#Knitting & Hosiery

2026-01-07

Live more beautifully and comfortably with Warp Knits

Trends in home textiles for the coming interior design season

Knitted fabrics are the all-rounders among home textiles. They can be designed in many different ways and are used in mattresses, blankets and pillows as well as in terry towelling, curtains and upholstery fabrics to create trendy designs, constantly new products and good business.

Stay cool – with silk-like blankets at bargain prices

The latest innovations include super-soft blankets with the high-quality look and feel of silk at the price of conventional mid-range counterparts and which are recommended for hot summer nights. The Q-max of these blankets is 0.24 W/cm². This parameter indicates how quickly a fabric dissipates heat from the skin when in contact with the body. In practice, a value above 0.2 W/cm² clearly indicates a cool feel. /1/

The cosy bedding is also breathable and easy to care for: it is simple to wash, dries quickly and does not crease.

The extraordinary blanket is based on a carefully designed warp knitted fabric. The textile for the cover around a filling layer consists of bright polyamide and elastane. It was produced on an HKS 2-SE in gauge E 36 using a suitable lapping and has an extremely dense, smooth surface. The compact structure emphasises the gentle sheen of the polyamide and gives it a cool feel. The elastane material ensures suppleness through stretch.

In addition to performance, this solution is also economical. The original bedding can be produced highly efficiently on the HKS 2-SE– a high-speed machine specialized in the production of elastic articles. Thanks to KARL MAYER's expertise, the machine can be adapted to the requirements for the production of blankets in standard sizes.

Corduroy reinvented: from classic stripes to turtle velvet

Warp knitted corduroy innovations are particularly exciting for home textile manufacturers. The distinctive ribbed structures are making a comeback – not only in fashion, but also in cushions, blankets and furniture covers. They are created by the interplay of threading and equal-length underlaps, which are cut and brushed after warp knitting.

This allows classic striped corduroy to be produced, as well as variants with different rib widths – through different threadings and underlap lengths – or faux fur effects for cosy blankets – through particularly long underlaps. The design of the underlap areas also offers scope for creativity, for example for corduroy patterns in turtle velvet style. For this design, reminiscent of a turtle shell, the underlaps are formed into square segments and arranged offset from each other along the sides.

The HKS 3-M is particularly suitable for the flexible and efficient production of these corduroy articles. This high-performance warp knitting machine is one of the most flexible in the KARL MAYER product portfolio. It also produces velour and cuddly blankets, terry toweling and cleaning articles, as well as textiles for automotive interiors, sports and outerwear, mosquito nets, shoe fabrics and coating carriers.

Corduroy produced on a HKS 3 M © 2026 KARL MAYER

New curtain collection: Stripes with speed

A new curtain collection from KARL MAYER with fancy stripe patterns demonstrates the potential of Warp Knits for window decoration. The articles of the series were produced on a TM WEFT in gauge E 24 and feature striped segments of varying widths and densities. The variation is made possible by the choice of weft repeat and stitch density. The use of effect yarns provides even more design flexibility.

The production of the curtains is unbeatably efficient. Following an upgrade in 2024, the weft-insertion warp knitting machine is 20% faster than the previous version – a performance that is prompting many weavers to rethink their approach in order to reduce machine and personnel requirements.

Do you have any questions about the possibilities of warp knitting in the home textiles sector? Take advantage of your visit to Heimtextil in Frankfurt am Main to make a detour to KARL MAYER in Obertshausen, just a 20-minute drive from the exhibition centre.

Here, experienced specialists are available for discussions and selected best-selling machines are on hand for performance demonstrations. On display are an HKS 2-SE PLUS with extended pattern options, an HKS 3-M EL PLUS for net-like articles – including square marquisette and shoe fabrics – and a TM 3 as a flexible all-rounder with an optimised price-performance ratio.

Warp knitted curtain fabric © 2026 KARL MAYER

Appointments can be made via this link:

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or by email to:

Jonas.Richter@karlmayer.com

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

ITM 2026: Mayer & Cie. Global presents itself successfully at international industry trade fair

Mayer & Cie. Global has used ITM 2026 in Istanbul for its first major international appearance since the restart. Together with the Turkish representative Mayer Mümessillik, the company presented its premium circular knitting machines "Made in Germany", explained its future positioning within the group of companies and held talks with customers and representatives from numerous markets. The response to the restart was positive. The clear orientation of the company, the reliable worldwide network of representatives and the resumption of service and spare parts supply were welcomed by customers.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.