Properties of Plain Knitted Fabrics from Chenille Yarns

In this experimental study, dimensional, physical, and visual properties of plain jersey knitted fabrics from chenille yarns are investigated as a function of component yarn count, pile length, laundering, and dry-cleaning. Based on the results, it is clear that the properties of component and pile yarns, together with laundering or dry-cleaning, affect the dimensional behavior of knits from chenille yarns. Dry-cleaned fabrics have the highest dimensional stability in general. Except for the dry relaxed fabrics, pile length has no significant effect on the abrasion resistance of dry-cleaned and laundered fabrics. The results also show that bursting strength mainly depends on the properties of the component yams, rather than the laundering and dry-cleaning processes, and that unlike knits from conventional yarns, the pilling tendency does not change in accordance with component and pile yarn properties and with laundering or dry-cleaning. Finally, it appears that surface properties such as softness, smoothness, and luster become much better as the component yarn count becomes finer and the pile length becomes longer. Tumble drying better satisfies the end-user's expectations for knitted goods from chenille yarns with fine count component yarns and long piles.