2 essential tips for ultra-tough knits

You don’t have to wait around for Matsumoto’s high-tech knitting machine to construct heavy-duty, unyielding sweaters, blankets, and socks. ‘Our research has [shown] that when you have two stitches of the same type (for example, knit-knit or purl-purl) next to each other (either laterally or vertically), the fabric will be stiffer than fabric with opposite stitch types next to each other (for example, knitpurl),’ Matsumoto says. But stiffness also depends on the specific yarn you use. In comparing stockinette, garter, rib, and seed fabrics, Matsumoto found stockinette is the stiffest both laterally and vertically.