Abstract: A thread and a fabric are provided which are capable of being dyed to have a desired color and are formed of a metal-plated yarn excellent in antibacterial and electro-magnetic shielding properties. The thread for achieving this object is a composite thread (1) consisting of a chain stitch yarn (3) formed of a dyeable yarn and a metal-plated yarn (2) inserted as a core yarn into the chain stitch yarn (3). A fabric or a weft-knit product formed of the composite yarn (1) is excellent in antibacterial and electro-magnetic shielding properties and capable of having a favorable appearance of desired color. If the metal-plated yarn is directly arranged in the warp-knit fabric, the metal-plated yarn (51, 52, 53, 54) is preferably inserted to be invisible to a human eye from the surface of the warp-knit fabric.

Abstract: A composite yarn comprised of a chain stitch yarn knitted from a yarn A and at least an inlay yarn of a yarn B inserted into the chain stitch yarn along a longitudinal direction thereof. Since the chain stitch yarn and the inlay yarn are surely interlaced with each other in the composite yarn, there is little chance that the chain stitch yarn and the inlay yarn are separated in use. A preferable apparatus for manufacturing the composite yarn in accordance with the present invention may include individual winding mechanisms downstream of each knitting station in a warp knitting machine.