Whilst the classic guernsey pattern remained plain, the stitch patterns used became more complex the further north the garment spread, with the most complex evolving in the Scottish fishing villages.
From the en.wikipedia.org
The fabric produced using a knitting machine is of a more even texture than hand-knitted fabric, which is particularly noticeable on large areas of plain stockinette stitch, and can be an advantage.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Shweeb may be fast and energy-efficient, but I don't see how to avoid collisions, or long queues behind someone with a stitch, or just plain unfit.
From the newscientist.com
In Quilt World we discreetly stitch a sleeve, or several short ones, of strong plain fabric along the whole upper edge of a hanging, a few inches from the top.