Behind the scenes at the knit factory

Prepare to geek out.

Following my last post on my favourite clearance fabric store, I arranged a trip there with Kathryn of Yes I Like That so she could gaze on its wonders too. The expedition was going swimmingly, with bargains and sewing chat aplenty.

Then as we chatted to salesman Danny, we asked where the fabric they sold came from. I’d guessed that all their knit fabric was all purchased from manufacturers with surplus (new term: cabbage) but it turned out the fabric was made by them, Cannon Street Jersey Fabrics. Out back.

SURE WE COULD GO SEE THE FACTORY.

The factory floor was filled with around a dozen of these old circular knitting machines, ticking away and producing material. Halos of different coloured yarns were arrayed above us and at the bottom of each machine you could see the tube of fabric forming.

Retailers come here with a knit design they want, it’s fed into the machines with a computer and out it comes! The surplus ends up on the shop floor, hences the £1 a metre price tag.

Here’s Kathryn posing with one of the machines, looking suitably excited:

Is it just me, or is it pretty sweet to go behind the scenes and find out where your fabric is being made?

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