003] In knitting of boleros, ponchos, and the like, there are cases where a knitted fabric having gores that converge on a position other than the center of a circle is desired. Also, there are cases where a knitted fabric having an elliptic shape rather than a circular shape is desired. In such cases, the shapes of the gores are not isosceles triangles, and the gores do not have the same shape. When the shape of a gore is not an isosceles triangle, the number of rows in the wale direction differs between two sides, and so the gore cannot be knitted by merely performing decrease. Furthermore, to decrease the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base, it is necessary that there is a sufficient number of rows in the wale direction with respect to the number of stitches to be decreased. The reason for this is that it is difficult to make a decrease in every course because of a restriction that, for example, a course in which a decrease is made should be produced every fourth course. When gores do not have the same shape, in some gores, there is not a sufficient number of rows in the wale direction with respect to the number of stitches of the base. These issues make it difficult to design gores, and also make it difficult to design a knitted fabric.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0004] [Patent Literature 1] WO2009/022535

Summary of the Invention

Technical Problem

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to facilitate the design of a knitted fabric even in the cases of a knitted fabric having a complicated external shape and a knitted fabric whose center at which apexes of respective parts gather is shifted from the center of its external shape.

Means for Solving Problem

[0006] The present invention is directed to a knit design method for designing a knitted fabric having a plurality of triangular parts so that the knitted fabric is knittable on a flat knitting machine, characterized by including:

a step for inputting an external shape of a knitted fabric:

a step for inputting a position of a center at which apexes of respective parts into which the knitted fabric is divided gather;

a step for determining the number of parts;

a step for dividing the knitted fabric into a plurality of parts, each part having the shape of a triangle, the center being an apex of the triangle, a peripheral edge of the knitted fabric being a base of the triangle, and lines connecting both ends of the base to the center being two sides of the triangle;

a step for evaluating whether the number of stitches corresponding to a length of the base of each part can be decreased during knitting of the number of rows corresponding to a height of that part, that is, the number of rows in a wale direction of that part, while satisfying a condition of decrease, wherein the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric is set in a course direction of knitting;

a step for, if it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible, increasing the number of parts or shortening the base of a part with respect to which it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible, thereby enabling the number of stitches corresponding to the length of the base to be decreased during knitting of the number of rows corresponding to the height of the part while satisfying the condition of decrease;

a step for subsequently producing flechage lines so as to be parallel to the course direction so that a difference in the number of rows between the two sides of each part due to a difference between lengths of the two sides is compensated for by flechage knitting that turns back in that part; and

a step for producing decrease courses so that the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base are decreased.

[0007] Also, the present invention is directed to a knit design apparatus for designing a knitted fabric having a plurality of triangular parts so that the knitted fabric is knittable on a flat knitting machine, characterized by including:

an input unit that inputs an external shape of a knitted fabric and a position of a center at which apexes of respective parts into which the knitted fabric is divided gather;

a part generator that divides the knitted fabric by generating a plurality of parts, each part having the shape of a triangle, the center being an apex of the triangle, a peripheral edge of the knitted fabric being a base of the triangle, and lines connecting both ends of the base to the center being two sides of the triangle;

a part evaluator that evaluates whether the number of stitches corresponding to a length of the base of each part can be decreased during knitting of the number of rows corresponding to a height of that part while satisfying a condition of decrease, wherein the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric is set in a course direction of knitting;

a means for, if it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible, increasing the number of parts or shortening the base of a part with respect to which it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible;

a flechage processor that produces flechage lines so as to be parallel to the course direction so that a difference in the number of rows between the two sides of each part due to a difference between lengths of the two sides is compensated for by flechage knitting that turns back in an internal portion or an end portion of that part; and

a decrease processor that produces decrease courses so that the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base are decreased.

