Raschel Knit Fabric Explained: How It’s Made, Where It’s Used, and How It Compares

Raschel knit fabric is a type of raschel warp knit known for its strength, dimensional stability and ability to create both open and dense fabric structures. Manufactured through raschel knitting, this method uses warp yarns that run lengthwise, allowing for more complex constructions than most common knits.

Because of this structure, raschel knit fabrics are widely used in apparel details, home textiles like curtains and upholstery bases and various technical applications where durability and shape retention matter.

Raschel knitting uses warp yarns fed from beams, with each yarn forming its own vertical loop. The raschel machine allows for more freedom than other warp knitting methods, enabling thick yarns, varied stitch patterns, and open constructions.

Key production characteristics of raschel knitting include:

• Multiple guide bars controlling different yarn movements
• Ability to knit coarse, textured, or decorative fabrics
• Compatibility with synthetic, blended, and specialty yarns

Unlike circular knitting, raschel knitting is slower and more deliberate.

Yarns commonly used in raschel knit fabrics include polyester, nylon, viscose blends, and occasionally cotton blends for specific applications.

Home Textiles

Raschel knit is widely used in home furnishing fabrics, including:

• Curtains and drapes
• Upholstery base fabrics
• Mattress ticking and padding layers
• Net and mesh structures

Its strength and stability help fabrics maintain form over long periods of use and their ability to hold patterns and resist distortion makes them ideal for these uses.