When we wear a cashmere or fine wool sweater, we often imagine it being sewn like a shirt or jacket. In reality, knitwear isn’t created by sewing, but by a completely different process: the garment is constructed directly with the yarn, stitch by stitch.
In the Prato textile district, where Due Toscani is based, much of the quality knitwear is made with electronic knitting machines, such as those produced by the Japanese company Shima Seiki, a world leader in industrial knitting technology.
Let’s see together how a sweater is created on these machines.
The first fundamental element is the yarn.
We mainly use:
cashmere
merino wool
recycled cashmere.
The yarn arrives in bobbins or cones, which are positioned behind the knitting machine.
From here, the yarn is guided through tensioners and feeders, which perfectly regulate the tension to ensure a uniform fabric.
Yarn quality is crucial:
a good yarn means more regular stitches, greater softness, and a longer-lasting garment.
Before production begins, the sweater is designed on a computer.
Special software defines:
the shape of the garment
the size
the type of stitch
any details or finishes
The program is then sent to the machine, which automatically executes the process.
The machine processes the yarn using hundreds of needles that form the stitches.
Each needle picks up the yarn and creates a stitch that intertwines with the others, forming the fabric.
This way, the various parts of the garment are created, such as:
front
back
sleeves
Each piece comes out of the machine already shaped like the pattern.
Once all the pieces are produced, they are joined together.
This process is called linking and allows the different parts of the sweater to be connected while maintaining the typical elasticity of knitwear.
The final stage is finishing.
The garment is washed, dried, and finished to achieve its final feel—the softness and appearance found in the finished product.
Knitting is a fascinating process: a simple thread creates a three-dimensional garment, constructed stitch by stitch thanks to the technology of modern machinery and the experience of the people who work in the sector.
It is this balance between technology, quality yarns, and traditional craftsmanship that allows for the creation of authentic knitwear, like that produced in Tuscany.