Abstract: In one aspect, a shoe component is described. The shoe component comprises a body of continuous fabric having at least a first zone and a second zone. The first zone of the fabric has a first modulus of elasticity and the second zone of the fabric has a second modulus of elasticity that is different than the first modulus of elasticity. More than two zones can be provided per shoe component, in some cases.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of making a knitted shoe component are described herein. In some embodiments, a method comprises knitting one or more fibers to form a toe portion; knitting one or more fibers to form a first wing portion; and knitting one or more fibers to form a second wing portion. The first and second wing portions extend from the toe portion and are knittingly connected to the toe portion. The method further comprises reducing the lateral separation between the first and second wing portions from an initial separation distance to a knitting separation distance such that the wing portions can be knitted together to form a seamless heel portion of the shoe component, including using a series of stitch transfer, racking, and knitting steps.