[0008] When the external shape of a knitted fabric is input, and the position of the center at which apexes of respective parts gather is input, the knitted fabric can be divided into a plurality of parts. Each part has a triangular shape, the apexes of the respective parts gather at the center, the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric constitutes the bases of the individual parts, and the lines connecting both ends of each base to the center constitute the two sides. Since it is necessary to decrease the number of stitches corresponding to the base of each part before the apex is reached, whether the decrease can be achieved while satisfying a preferred condition of decrease is evaluated. If it is evaluated that the decrease cannot be achieved, the shapes of the parts or the number of parts is changed. If the center at which the apexes of the respective parts gather is situated off the geometric center of the external shape of the knitted fabric, the shapes of the parts are deviated from isosceles triangles. Thus, there is a difference in the number of rows between the two sides of each part, and in order to compensate for this difference, flechage lines that turn back in an internal portion or an end portion of the part are produced so as to be parallel to the course direction. Moreover, decrease courses are produced so that the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base of each part are decreased. Note that in the case where a top portion is cut from each of the triangular parts so that the part has the shape of a trapezoid for the purpose of forming a neck hole or the like, the height to the apex of the triangle before the cutting may be taken as the height of that part, or the height of the trapezoid may be taken as the height of that part. In the case where the height of the trapezoid is taken as the height of the part, a number obtained by subtracting the number of stitches of the top base of the trapezoid from the number of stitches of the base is used as the number of stitches to be decreased.

[0009] Thus, it is possible to

1) design a knitted fabric that is knittable even in the cases of a knitted fabric having a complicated external shape and a knitted fabric whose center at which apexes of respective parts gather is shifted from, for example, the center of a circle that is the external shape of the knitted fabric;

2) generate a plurality of parts substantially automatically when the external shape and the center of the knitted fabric are specified, and evaluate whether decreases are possible; and

3) perform knitting even if the shapes of the parts are not isosceles triangles.

[0010] In this specification, a description regarding the knit design method directly applies to the knit design apparatus, and conversely, a description regarding the knit design apparatus directly applies to the knit design method. Either of the flechage lines and the decrease courses may be produced first. Preferably, the flechage lines and the decrease courses are made to differ from each other to prevent tuck stitches that are formed by flechage from being dropped off the needle during the decrease and to allow the decrease to be performed in the same courses on the two sides of each part. Note that the processing of increasing the number of parts or shortening the base of a specific part may be executed by the part generator or may be executed by other units. The number of parts may be input by the operator, or a value that is stored in advance may be assigned to the number of parts. The parts may be, for example, but are not limited to, gores. Also, the knit design method of the present invention is a method for producing knitting data or a knitting program with which a knitted fabric is knitted on a flat knitting machine, and knitting a knitted fabric on the flat knitting machine with the obtained knitting data or the like constitutes the use of the knitting data or the like.

[0011] Preferably, if the knitted fabric has a major axis, the position of the center at which the apexes of the respective parts gather is specified on the major axis of the knitted fabric. In this manner, it is possible to perform processing after generation of the parts on only one side of the major axis and copy the processing result to the other side of the major axis.

[0012] Preferably, a point to which the apexes of the plurality of parts are to be slid in the course direction is input. If the apexes of the parts are slid toward a single point, adjacent sides of the parts come into contact with each other, and thus the design of a single knitted fabric is obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] 

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a knit design apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a knit design method according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a knitted fabric constituted by a plurality of gores that converge on a center.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the knitted fabric in which the center is changed from that in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a designing process of a knitted fabric, and FIG. 5a) shows input of an external shape and a center, FIG. 5b) shows generation of a plurality of gores, and FIG. 5c) shows determination of the shapes of the gores and evaluation of whether decrease is possible.

FIG. 6 shows the designing process after FIG. 5, and FIG. 6a) shows production of flechage lines, FIG. 6b) shows production of decrease lines, and FIG. 6c) shows the designed knitted fabric with the gores joined to one another, where a knitting direction is indicated by arrows.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the design of the gores is modified to form a neck hole near the center and impart a three-dimensional shape.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the knitted fabric corresponding to the design in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the knitted fabric corresponding to the design in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a top hat-shaped knitted fabric.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the knitted fabric in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an external shape and a center that are used for the design of the knitted fabric in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the shapes of gores for the knitted fabric in FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a hexagonal knitted fabric constituted by gores that converge on center C.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the shapes of the gores for the knitted fabric in FIG. 14.

