Abstract: A double knit fabric having at least a first set of alternating wales comprising a first wale and a second wale, said first set of alternating wales forming the face side of the fabric;at least a second set of alternating wales comprising a first wale and a second wale, said second set of alternating wales forming the reverse side of the fabric; andat least six feed yarns, wherein the first wale of said first set of alternating wales has knit stitches produced by the first, third and fifth feed yarns, wherein the second wale of said first set of alternating wales has knit stitches produced by the second, fourth, and sixth feed yarns, wherein the first wale of the second set of alternating wales has knit stitches produced by the fourth feed yarn, and wherein the second wale of the second set of alternating wales has knit stitches produced by the first feed yarn.

Abstract: A device for intermittently tensioning a yarn passing therethrough in which a motor cam acts on a tension train mounted on a fixed shaft. The tension train is composed of a tension adjuster which provides tension on a base plate, spring, and tension discs mounted between a stop and the tension adjuster. In an embodiment of the invention a method for intermittently tensioning a yarn by passing the yarn between the tension discs of the device described above.

Abstract: A double knit fabric includes a plurality of courses knitted to form first and second sets of alternating wales. The first set of alternating wales forms the face of the fabric while the second set of alternating wales forms the reverse side of the fabric. The courses are knitted in a preselected pattern to form stitches which join the courses together at selected wales. First yarns are used to form selected courses with the first yarns having a higher shrinkability than second yarns forming the remainder of the courses. Selected second yarns are knit in a pattern which allows portions of the second yarns to float on the face of the fabric. The floating portions are formed by causing the yarn to welt or miss at least two consecutive wales of the first set of alternating wales.

Abstract: A fabric having open areas is knitted from a plurality of body yarns interspersed at intervals with locking yarns having a lower melting temperature by casting off selected loops in selected body yarns, causing the cast-off loops to unravel toward but not past the respective locking yarn, and heating the fabric to cause the locking yarns to fuse to the touching body yarns, thereby preventing the cast-off loops from unraveling past the respective locking yarn.

Abstract: A double knit fabric is knitted from at least a first yarn and a second yarn, said first yarn having a boiling water shrinkage ranging from boiling water shrinkage ranging from about 50 to about 95 percent, and said fabric containing from about 70 to about 90 percent of the first yarn and about 10 to about 30 percent of the second yarn.