"That is precisely what it does, yes." Anton resumed his progress, faster than before but not quite so fast as his usual wont, so Gene could follow along. "Knitted fabrics are far more versatile than woven ones because they can be stretched in all directions; woven fabrics can only be stretched along one axis. Of course, woven fabrics are generally sturdier--if one or two threads break, they don't compromise the weave of the whole. An untended broken thread in a knitted garment can unravel the whole, given time and opportunity."