A method for optimizing contact resistance in electrically conductive yarns and textiles, and textiles having such optimized contact resistance, can include selecting a sensing activity for the textile； selecting a combination of variables from among yarn variables, stitch variables, and textile variables； and knitting an electrically conductive yarn in the textile in accordance with the selected combination of variables, wherein the knitted combination of variables provides an optimal contact resistance in the textile correlated with a desired electrical conductivity for the sensing activity. The knitted combination of variables can provide a predictable yarn contact area for the electrically conductive yarn correlated with the optimal contact resistance.
