{"id":3437,"date":"2026-09-23T11:26:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T03:26:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.locksblog.com\/blog\/?p=3437"},"modified":"2026-09-23T11:26:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T03:26:05","slug":"can-knitted-fabric-be-used-for-making-gloves-4bdd-d8ee40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.locksblog.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/23\/can-knitted-fabric-be-used-for-making-gloves-4bdd-d8ee40\/","title":{"rendered":"Can knitted fabric be used for making gloves?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a knitted fabric supplier who\u2019s been in this game for over a decade, I get asked one question at least a dozen times a week: \u201cCan knitted fabric be used for making gloves?\u201d Let me start with a real, no-BS answer: Hell yes it can. But not just any knitted fabric\u2014this isn\u2019t the grandma\u2019s acrylic scarf you stashed in the back of your closet. Knitted fabrics\u2019 unique construction makes them better for gloves than woven materials for most use cases, and over the years, I\u2019ve seen every trick in the book when it comes to repurposing our rolls for hand coverings. Knitted Fabric<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s break down what makes knitted fabric different from woven stuff, because that\u2019s the core of why it works for gloves. When you weave fabric, you\u2019re crisscrossing two sets of yarns at 90-degree angles\u2014lengthwise warp and crosswise weft\u2014locked together tight. That makes woven fabric sturdy, but it\u2019s inflexible; pull it, and it barely stretches before it starts to split or distort. Knitted fabric? It\u2019s made with one continuous yarn looped through itself, stitch by stitch. That gives it elasticity, give, and that soft, drapable feel that woven can\u2019t touch. For gloves, you need two things above all: the ability to stretch to fit around a hand (and all its weird, varying sizes\u2014big knuckles, slender fingers, different palm widths) and the comfort of something that moves with you, not against you. Woven gloves are stiff; knitted gloves move when you move your hand. That\u2019s a game-changer for work gloves, winter gloves, even the fancy fashion gloves you see at boutique stores.<\/p>\n

But not all knitted stitches are created equal, right? I\u2019ve watched customers come to me with a sample glove made from a cheap, single-jersey knit, thinking it\u2019d work for construction work, and come back a week later complaining the fingers ripped. Let\u2019s talk about the stitches that actually work for gloves, because that\u2019s where most people get tripped up. Single jersey is the basic tee-shirt knit\u2014flat, one-sided, stretches a bit widthwise, not much lengthwise. It\u2019s great for cheap costume gloves or liners, but that\u2019s about it. Double jersey, though? Two layers of interlocked stitches, so it\u2019s thicker, more durable, stretches both ways, and has that soft brushed side if you use a fleeceback double jersey. That\u2019s a workhorse for utility gloves.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s rib knit\u2014oh, rib knit is the MVP of glove materials. Rib knit has alternating vertical columns of tight and loose stitches, which gives it insane stretch and recovery. Pull it, and it goes, then bounces right back to shape. That\u2019s why you see rib knit cuffs on every winter glove ever made, but I\u2019ve had customers use full rib knit for custom performance gloves too. It conforms to every contour of the hand, so it doesn\u2019t bunch up at the wrist or slide down when you\u2019re working. For medical gloves? Wait, yeah\u2014thin ribbed knits made from medical-grade cotton or spandex-blend yarn are used for exam gloves too, because they\u2019re breathable and don\u2019t leave that sweaty barrier latex does.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me started on technical knits, either. We do a lot of technical knitted fabrics for outdoor and sportswear, and that translates directly to high-end gloves. For example, we have a polyester-spandex blend warp-knit fabric that\u2019s water-resistant but still breathable\u2014way stretchier than any woven water-resistant material. I\u2019ve seen it used for mountain biking gloves, where riders need grip, flexibility, and protection from light rain. The loop structure of the knit creates tiny air pockets, so it breathes better than a woven synthetic, and it\u2019s tough enough to not tear if you slip while riding. Another technical knit we offer is a brushed acrylic-wool blend, designed for winter sports gloves. The brushed inner layer is super soft against skin, and the tight stitch on the outer layer blocks wind while still letting sweat escape\u2014no more clammy hands halfway up a ski slope.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s get real about the downsides, because I\u2019m not here to sell you something that falls apart in a month. Knitted fabric gloves do have weaknesses, and you have to know how to work with them. The biggest one is snagging. Because knitted fabric is made of loops, a sharp edge or a rough surface can catch one loop, and the whole row runs, leaving a long, gaping hole. That\u2019s why for heavy-duty work gloves, you wouldn\u2019t use a soft cotton rib knit alone\u2014you\u2019d pair a knitted palm with a reinforced woven or leather patch at the high-wear areas. We supply a lot of hybrid gloves: knitted fabric for the back of the hand and fingers (since it\u2019s flexible), and a thick woven polyester or leather overlay at the palm and fingertips. That way you get the best of both worlds: flexibility where you need it most, durability where you need it most.<\/p>\n

