Unravelling the mystery of fabrics

Ever wondered why your winter woollens can easily stretch over your head, but your jeans barely have any give? In the January issue of Physics World, Samuel Poincloux answers this question while exploring the mechanics of clothing. Poincloux, a researcher at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, explains the mechanical differences between knitted and woven fabrics. Read the full article, Knit and stretch.