Method of forming an article of footwear incorporating a knitted upper with tensile strand

A workpiece configured for forming one of a first upper for a first article of footwear and a second upper for a second article of footwear, the first upper and the first article of footwear configured to fit to a first foot size, and the second upper and the second article of footwear configured to fit to a second foot size, the workpiece comprising:

• a knitted component having a knit element and a tensile strand that are formed of unitary knit construction as a one-piece element, the knitted component configured to at least partially form one of the first upper and the second upper, the knit element defining a body and a trim region, the trim region defining an outer edge of the knit element and comprising a first trim line spaced from the outer edge in an inboard direction, the tensile strand including at least one inlaid portion that is inlaid within the knit element, the tensile strand also including an exposed portion that is exposed from the knit element and that is disposed adjacent the outer edge, the exposed portion being configured for pulling to thereby move and adjust the at least one inlaid portion relative to the knit element, wherein the exposed portion is spaced from the outer edge in an inboard direction on the knit element, and wherein the trim region is trimmable along one of the first trim line to form the first upper and a second trim line to form the second upper.

A method of forming a first upper for a first article of footwear and a second upper for a second article of footwear, the first upper and the first article of footwear configured to fit to a first foot size, and the second upper and the second article of footwear configured to fit to a second foot size, the method comprising:

• knitting a knitted component having a knit element and a tensile strand, the knitted component configured to at least partially form at least one of the first upper and the second upper, the knit element defining a body and a trim region, the trim region defining an outer edge of the knit element and comprising a first trim line spaced from the outer edge in an inboard direction and a second trim line spaced from the first trim line in the inboard direction, the tensile strand including a first inlaid portion and a second inlaid portion that are inlaid within the knit element, the tensile strand also including an exposed portion that is exposed from the knit element and that is disposed adjacent to the body of the knit element, wherein the first inlaid portion extends in an outboard direction toward the outer edge, the exposed portion extends from the first inlaid portion in the outboard direction toward the outer edge and turns to extend in an inboard direction away from the outer edge, and the second inlaid portion extends from the exposed portion in the inboard direction away from the outer edge, and wherein the exposed portion is spaced from the first trim line in the inboard direction on the knit element;
• wherein the knitting of the knitted component further comprises knitting the knit element such that the outer edge of the knit element is free of surrounding knitted structure such that the outer edge is not surrounded by knitted structure from which the knitted structure must be removed;
• pulling on the exposed portion to move and adjust the at least one inlaid portion relative to the knit element such that the exposed portion is positioned adjacent to at least one of the first trim line and the second trim line, wherein the exposed portion remains spaced from the outer edge in the inboard direction on the knit element after pulling;
• and
• trimming the knitted component within the trim region along at least one of the first trim line to form the first upper and the second trim line to form the second upper.

A method of forming an upper for an article of footwear, the upper and article of footwear configured to fit a selected foot size, the method comprising:

• knitting a knitted component having a knit element and a tensile strand, the knitted component configured to at least partially form the upper, the knit element defining a body and an outer edge and comprising a trim line spaced from the outer edge in an inboard direction, the tensile strand including a first inlaid portion and a second inlaid portion that are inlaid within the knit element, the tensile strand also including an exposed portion that is exposed from the knit element and that is disposed adjacent to the body of the knit element, wherein the first inlaid portion extends in an outboard direction toward the outer edge, the exposed portion extends from the first inlaid portion in the outboard direction toward the outer edge and turns to extend in an inboard direction away from the outer edge, and the second inlaid portion extends from the exposed portion in the inboard direction away from the outer edge, and wherein the exposed portion is spaced from the trim line in the inboard direction on the knit element;
• and
• wherein the knitting of the knitted component further comprises knitting the knit element such that the outer edge of the knit element is free of surrounding knitted structure such that the outer edge is not surrounded by knitted structure from which the knitted structure must be removed;
• pulling on the exposed portion to move and adjust the at least one inlaid portion relative to the knit element such that the exposed portion is positioned adjacent to at least one of the trim line and the outer edge, wherein the exposed portion remains spaced from the outer edge in the inboard direction on the knit element after pulling.