[Den]

With a tight gauge, and a thick enough yarn, you can wind up with a stiff fabric that can practically stand on its own. Thinner yarns, like the kind used for socks or "laceweight" tend to not make for very good yarns to use if you're wanting something really sturdy. Sport weight on up to Super Bulky weight, knit on smaller needles than the recommended on the ball band results in a sturdy fabric.