Description of Embodiment

[0014] Hereinafter, an optimal embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described.

Embodiment

[0015] FIGS. 1 to 15 show an embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a knit design apparatus 2 according to the embodiment. The knit design apparatus 2 is configured by a computer and includes a bus 4. An input unit 6 includes at least a manual input unit such as a mouse, a keyboard, a trackball, a stylus, or the like, and may additionally include an input unit from a network, an input unit from a removable disk, and the like. An output unit 8 is an output unit to the network or an output unit to the removable disk. A monitor 10 displays a knitted fabric and the like in the designing process. Reference numeral 12 indicates a color printer. A program memory 14 stores a program for causing the computer to function as the knit design apparatus 2.

[0016] When an external shape of a knitted fabric and a center thereof, that is, a position at which apexes of a plurality of gores gather are specified through the input unit 6, and furthermore, the number of gores is specified, a gore generator 16 generates a plurality of triangular gores so that the knitted fabric is divided into the plurality of gores. Note that in the case of a poncho or the like, the above-described center is situated within a hole such as a neck hole, and thus the center itself may not be knitted. In this case, the gores are generated so that, for example, the gores are bound off along the circumference of the hole. Therefore, the actual shape of each gore may be a trapezoid obtained by cutting out a portion near the apex of the triangle along the hole and binding off along the hole.

[0017] The external shape of the knitted fabric is not limited to a circle, and may also be an ellipse or a polygon as shown in FIG. 14. Moreover, in the case of a knitted fabric having a circular shape, a position that is deviated from the center of the circle may be specified as the center at which the apexes of the parts gather. In the case of an ellipse, the above-described center is not limited to the point of intersection of the major axis and the minor axis of the ellipse and the foci, and may be, for example, an appropriate position on the major axis of the ellipse that is specified by an operator. The center as used in the present invention does not refer to the center of a geometric shape of the knitted fabric, but refers to the position at which apexes of a plurality of gores gather.

[0018] The shapes of the gores are deviated from isosceles triangles in the case of an elliptic knitted fabric. Even in the case of a knitted fabric having a circular shape, if the center is shifted from the center of the circle, the shapes of the gores are deviated from isosceles triangles. The gore generator 16 draws a plurality of lines from, for example, the center of the knitted fabric radially to the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric at constant angular intervals of, for example, 45° to 30°. These lines are boundaries of the gores and constitute two sides of the individual gores. The peripheral edge of the knitted fabric is divided into sections by these lines, and those sections constitute the bases of the individual gores. In the case where the knitted fabric has a major axis or a diameter, it is preferable that the center is specified on such axis, and it is preferable that the knitted fabric is divided into two portions along that axis, and each of the two portions, into which the knitted fabric is divided, is divided into a plurality of gores. In the case where the knitted fabric is symmetrical with respect to that axis, if the gores are arranged symmetrically with respect to that axis, merely one of the two portions of the knitted fabric needs to be processed. In addition, if the knitted fabric is divided into two portions along a major axis, the major axis also serves as sides of gores.

[0019] A gore evaluator 18 converts the length of the base of each gore to the number of stitches in the course direction and the height of each gore to the number of rows in the wale direction. Then, the gore evaluator 18 evaluates whether the number of stitches of the base of the gore can be decreased during knitting of the sides of the gore. With regard to decrease, there is a preferred condition that, for example, two stitches at each of the left and right ends of the gore are decreased every fourth course, and the gore evaluator 18 evaluates whether or not this condition is satisfied. The number of rows in the wale direction refers to the number of stitches that are formed in the wale direction between the base and the apex of the gore. If the gore evaluator 18 evaluates that the condition of decrease is not satisfied, the gore generator 16 changes the shapes of the gores or the number of gores so that the condition of decrease is satisfied, and then the gore evaluator 18 evaluates again whether the condition of decrease is satisfied.

