Double-knit fabric is made of two connected layers, created on a knitting machine with two sets of needles. The result is a textile that is wrinkle-resistant, doesn’t ravel or stretch out of shape, and has two faces—or right sides. It is heavier and sturdier than single, or jersey, knits. Known by other names, such as ponte, this stable fabric is easy to cut and sew. Its desirability is often dependent on its fiber content: Most sewers today agree that polyester double knits are unpleasant to sew and wear, while those with natural fiber content are quickly becoming wardrobe staples.

The 100 percent wool version lends a structured look that works for pants, skirts, dresses, and cardigans. It is unlikely to roll or run at the edges like other knits. The wool adds texture to the surface and can be dyed to rich hues.

These qualities make wool double knits ideal candidates for knit-on-knit appliqué since there is no need to turn under the appliqué edges and little chance of the layers becoming distorted as they are joined. A basic zigzag stitch enables you to create surface designs as bold and as intricate as you like.

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