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DesignISCO 7318

Knitter

A knitter is a person who makes knitted fabric and knitted articles, turning yarn into a material built of interlocking loops.

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Check yourself in a minute: knitter

Rate 5 of the 10 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

use manual knitting techniques

use textile technique for hand-made products

control textile process

maintain equipment

cut textiles

About knitter

The knitter works by traditional technique: with needles or on a hand-operated machine, leading the yarn so that each loop catches the one before it and forms a continuous surface. Technique, needles and yarn are matched to the article, because the same thread on thicker needles gives a loose, stretchy fabric and on finer ones a dense fabric that holds its shape.

The knitter knows fibre and fabric types and the properties of textile materials, assesses them and takes textile measurements: yarn thickness, loop density, the dimensions of a sample after washing. The sample is what establishes how many stitches and rows fall across a given width, and without it a finished article comes out the wrong size.

The knitter controls the textile production process and maintains the equipment: needles, the machine, winders, and on machine work watches the tension and replaces worn parts. A textile vocational qualification is one route into the trade.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a knitter.

1

Material Selection and Preparation

  • Select appropriate yarn types and textile fibres based on project requirements
  • Evaluate textile material properties including strength, elasticity, and durability
  • Prepare and organize materials according to pattern specifications
2

Knitting Technique Execution

  • Apply various manual knitting techniques to create interlocking yarn loops
  • Use appropriate needles and tools for different fabric types and yarn weights
  • Maintain consistent tension and stitch quality throughout the knitting process
  • Adapt techniques to produce fabrics of diverse proportions and designs
3

Quality Control and Evaluation

  • Evaluate textile characteristics including colour, texture, and uniformity
  • Identify and correct defects or inconsistencies in knitted fabric
  • Measure finished pieces against specifications for size and weight
4

Equipment Maintenance

  • Maintain and service knitting needles, frames, and manual equipment
  • Replace worn needles or tools to ensure consistent quality

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (10)

properties of textile materialsproperties of textile materialsThe characteristics and properties of different textile and fabric materials. These include strength, flexibility, elasticity, softness, durability, heat insulation, low weight, water absorbency/repel...fabric typesfabric typesWoven, non-woven, knitted fabrics and netting fabrics, technical fabrics such as Gore-Tex and Gannex.types of textile fibrestypes of textile fibresThe variety of textile fibres both natural such as wool and hemp and man-made or synthetic fibers.textile measurementtextile measurementTextile measurement units, such as mommes, thread count (the degree of coarseness of a fabric), picks per inch (PPI) and ends per inch (EPI).use manual knitting techniquesuse manual knitting techniquesCreate handmade knitted fabrics by using traditional handicraft techniques to knit ropes of yarn.use textile technique for hand-made productsuse textile technique for hand-made productsUsing textile technique to produce hand-made products, such as carpets, tapestry, embroidery, lace, silk screen printing, wearing apparel, etc.control textile processcontrol textile processPlanning and monitoring textile production to achieve control on behalf of quality, productivity and delivery time.maintain equipmentmaintain equipmentRegularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.cut textilescut textilesCut textiles fitting to customers' desires and needs.evaluate textile characteristicsevaluate textile characteristicsEvaluate textiles and their properties in order to manufacture products in conformity with specifications.
Optional (13) — show
knitting machine technologyknitting machine technologyManufacturing technologies which use loop forming techniques to convert yarns into fabrics in order to form knitted fabrics.health and safety in the textile industryhealth and safety in the textile industryThe requirements, rules and applications of health and safety measures in the textile industry.textile industrytextile industryMajor textile manufacturers on the market of various brands and materials.textile technologiestextile technologiesTextile technologies to design, manufacture and evaluate the properties of textiles.textile trendstextile trendsLatest developments in textile fabrics and textile methods.textile techniquestextile techniquesThe various steps and methods of the manufacturing process of textile. The techniques applied to the finishing of textile products based on the type of textile used.manufacture knitted textilesmanufacture knitted textilesPerform the operation, monitoring and maintenance of machines and processes to manufacture knitted products keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.produce textile samplesproduce textile samplesMake up textile samples or have them fabricated by specialised workers or technicians.modify textile designsmodify textile designsEdit sketches and digital textile designs until they meet up with customers' requirements.produce textile designsproduce textile designsDraw sketches for textile design, by hand or on computer, using specialist Computer Aided Design (CAD) software.sell textiles fabricssell textiles fabricsSell textile fabrics such as cotton, wool, linen and synthetic fabrics.work in textile manufacturing teamswork in textile manufacturing teamsWork harmoniously with colleagues in teams in the textile and clothing manufacturing industries.create patterns for textile productscreate patterns for textile productsCreate a two-dimensional model used to cut the material for textile products such as tents and bags, or for individual pieces needed for upholstery work.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

knitting machine operator7 shared essential skillscarpet handicraft worker5 shared essential skillstextile technologist5 shared essential skillscarpet weaver3 shared essential skillsscreen making technician3 shared essential skillstextile chemical quality technician3 shared essential skillstextile chemist3 shared essential skillstextile process controller3 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a knitter do?

Knitters create textiles or fabric by knitting pieces of yarn. They use traditional techniques to create interlocking loops of yarn which form a uniform piece of fabric. Knitters use different techniques, needles and yarn materials to create knitted materials of diverse proportions.

What skills does a knitter need?

A knitter needs 10 essential skills, including properties of textile materials, fabric types, types of textile fibres, textile measurement, use manual knitting techniques.

Will AI replace knitter jobs?

The AI disruption score for knitter is 31/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: types of textile fibres, textile measurement, control textile process. Most resilient: use manual knitting techniques, cut textiles, use textile technique for hand-made products.

Quick Facts

SectorDesign
ISCO GroupHandicraft and printing workers
Essential Skills10

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