[0020] A flechage processor 20 produces flechage lines (lines in which flechage knitting is performed) in the knitted fabric so as to be parallel to the course direction in such a manner that the flechage lines extend in the course direction and are not limited within a single gore. If a gore does not have the shape of an isosceles triangle, the numbers of rows of the two sides are not equal, and therefore flechage knitting that turns back in the middle of the gore or in an end portion of the gore is performed, thereby making it possible to knit the gore even if the numbers of rows of the two sides are not equal. Note that a single flechage line is equivalent to two courses of knitting, and flechage knitting will be simply referred to as flechage. Flechage lines are drawn from a side, of a plurality of gores, on which the greatest number of rows are formed in the wale direction toward a side on which the smallest number of rows are formed in the wale direction, and many of the flechage lines turn back after passing through a plurality of gores. In actual knitting, a single flechage line is equivalent to two courses of knitting, turning back at an end point of the line. Alternatively, a flechage line may turn back in an end portion of a gore.

[0021] It is preferable that the flechage lines are substantially uniformly produced in the wale direction of the knitted fabric. Note that in this specification, "substantially uniformly producing or arranging decrease courses and flechage lines" means that the decrease courses and the flechage lines are arranged so as not to look non-uniform in appearance. In many cases, the number of rows in the wale direction is not divisible by the number of flechage lines, and also is not divisible by the number of decrease courses. Thus, it is difficult to perfectly uniformly arrange the decrease courses and the flechage lines.

[0022] A decrease processor specifies decrease courses (courses in which a decrease is made) for each gore. Note that the positions of the decrease courses may differ between adjacent gores, and the decrease courses are different from the flechage lines in this respect. It is preferable that the decrease courses are arranged substantially uniformly in the wale direction within a gore and so as to avoid the flechage lines. It is preferable that the decrease is, for example, a double decrease that is made by decreasing 2 stitches at each of the left and right ends of the gore every fourth course. For example, it is assumed that a triangular gore has 80 stitches on its base and has a height of 20 rows, and a top portion is cut from the gore so that the gore has the shape of a trapezoid and has 4 stitches in the course direction at the top (top base of the trapezoid) of the gore. In addition, it is assumed that the height from the base to the top of the gore is 19 rows (20 rows to the apex). If 76 stitches are to be decreased during knitting of 19 courses, it is necessary to make a decrease in all of the courses, and so knitting is difficult.

[0023] Since 2 stitches at each of the left and right ends, that is, a total of 4 stitches are decreased in a single course, and 2 courses are knitted by a single line of flechage, it is preferable that, during generation of gores, the positions of the two sides of each gore are altered by the gore generator so that the difference in the number of rows between the two sides is an even number, and the number of stitches of the base is a multiple of 4.

[0024] A processor 24 for other processing performs other processing related to knitting including, for example, binding off, if the bind-off is necessary for processing at the start of knitting, to finish knitting, and so on, addition of a pattern by knit structure, an intarsia pattern, and the like, and design of sleeves, if the knitted fabric is a body and is to be joined to the sleeves. After the design of the knitted fabric has been completed, a data converter 26 converts design data of the knitted fabric to knitting data that is executable on a flat knitting machine.

