Where Creativity and Craftsmanship Come Together in Jacquard Knitwear

Where Creativity and Craftsmanship Come Together in Jacquard Knitwear

At Relooped, our products are far from ordinary printed fabrics. They are knitted using the so-called jacquard technique, also known as intarsia. This artful method, named after the Italian word for mosaic, has revolutionized the world of knitwear. Imagine putting together a puzzle, where each piece is a block of solid color that seamlessly merges into a beautiful design. During this process, stitches behave like colored pixels, decorating the fabric without traditional printing or embroidery. It's like painting directly onto the fabric. Unlike printed fabrics, intarsia knits are made with complex patterns that are knitted with special knitting machines and techniques. In this article, we explore the technology we use to turn your drawings into soft knitted masterpieces.

A Dive into the History of Jacquard Knitwear

The roots of jacquard knitwear go back to the early 19th century and are named after Joseph Marie Jacquard, the brilliant inventor of the Jacquard loom. This groundbreaking invention forever changed the textile industry. Unlike conventional knits, jacquard knitwear originates from a Jacquard knitting machine equipped with a punch card system. This technological gem controls the intricate patterns and designs that emerge during the knitting process. Remember those iconic oversized sweaters with colorful patterns that were so popular in the 80s? They owe their existence to computer-controlled knitting machines that were introduced in the early 1980s, which significantly accelerated and simplified the creation of intarsia knit fabrics.

Two-Color Scarves and Blankets: The Wonder of Double Jacquard

One of the most fascinating techniques we use is the double jacquard knitting method. Double jacquard knitting involves working in two layers and connecting them while the yarns change color. When we receive your design, our journey to create your unique scarf or blanket begins. Initially, we convert your drawings into just two colors - the color of the drawing and the color of the background. One color is knitted on the top layer, while the other color is knitted on the background layer. This process results in a remarkable effect: a negative color representation of your design appears on the back of your scarf or throw blanket, making it reversible.

Why the Canvas Matters

The nature of double jacquard knitting means that if the canvas is simple and contains no drawing, your scarf or throw blanket will be knitted as a hollow tube, only connected at the edges. To achieve a higher quality product, it is essential to spread your drawing across the entire drawing template. This leads to multiple color changes and ensures that your knitted fabric is evenly connected throughout the design, resulting in a superior product.

Benefits of Double Jacquard

The double jacquard technique offers several key benefits for your creation:

- Very fine and dense stitches: Each small stitch in the knitted fabric represents one pixel of your drawing. This means we can reproduce your design with exceptional detail and creative freedom.

- Double-sided design: With double intarsia, you get a double-sided product. Your original design adorns the front, while the back shows a unique negative color representation, meaning it's reversible.

- Durability: The interlocking layers increase the durability of the product, ensuring it stands the test of time.

Photo Blankets: The Art of Three-Color Jacquard

Our photo blankets are a tribute to the art of knitting. Designed in three colors, these cozy blankets use the three-color jacquard knitting technique. This method adds a touch of elegance and complexity to your photo blanket, beautifully bringing out every detail. Your knitted photos also get a touch of impressionistic vibes.

The Three-Color Jacquard Technique

In three-color jacquard knitting, one color knits on the front, while the other two colors continue to knit on the back. With this technique, we get a multicolored dotted pattern on the back. These blankets are slightly heavier and have a cozy look that you'll love to wrap yourself in.

The Powerful Knitting Machines: 1400 Tiny Needles

Behind every knitted masterpiece lies a remarkable machine. At Relooped, we use knitting machines equipped with as many as 1400 tiny needles. These needles work together precisely, creating the precision and quality we strive for in every product we make with every stitch.

Your Ideas, Your Designs, Your Imagination in Full Glory

In the world of knitting, the jacquard technique is a true masterpiece. It allows us to transform your creative designs into tangible works of art, whether it's a two-color scarf, a reversible blanket, or a vibrant photo blanket with a repeating pattern on the back. We strive for quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail in every piece we produce. So, when you wrap yourself in your own Relooped creation, know that you are not only surrounded by your imagination but also by the art of knitting in its full glory.