Knitted components and articles for improved ball control and durability

An article of footwear comprising:

• a knitted upper comprising an external-facing surface portion and an opposite internal-facing surface portion, the external-facing surface portion comprising:
• first areas comprising a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns comprising a first yarn;
• and
• second areas comprising a second yarn,
• wherein the first areas have a higher coefficient of friction than the second areas for increased ball traction;
• wherein the first areas form a first alternating pattern with the second areas in a first region of the external-facing surface portion such that the first areas are 40% to 80% of a total surface area of the external-facing surface portion in the first region,
• wherein a plurality of raised elements on the external-facing surface portion continuously extends across a first area of the first areas;
• and
• wherein the internal-facing surface portion comprises a third area opposite to the first areas and the second areas located on the external-facing surface portion, the third area comprising an elastic material;
• wherein at least a portion of the thermoformed network of interlooped yarns extends completely from the external-facing surface portion into the internal-facing surface portion.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising an upper that comprises a knitted component comprising an outer-facing surface of the upper and an inner-facing surface opposite to the outer-facing surface, the method comprising:

• knitting a first yarn and a second yarn into the knitted component;
• and
• thermoforming the outer-facing surface of the knitted component, wherein the outer-facing surface of the knitted component comprises:
• first areas having a first coefficient of friction, the first areas comprising a thermoformed network of interlooped yarns, each yarn having a core and a thermoplastic elastomer that interconnects the interlooped yarns by surrounding at least a portion of each core and occupying at least a portion of spaces between yarns in the thermoformed network of interlooped yarn, and
• second areas having a second coefficient of friction that is less than the first coefficient of friction, the second areas comprising a second yarn that is different than the first yarn,
• wherein the first areas have a higher coefficient of friction than the second areas for increased ball traction,
• wherein the first areas form an alternating pattern with the second areas such that the first areas are 40% to 80% of a total surface area of the outer-facing surface,
• wherein thermoforming the outer-facing surface comprises molding the outer-facing surface to form one or more raised elements on the outer-facing surface,
• wherein the inner-facing surface of the upper comprises a third area opposite to the first areas and the second areas located on the outer-facing surface, the third area comprising an elastic material;
• wherein at least a portion of the thermoplastic elastomer is thermoformed such that it extends completely from the outer-facing surface and into the inner-facing surface;
• and
• securing the upper to a sole structure.