[0025] The design of the knitted fabric will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, especially FIG. 2. Note that the design data of the knitted fabric in the designing process is continuously displayed on the monitor 10 in FIG. 1. The operator inputs the external shape of the knitted fabric through the input unit 6 (step S1), inputs the center at which the apexes of respective gores gather at a position on, for example, the major axis of the knitted fabric, and inputs the number of gores (step S2). FIGS. 3 and 4 show gores 32 to 39 and gores 42 to 49 with respect to an external shape 30 of the same knitted fabric. A-A indicates the major axis of the external shape 30 of the knitted fabric, position C indicates the center in FIG. 3, and position C' indicates the center in FIG. 4. The gores 32 to 35 and the gores 36 to 39 are symmetrical, and the gores 42 to 45 and the gores 46 to 49 are also symmetrical. If the center is changed from C to C', the shapes of the gores change accordingly. The larger the shift of the center from the midpoint of the major axis, the less uniform the shapes of the gores, and the further the gores are deviated from isosceles triangles. Note that as indicated by C" in FIG. 4, the center may also be situated off the major axis A-A of the knitted fabric. Dashed arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4 indicate a knitting direction (wale direction), and knitting is started at the peripheral edge of the external shape 30 of the knitted fabric. In this embodiment, tubular knitting that is symmetrical with respect to the major axis A-A is described, but instead of tubular knitting, shaped knitting may also be performed in, for example, an upward direction from the bottom in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0026] When the external shape of the knitted fabric is determined, and the position of the center and the number of gores are determined, the gore generator 16 generates gores. For example, the gore generator 16 divides the inside of the external shape 30 into a plurality of gores so that, for example, the gores have the same apex angle, obtains the length d of the base and the height h of each gore, and converts the obtained length and height to the number of stitches of the base and the number of rows in the height direction, respectively. In addition, the gore generator 16 requests the operator to input a sliding direction (direction in which the gores are to be slid so that the apexes of the gores gather) (step S3). Note that if the number of gores is not input, a standard value of, for example, 8 to 12 may be used as the number of gores. Also, if the sliding direction is not input, the sliding direction may be automatically generated in accordance with a condition that, for example, the sum total of distances of stitch transfer for sliding should be small.

[0027] The gore evaluator 18 evaluates whether it is possible to decrease the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base of the gore before the center is reached while satisfying the condition of decrease (step S4). If the condition of decrease is not satisfied (step S5), the number of gores is increased, or the boundaries of the gores are changed so that the base of a gore that does not satisfy the condition of decrease is shortened. If the number of gores is increased, a curved peripheral edge of a circle, an ellipse, or the like can be more accurately approximated, but there are cases where it becomes necessary to change the number of stitches to be decreased at each end of the gore from 2 to 1, resulting in a decrease in knitting efficiency.

[0028] In FIG. 5a), the center C on the major axis A-A of the external shape 50 of the knitted fabric is specified by the operator. In FIG. 5b), a plurality of gores are generated. The gores are generated such that the gores 51 and 55 that touch the major axis A-A have an apex angle of α/2, and the other gores 52 to 54 have an apex angle of α. The gores 51' to 55' are symmetrical to the gores 51 to 55 with respect to the major axis A-A. The height of the gore is represented by h, and the length of the base is represented by d. In FIG. 5c), when the sliding direction is specified, and a position serving as, for example, a center b of sliding is specified, sliding is specified such that the apexes of the individual gores are moved to that position. Arrows in FIG. 5c) indicate the sliding direction. If the center b of sliding is not input, the gore generator 16 specifies the center b of sliding in accordance with the condition that, for example, the sum total of distances by which the apexes of the respective gores are to be slid is minimized. Note that the center b of sliding is a point for specifying the direction in which the gores are to be slid, and where the center b of sliding is specified has an influence on the ease of knitting. Wherever the center b of sliding is specified, when the knitted fabric is removed from the flat knitting machine, the knitted fabric deforms in such manner that the apexes of the gores gather at the center C, which is specified in step S2 of FIG. 2.

[0029] If all the gores satisfy the condition of decrease, as shown in FIG. 6a), flechage lines are substantially uniformly arranged in the wale direction. Lines 60 within a circle in an upper right portion of the drawing are flechage lines, which extend, for example, from the right end of the gore 53 toward the gore 54. The number of flechage lines that turn back in a gore is substantially equal to the difference in the number of rows between the two sides of that gore divided by 2. As shown within a circle in a middle right portion, flechage is composed of knitting of 2 courses, and there is a difference of 2 rows between a wale in which a flechage line turns back and the next wale that comes after this wale, and therefore, for example, one tuck stitch is formed instead of a knit stitch at an end position of the flechage line (step S6).

