Karl Mayer on its latest high performance tricot machine has been demonstrating how they can be produced both efficiently and with a wide range of possible designs with warp knitted fabrics increasingly being used for producing stylish sari fabrics.

Warp-knitted embroidery grounds are already being widely used, and include 3-course, hexagonal tulle, various filet constructions, marquisette fabrics and ice-net produced on an HKS 3-M, as well as powernet produced on an RSE 4. The delicate, patterned warp knits produced on the Multibar Lace series of machines are also setting the standard for producing traditional women’s clothing.

Further using the burnout technique, design options are being opened up to fashion designers by the creation of patterns on warp-knitted fabrics.

The base fabric was produced on an HKS 4. This machine, in a gauge of E 28, produced a marquisette ground from polyester monofilament and worked a tricot lapping made from viscose yarn on top.

Following the appropriate pretreatment using a white burnout technique, the viscose was removed and the areas produced were dyed to match the pattern. The product developers at Karl Mayer used a synthetic fibre/regenerated fibre blend in a ratio of 30 to 70 to work the sharp edges of the contours.

The decorative sari with the red burnout design can be arranged across the blue background, together with attractive, gold sequins, fancy yarn embroidery work and the heavy border, create a riot of colour. The attractive fabric is described as light and airy and is comfortable to wear.