The requirements in terms of wearing comfort with sportswear underwear and outerwear are widely linked to the use of elastane fibers. Today, elastomeric plated jersey fabric is one of the most common fabrics produced with large-diameter circular knitting machine (LCKM). However, the relation between elastane proportion and fabric characteristics has not been enough studied in literature and knitters generally use experience during machines adjustments in to order reach needed fabric characteristics. The aim of this paper was to investigate the relation between Lycra ® consumption and fabric dimensional and elastic behavior. The obtained results showed that Lycra ® proportion inside fabric has an incidence on fabric width, weight and elasticity. The origin of this behaviour has been discussed.

The success of a suture is generally linked to its mechanical performance such as tensile strength and knot slippage. The measurement of the tensile properties of sutures suffers from the absence of an international standard test method. In this paper, we present an experimental procedure for the measurement of mechanical parameters and knot slippage of braided sutures made of polyester fibers. The effect of braid angle on tensile and knot performance was studied, and a slippage ratio obtained from load-extension curves was defined. The variation of braid angle had an important influence on breaking load and elongation of the suture. The presence of a knot lowered the breaking load and the rupture occurred consistently at the knot region. The slippage ratio permitted the comparison of the resistance to slippage of different types of knot.

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Dimensional stability is one of the main quality problems of men's sock manufacturing. Major shrinkage can be found after washing, undermining socks' usability. Today, greater demand for quality is required as customers become more aware of shrinkage from laundering. In order to investigate the effect of pressing and repeated launderings on dimensional stability of men's socks, three commonly produced socks were subject to pressing at different temperatures and for different lengths of duration by an industrial sock pressing machine. The study demonstrates that pressing causes major shrinkage in the body and sole zones. The shrinkage is inversely proportional to temperature and duration of the pressing process. After the first laundering, major shrinkage was found. The second laundering had no significant effect on dimensional variations since the sock had already taken up its fully relaxed dimensions. The results can help knitters predict sock dimensions after thermal and humid treatments.