[0030] Courses in which a decrease is made (decrease courses) are substantially uniformly arranged in the wale direction in each gore, thereby allowing the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base to be decreased before the center (position at which the apexes of the gores gather) is reached. Courses in which a tuck stitch is formed are not suitable for stitch transfer, and thus it is preferable to exclude the courses in which a tuck stitch is formed by flechage from the decrease courses. FIG. 6b) shows decrease lines (columns of decreased stitches in the wale direction) 62. FIG. 6c) shows the result of sliding the gores in the sliding direction on the monitor 10, where reference numeral 64 indicates a cast-on line at the peripheral edge of the external shape.

[0031] In order to impart a three-dimensional shape, for example, a bulge into the knitted fabric, the lengths of wales (the numbers of rows in wales) can be made larger than those of a design of a flat knitted fabric. Also, in the case where a neck hole or the like is formed in the center, the gores can be bound off along the neck hole. FIG. 7 shows such an example, in which a three-dimensional shape is imparted by increasing rows in the wale direction, and a neck hole is formed.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a poncho that corresponds to the design of the gores in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a side view of the poncho. Reference numeral 80 indicates a poncho, reference numeral 82 indicates a neck hole, r indicates the radius of the neck hole 82, and reference numeral 84 indicates expected positions of armholes. The armholes are formed by cutting or the like after knitting, but may also be formed by shaped knitting. Other processing after the generation of the gores is input as described above (step S8 in FIG. 2), and conversion to knitting data for use in the flat knitting machine is performed in step S9. The flat knitting machine includes two or more needle beds, and knits one of the two portions of the knitted fabric, into which the knitted fabric is divided along the major axis of its external shape, on a front needle bed and the other portion on a rear needle bed.

[0033] FIGS. 10 to 13 show a design of a top hat 90. As shown in FIG. 10, a center C is in an eccentric position. As shown in FIG. 11, there is a bulge having a height h'. With respect to this design, gores 91 to 95 are arranged on one side of the major axis A-A and gores 91' to 95' are arranged on the other side by following the same procedures as in FIG. 2 (FIG. 12). Then, hatched areas corresponding to the bulge and providing the height h' are added to the respective gores (FIG. 13). After that, knitting data of the top hat 90 may be obtained in the same manner as in FIG. 2. Reference numeral 64 indicates a cast-on line.

[0034] FIGS. 14 and 15 show a design of a hexagonal knitted fabric 100. Reference numerals 101 to 106 indicate gores, and gores 101' to 106' that are symmetrical to the gores 101 to 106 are shown on the other side of the major axis A-A. FIG. 15 shows the result of designing the gores 101 to 105 in the same manner as in FIG. 2, and the gores 101 to 103 and the gores 104 to 106 are to be slid as indicated by arrows in the drawing. Reference numeral 64 indicates a cast-on line.

[0035] The embodiment has the following features.

1) A knitted fabric that is knittable can be designed even in the cases of a knitted fabric having a complicated external shape and a knitted fabric whose center is shifted from the center of its external shape.

2) When the external shape of the knitted fabric, the center of the knitted fabric, which is the position at which apexes of respective gores gather, the number of gores, and the sliding direction (position serving as the center b of sliding) are specified, a plurality of gores are substantially automatically generated, and whether it is possible to achieve decreasing can be evaluated. Note that the input of the number of gores and the sliding direction may be omitted.

3) Knitting can be performed even if the shapes of the gores are not isosceles triangles.

4) Decreasing in a flechage line is avoided, and thus no tuck stitch in the flechage line is dropped during stitch transfer for decreasing.

5) Decrease courses and flechage lines are substantially uniformly arranged in the wale direction, and thus the knitted fabric has a favorable appearance. Also, even in the case where a neck hole or the like is formed, the decrease and the flechage before the neck hole is reached can be used as they are, and there is no need to arrange decrease courses and flechage lines again.

6) If the center is specified on the major axis of the knitted fabric, it is possible to perform generation of gores, decreasing, flechage, sliding, and the like on only one side of the major axis and copy the obtained design to the other side of the major axis.

