The wale for a knitted fabric is a predominantly vertical column of intermeshed needles loops generally produced by the same needle knitting at successive(not necessarily all) knitting cycles. A wale commences as soon as an empty needle starts to knit.
When loop transfer occurs it is possible to transfer a wale of loops from one needle A to another B and to recommence knitting with the second needle, in which case more than one needle will have produced intermeshed loops in the same wale.( if needle B knits continuously, the wale knitted by needle A will merge into it).
In warp knitting a wale can be produced from the same yarn if the same warp guide laps the same needle at successive knitting cycles.
wales are connected together across the width of the fabric by sinker loops(weft knitting) or underlaps(warp knitting).
wales show most clearly on the technical face and courses on the technicial back of single needles bed fabric.
