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Wilson College of Textiles
Zeis Textiles Extension

Knitting Lab

The Knitting Laboratory is equipped with a wide variety of knitting machinery in order to best serve the textile industry at large, as well as the educational and research needs of NC State students and faculty. Weft knit capabilities include circular knitting on a variety of single and double knit machines in various gauges, as well as an array of state-of-the-art Shima Seiki and Stoll flat knitting machines. Warp knit capabilities include the lab-scale RIUS Mini-Tronic 6 or 12g machine. Services offered include fabric and sample development to fit the specific needs of a given client’s project.

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Flatbed Knitting

Shima Seiki

  • Mach 123 XS 15g
  • SWG 061 N2 15g
  • SWG 021 N 15g
  • SRY 123 LP 14g
  • N. SVR 123 SP 14g
  • SIR 123 18g 

Stoll

  • ADF 530-32 ki BcW E8.2

Brevets Dubied

  • Manual 7g

Circular Knitting

Seamless

  • Lonati GK 616 DF 168 N 3¾” 14g
  • Lonati GE 616 DF 168 N 3¾” 14g
  • Santoni SM8 TOP2 26g 15”

Conventional

  • Sintelli 28g 20”
  • Monarch PFW 8g 26”

Jacquard

  • Mayer & Cie 18g 30”

Warp Knitting

Rius

  • Mini-Tronic 1208 Electronic Double Needle Bar Raschel Warp Knitting Machine 50” 6g, 12g

Braiding

Lamb KMC

  • 2NBA Knit Braider 12g, 30g

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use the lab and its equipment? 

The lab is open for use by students, faculty, and staff across the university, along with government and industry entities. Project inquiries may be submitted here. 

Can students work in the lab? 

Yes, students have the opportunity to work in the lab if chosen by the lab manager. Interested parties may email the lab manager directly with their resume and any supporting documents. Students work on knitting projects in the lab, among other tasks.  

Can I bring my own yarn or materials? 

Yes, those using the lab for fabrication services are encouraged to supply their own materials. 

 Is lab access limited? 

Lab access is limited to those who have a scheduled tour with the lab manager or a university representative. If you are interested in a tour, please reach out to the lab manager directly. 

What’s the difference between hand knitting and machine knitting? 

When knitting by hand, two needles are used to manually form loops by hand. In machine knitting, hundreds of needles are at the designer’s disposal in tandem with electronic selection methods for the needles, allowing for complex shapes and designs, along with faster production. Zeis Textiles Extension offers a Textile Fundamentals course for those interested in learning more. 

Can the lab design my product for me? 

The knitting will fabricate a provided design to develop a prototype. Design services are not offered in the lab. 

What is a weft knit fabric?

Weft knits are composed of horizontal inter-looping courses and wales, thus causing the yarn paths to run across the width of the fabric. Single knitting can be used to produce jersey, purl or rib knit whereas double knitting can be used to produce rib double or interlock double textiles. 

Some of the properties of weft knits include softness, warmth, comfort, stretch, recovery and wrinkle resistance.

About the Lab Manager

Zoe (Newman) Hezrony is a three-time graduate of the Wilson College of Textiles, earning her B.S. in Textile Design and her M.S. and Ph.D in Textile Technology Management. During her time as a student, she worked in the Knitting Lab learning machine and lab operations. Now, she is the Manager of the Knitting Lab, helping industry, academic, and government entities knit cutting-edge products. She previously worked at Karl Mayer North America as Knit Product Developer and Academy Coordinator in Greensboro, North Carolina. Zoe is also happy to share that she placed second in the inaugural Pitch to the Pack competition, winning nearly $20,000 to start her own business born out of her PhD research on expandable shoes for children. She has also been nominated for the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, a prestigious award offered by the NC State Alumni Association honoring an NC State graduate within the last ten years who has made outstanding contributions in their profession, community, and to NC State.