In browsing through old photos I came across one of this swatch knit on the Passap eons ago, in a slightly textured unknown fiber, and a thin white one on a small cone with lost fiber markings. The find led me to attempt a similar knit using my 930.
The flower image # 1228, 20X20 doubled in height and width to 40X40
the brick repeat followed by its smallest unit, 20X4060X60 half drop, followed by its smallest unit, 40X20To knit the repeats as DBJ to reduce elongation, in the Passap, use Tech 179 intended for single bed fair isle but bring the back bed needles into work to match the Japanese built-in KRC separation along with birdseye backing.
The built-in double bed fair-isle techniques on the Passap use a default color separation where each color in each design row knits twice.
The console performs the separation, but to achieve the same result in Brother models, the manual color separation can be performed using Gimp in this instance.
A: the chosen file, 20X20B: scaled in length X2, to 20X40 C: color inverting every other row beginning with an all-white pixel row
D: scaling the file X2 in length to 20X80choosing a black row start planned in the background color by color inverting the png E: taking into consideration that the planned DBJ settings will elongate the design, the 20X80 file is scaled in width X2 to 40X80 2024:
Using color to alpha and opening a series of new files to achieve the same result: open the 20X40 image a new file, using a row of white followed by one of an added color from the available palette, ie red in this is 20X2 PNGcopy it to clipboard and use it to fill a new 20X40 file, white color to alpha copy and paste it on a new file matching the original use color to alpha to render the red transparent, then color invert paste the result on the original file scale to double width and height to 40X80, change mode to indexed BW Knitting the swatch:
The thin white yarn simply refused to be knitted on the 930 without breaking. The problem can sometimes be solved by adding a second thread, which in this case, is a 3,000-yard monofilament serger thread, both are hard to see and slippery.
The way the yarn is picked up and carried varies with the knitting machine models’ color changers.
When using the Brother double bed color changer, it is picked up and swapped out in the ribber arm, while in Passap models, the colors are threaded into individual feeding eyelets which are swapped out in any sequence needed in the front lock. Some of the yarn-feeding issues in small or large cones can be solved by “putting a sock” on the cones, no matter their size. The manufacturer sometimes supplies the latter, but DIY versions can be segments of pantyhose, foam sleeves used to protect some of the exotic fruits in supermarkets, covers for flowers until they are used in arrangements, and at times simply a plastic bag.
My arrangement, with the threads on top of the machine table, and fed through the same side of the yarn mast. The first preselection row is from right to left
The ribber is set to knit in both directions throughout
The first and last needles are in work on the ribber
Colors are changed every two rows
The backing will be striped, with each color knitting for 2 rows, referred to as striper backing in many pubs.
Pattern knitting begins COL, set the knit carriage to slip in both directions
The proof of concept: The matching technique using the settings for knitting (N) on the back lock and slip (LX) on the front lock, for striper backing is 183: knit on 30 stitches, but less than full repeat in height.
With some understanding of the pattern selection method for the front lock, different Technique numbers may be used for the same knit result simply by changing pusher arrangements and lock settings on either or even both beds.
This test was knit on 30 stitches and for 100 rows after changing the ground yarn, adjusting the tension, and programming Tech 180, but disregarding the pusher set up for the back bed, and setting the back lock to N The fabric is stable and reversible with interesting peek-through that reminded me of drop stitch lace.
The existing color separation for the single-flower may be drawn in half drop or brick repeats using ArahPaint
brick repeat, 40X160 half drop repeat, 80X80 Proof of concept swatch: the knit pattern area measures 14.5X11 inches, was worked on 80 stitches for 160 rows. The design repeat is 80X80 pixels. The fabric is reversible and lies flat.