Abstract: Different geometrical models of auxetic materials were summarized and currently available knitting technologies for making fabrics with auxetic effect including plane and 3D warp-knitted fabrics, as well as weft-knitted fabrics with folded structures, were introduced briefly in this essay. Lastly, potential applications of fabrics with auxetic knitted structures in apparel and technical textiles were introduced respectively. Developing directions and prospects of such fabrics in future researches were predicted.

Key words: negative Poisson’s ratio; structure; knitting technology; application