What distinguishes woven fabrics from knitted fabrics?

The distinction between woven fabrics and knitted fabrics revolves around their construction methods. Woven fabrics consist of two sets of yarn—warp and weft—interlaced at right angles to create a stable structure. This interlacing creates a flat, firm fabric that does not typically stretch significantly in any direction, maintaining its shape and structure.

In contrast, knitted fabrics are formed by interlocking loops of yarn, which results in a more flexible and stretchy textile. The loops allow the fabric to expand and contract, making knitwear typically more comfortable and body-hugging.

Understanding this foundational difference is critical for identifying the characteristics and applications of each fabric type. The other options present misconceptions about these fabrics; for instance, woven fabrics do not have loops as knitted fabrics do, and the assertion that woven fabrics are the same as crocheted fabrics conflates two distinct textile creation methods.