Fundamentals of Textile Design 3(2+1)

Lesson 19: Components of Knitting

Latch needle

This is used to make heavier or coarser knit fabric, has a half hook on one end, and a latch fixed at some distance from the hook that helps in closing the hook of the needle as it pulls the yarn through a loop to form a new loop. The latch swings freely and the stem is a straight portion with a protruding butt. Needles are moved on the machine with the help of this butt. The latch needles are self acting, and requires only previous loop on the stem and do not require any other element on the machine to close the hook. It is most widely used needle in weft knitting. These needles are coarser than the bearded needles. Loop formation is seen in the picture below