Predicting the Drape Coefficient of Knitted Fabrics

Multiple regression analysis was used to determine whether certain deformation properties (stiffness, shear, extensibility) and structural characteristics (fabric weight, thickness, and density) serve as reliable predictors of the drape of knitted fabrics. Stiffness, measured in terms of bending length, thickness, and shear, is the factor influencing the drape of knitted fabrics in general. Warp knits and weft knits, however, are dependent on different variables. Stiffness, thickness, and extension are the best predictors for warp knits, whereas stiffness and shear are the best predictors for weft knitted constructions.