Abstract: A fiber string having a plurality of loops extending outwardly therefrom is formed by knitting a loop pile fabric with non-soluble and soluble yarns and then dissolving the soluble yarns in a solution to release the knitted loops. The loop pile fabric includes a central rib, or backbone, knitted from a plurality of non-soluble yarns, a plurality of loops knitted into the central rib such that terminal ends thereof extend outwardly from opposite sides of the central rib, and a strip of retaining fabric respectively knitted into the terminal ends of the loops on each side of said central rib. The loops are knitted from a plurality of non-soluble yarns, and the strips of retaining fabric are knitted from a plurality of soluble yarns. The retaining fabrics hold the ends of the loops during knitting. However, the loops are subsequently freed from the retaining fabric by immersing the entire fabric in a solution capable of dissolving the soluble yarns, i.e. the retaining fabric.