7) The knitted fabric may be any knitted fabrics including clothes such as a bolero and a poncho, rugs, and the like. The knitted fabric may also be a knitted fabric having a portion that is constituted by gores and a portion other than the gores.

List of Reference Numerals

[0036] 

2

Knit design apparatus

4

Bus

6

Input unit

8

Output unit

10

Monitor

12

Color printer

14

Program memory

16

Gore generator

18

Gore evaluator

20

Flechage processor

22

Decrease processer

24

Processor for other processing

26

Data converter

30

External shape of knitted fabric

32 to 39

Gores

42 to 49

Gores

50

External shape of knitted fabric

51 to 55

Gores

60

Flechage line

62

Decrease line

64

Cast-on line

80

Poncho

82

Neck hole

84

Armhole

90

Top hat

91 to 95

Gores

100

Knitted fabric

101 to 105

Gores

C

Center

A-A

Major axis

d

Length of base of gore

h

Height of gore

b

Center of sliding

r

Radius of hole

Claims

1. A knit design method for designing a knitted fabric having a plurality of triangular parts so that the knitted fabric is knittable on a flat knitting machine, characterized by comprising:

a step for inputting an external shape (30, 50) of a knitted fabric:

a step for inputting a position of a center (C) at which apexes of respective parts into which the knitted fabric is divided gather;

a step for determining the number of parts;

a step for dividing the knitted fabric into a plurality of parts, each part having the shape of a triangle, the center (C) being an apex of the triangle, a peripheral edge of the knitted fabric being a base of the triangle, and lines connecting both ends of the base to the center (C) being two sides of the triangle;

a step for evaluating whether the number of stitches corresponding to a length (d) of the base of each part can be decreased during knitting of the number of rows corresponding to a height (h) of that part while satisfying a condition of decrease, wherein the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric is set in a course direction of knitting;

a step for, if it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible, increasing the number of parts or shortening the base of a part with respect to which it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible, thereby enabling the number of stitches corresponding to the length (d) of the base to be decreased during knitting of the number of rows corresponding to the height (h) of the part while satisfying the condition of decrease;

a step for subsequently producing flechage lines (60) so as to be parallel to the course direction so that a difference in the number of rows between the two sides of each part due to a difference between lengths of the two sides is compensated for by flechage knitting that turns back in an internal portion or an end portion of that part; and

a step for producing decrease courses so that the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base are decreased.

2. The knit design method according to claim 1, characterized in that if the knitted fabric has a major axis (A-A), the position of the center (C) is specified on the major axis (A-A) of the knitted fabric.

3. The knit design method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a point to which the apexes of the plurality of parts are to be slid in the course direction is input.

4. A knit design apparatus (2) for designing a knitted fabric having a plurality of triangular parts so that the knitted fabric is knittable on a flat knitting machine, characterized by comprising:

an input unit (6) that inputs an external shape (30, 50) of a knitted fabric and a position of a center (C) at which apexes of respective parts into which the knitted fabric is divided gather;

a part generator (16) that divides the knitted fabric by generating a plurality of parts, each part having the shape of a triangle, the center (C) being an apex of the triangle, a peripheral edge of the knitted fabric being a base of the triangle, and lines connecting both ends of the base to the center (C) being two sides of the triangle;

a part evaluator (18) that evaluates whether the number of stitches corresponding to a length (d) of the base of each part can be decreased during knitting of the number of rows corresponding to a height (h) of that part while satisfying a condition of decrease, wherein the peripheral edge of the knitted fabric is set in a course direction of knitting;

a means for, if it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible, increasing the number of parts or shortening the base of a part with respect to which it is evaluated that the decrease is not possible;

a flechage processor (20) that produces flechage lines (60) so as to be parallel to the course direction so that a difference in the number of rows between the two sides of each part due to a difference between lengths of the two sides is compensated for by flechage knitting that turns back in an internal portion or an end portion of that part; and

a decrease processor (22) that produces decrease courses so that the same number of stitches as the number of stitches of the base are decreased.

Drawing