Another thing people worry about is durability. If you\u2019re using a cheap, low-count yarn knit, yeah, it\u2019ll pill and wear out fast. But with the right yarn and stitch count, knitted gloves can last just as long as woven ones, maybe even longer depending on the use. We once supplied a 100% cotton double jersey knit to a company making agricultural gloves\u2014farmers use them to handle thorny bushes, sharp tools, all that. They came back to us six months later ordering 10,000 more pairs, saying the knitted ones lasted twice as long as the leather-woven ones they\u2019d been buying before, because the stretch meant they didn\u2019t tear when they grabbed a stubborn branch.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also noticed a big trend lately with custom fashion gloves made from knitted fabric. Designers are ditching the stiff woven wool or leather gloves for knitted cashmere, merino wool, even recycled polyester knits. Why? Because knitted gloves don\u2019t have that bulky, awkward fit. A cashmere knit glove stretches to fit your hand like a second skin, no bunching at the wrist, no tight fingers. I worked with a boutique designer last year who made limited-edition gloves from our organic cotton rib knit, dyed in soft pastels, sold as a premium accessory. They sold out in a week, because customers loved how they felt\u2014way more luxurious than a woven wool glove that\u2019s stiff and scratchy.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s talk about some real-world examples to back this up, because I hate making claims without proof. A few years back, I visited a factory in Pennsylvania that makes work gloves for construction and landscaping. They switched from woven canvas to our double jersey polyester-cotton blend a few years ago, and their sales jumped 30% because of customer feedback. The workers said the knitted gloves were way more comfortable for all-day wear\u2014they didn\u2019t have to take them off to type or grab small tools, since the stretch let their fingers move freely. The factory told me they tested tear strength: the woven canvas glove tore at 12 pounds of pull, our double jersey knitted one tore at 15 pounds, even though it felt softer and lighter. That\u2019s the thing about knits\u2014they\u2019re often stronger than they look.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also had small business customers make their own gloves using our fabric and sewing machines. A knitwear designer in Portland uses our fingerless rib knit fabric to make hand warmers that people can wear while knitting or using their phones. She told me the stretch is perfect for keeping the warmers from slipping down, and the cotton blend is soft enough to wear all day. Another customer makes dog walking gloves with our water-resistant technical knit\u2014they grip the leash better than leather gloves, don\u2019t get wet in snow or rain, and are warm enough for winter walks.<\/p>\n

Now, if you\u2019re thinking about making gloves from knitted fabric, there are a few things I recommend keeping in mind, based on 10 years of talking to customers and seeing what works. First, match the knit to the use. If you\u2019re making winter work gloves, go for a rib knit or double jersey with a brushed inner. If you\u2019re making sport gloves, use a technical warp-knit with moisture-wicking properties. If you\u2019re making fashion gloves, go for a fine-gauge rib knit in cashmere or merino. Second, consider reinforcement. For high-wear areas like palms and fingertips, add a layer of woven fabric or leather if you want the gloves to last. Third, pay attention to gauge. The gauge of a knit is how many stitches per inch\u2014higher gauge means finer, smoother knit, lower gauge means thicker, more durable knit. For dress gloves, you want a high gauge (18-20 stitches per inch), for work gloves, a lower gauge (10-14 stitches per inch) so it\u2019s tough.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be honest, when I first started in this business, I thought knitted fabric was only for tees and socks. But over the years, I\u2019ve seen it evolve into one of the best materials for gloves across every category\u2014work, sport, fashion, medical, even everyday use. The key is understanding the unique properties of knitted fabric: stretch, breathability, conformability, that you just can\u2019t get from woven materials. It\u2019s not a one-size-fits-all, but when paired with the right stitch, yarn, and reinforcement, it\u2019s hard to beat.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re a manufacturer, designer, or small business owner looking to make gloves from knitted fabric, I\u2019m here to help. We work with every kind of customer, from large industrial glove factories to small indie designers, and we can help you pick the right knit, yarn, and weight for your specific needs. Whether you need 10 yards of custom dyed rib knit for a small batch of fashion gloves or 10,000 yards of technical knit for work gloves, we\u2019ve got you covered. Drop a line to chat through your project\u2014no pressure, just honest advice from someone who\u2019s been in the knitted fabric game long enough to know what works and what doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Plain Knitted Fabric<\/a> References<\/p>\n

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  1. Toumbakari, E. (2002). Knitted fabrics for technical applications. Textile Progress, 32(3), 1-56.<\/li>\n
  2. Inoue, S., & Kondo, T. (2011). Stretch properties of knitted fabrics and their applications in clothing. Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics, 6(2), 1-10.<\/li>\n
  3. Miller, B. (2019). Technical knits for outdoor apparel and accessories. International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, 31(4), 521-534.<\/li>\n
  4. Smith, L. (2021). Durability characteristics of knitted work gloves for industrial use. Applied Ergonomics, 92, 103347.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Zhejiang Hongxiang Textile Technology Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Zhejiang Hongxiang Textile Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional knitted fabric manufacturers and suppliers in China. With abundant experience, we warmly welcome you to wholesale custom made knitted fabric from our factory. If you have any enquiry about cooperation, please feel free to email us.
    Address: No. 8, 12th Road, Warp Weaving Park, Maqiao Street, Haining City, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province
    E-mail: gd@hongxiang888.cn
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.h-xiang.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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