Revisiting fair isle, thread lace, 3D surface potential

WORK IN PROGRESS Tuck and slip stitch are commonly used to produce very effective textured surfaces often accompanied by color changes. Those color changes require knitting with yarn always in the A position in the sinker plate, and color changes are made by replacing the yarn in that position by hand, or by using the … Continue reading Revisiting fair isle, thread lace, 3D surface potential

Tuck stitch meets thread lace repeats and vice versa

A recent share in the Facebook machine knitting group led to this blog post by its author <https://www.knittingmachinemuseum.com/single-post/Knitmaster-580-Electronic> The inspiration fabric led to ideas for recreating it on a punchcard machine, and my own trip down that rabbit hole led me to think about the relationship between tuck stitch designs and thread lace ones. Not … Continue reading Tuck stitch meets thread lace repeats and vice versa

Unconventional uses for punchcards 2: thread lace cards for “filet” mesh

Mock filet crochet machine knit lace has surfaced in a Ravelry blog of late. The sample in question was made by Tanya Cunningham, using a hacked knitting machine and software to download the repeat. Sometimes punchcard machines or early electronic users feel left out of creating particular fabrics. If one can settle for working with … Continue reading Unconventional uses for punchcards 2: thread lace cards for “filet” mesh

Thread Lace on Brother KM

This post originally did not offer repeats for the design, they are presented here in a 2024 review of content. Thread lace has also been called punch lace over the years. The “lace holes” are formed by knitting a fine thread with a significantly thicker yarn as the “second color”. When the fine yarn knits … Continue reading Thread Lace on Brother KM

Thread lace and punchcard knit carriage use on Brother 910_2

A short while ago there was a Ravelry thread discussing reversible, double bed knits. I recalled a demo from eons ago that I saw at a machine knitting seminar and decided to explore my memories and share them. The result approaches a “reversible” fabric, with imperfect results depending on the yarns used and other factors. … Continue reading Thread lace and punchcard knit carriage use on Brother 910_2

Thread lace and punchcard knit carriage use on Brother 910_1

Yes, the 910 has no thread lace setting. I happen to also own a punchcard machine model # 892E (no idea why Brother chose to add the E to a punchcard model name). I remembered eons ago reading about someone on an Australian list actually getting a punchcard model carriage to work on an electronic … Continue reading Thread lace and punchcard knit carriage use on Brother 910_1

Unconventional uses for punchcards 3: lace in rib

Lace patterns for drop stitch: cast on as preferred, transfer MB stitches to ribber, where all stitches will be knit on every row. The main bed will be knitting the stitches that will be dropped (lace carriage will not be used), cancel end needle selection, program your repeat, push in both part buttons. As the … Continue reading Unconventional uses for punchcards 3: lace in rib

To mesh or not to mesh 7, lace knitting tips

Early versions of the Brother Lace Carriage (LC) for machines such as the 830 could not control end needle selection. If any needles were selected for transfer to an end needle not in use in the piece, the LC still will attempt to move that stitch, and if no needle hook is there to accept … Continue reading To mesh or not to mesh 7, lace knitting tips

Machine knit fringes 2/ pretend hairpin lace

Several methods for creating fringes including some that may apply to this fabric as well were explored in the collection of fringes 1 post Hairpin lace, familiar to many crocheters, is based on a central column with side loops that can be produced in strips, in turn, joined together in different configurations to compose open … Continue reading Machine knit fringes 2/ pretend hairpin lace

Lace transfers meet fisherman rib, 2 color ribbed brioche on Brother machines 2

Over the years I have avoided ribber fabrics that involve hand manipulation of stitches in addition to patterning. Runaway stitches are hard to see and repair. In these fabrics, transfers are made by hand with multiple transfer tools. As stitches are moved, the last of the stitches transferred on the purl side (in this illustration … Continue reading Lace transfers meet fisherman rib, 2 color ribbed brioche on Brother machines 2