Abstract: This invention relates to a warp knitted elastic fabric composed of alternating non-elastic courses formed from non-elastic yarns and intervening elastic courses formed primarily with elastic thread having a knitted ground construction composed of a plurality of non-elastic threads arranged in one or two systems of warp threads formed into a plurality of wales and courses of single thread stitches. The threads of said system or systems form stitches in adjacent wales in a course and in alternate courses to form the alternating non-elastic course. A plurality of elastic threads arranged in one system of warp threads form a plurality of wales and alternate elastic courses of double elastic thread stitches. Each elastic thread forming a part of two stitches in adjacent wales in a course knitting in the intervening courses when at least half of the non-elastic threads are not knitting.