Abstract: A method of making a breathable elastic web fabric comprises the steps of forming rows of chain stitches using a set of chain threads to define a plurality of lengthwise wales and widthwise courses, moving the front and back weft threads from side to side on each course in a pre-determined pattern as each course is formed to tie the wales and chain stitches together and to provide a plurality of staggered ventilation holes, and laying-in one elastomeric thread in each of the wales. The elastomeric thread is sandwiched between the front weft threads and the back weft threads, and enclosed in the underlap of each chain stitch. Preferably, the holes are formed in sets, the holes in each set being separated by at least one locking stitch to provide widthwise stability. In a pattern repeat of twelve courses and twenty four wales, the pattern for each weft bar is 1, 9, 1, 10, 1, 9, 5, 13, 4, 13, 5, 13. The holes comprise approximately 12 to 25 per cent of the extended surface area of the fabric.

Abstract: An elastic knit fabric has pile loops on its back surface which are aligned in rows along the linear axis of the fabric and across the transverse axis of the fabric, the loops being disposed in standing relation with the openings in successive transverse rows being canted in opposite directions. The base web forming the fabric has successive courses parallel to its transverse axis and a plurality of parallel wales parallel to its linear axis. The pile yarns are knit to form a plurality of pile loops in the base web, each pile yarn having two stitches knit in successive first and second courses in a first wale, followed by two stitches knit in successive third and fourth courses in a second wale adjacent the first wale, followed by two stitches knit in successive fifth and sixth courses in the first wale. The pile loops are formed by the underlap as the pile yarn crosses back and forth between the first and second wales, whereby each pile yarn forms a pile loop every two courses.