Napped double knit fabric and method of making

摘要

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. When at least the first yarns of the thus knitted fabric are subjected to shrinking treatment the first yarns shrink more than the second yarns thereby causing the floating portions of the second yarns to project from the fabric for subsequent napping. Napping of the thus shrink-treated fabric causes the floating portions to be fractured and thereby produce nap on the face of the fabric.