Checking out how many fabrics you can create using just one punchcard - it can get compulsive!



Variations of tuck , slip stitch and fair-isle using Knitmaster/Silver Reed standard punchcard no 3

 
image of a punchcard with a 4stx8row repeating chequered pattern


Punchcard no 3 has a 4 stitch horizontal pattern and an 8 row vertical pattern repeat. The pattern repeat is broken up into two distinct areas and has a needle selection change at row 5.
The squares that are punched out KNIT the stitches and the squares that are left blank TUCK or SLIP the stitches.
It is really important to be able to analyse punchcards (or needle selections if working with a none automatic machine) in order to get the maximum benefits from working at depth with a single punchcard.


Tuck stitch worked in plain colour, face and reverse sides of the fabric

 


Slip stitch worked in plain colour - face and reverse sides of the fabric

 

 



The following 2 colour samples were knitted with yarn changing at the RIGHT of the bed, and the punchcard unlocked at ‘1’ when the carriage is on the RIGHT after the ‘set’ row is worked from LEFT TO RIGHT.

 

Tuck stitch worked in two colours, two row stripes - face and reverse.





Slip stitch worked in two colours, two row stripes – face and  reverse

 


 

The sample below was knitted with yarn changing at the RIGHT of the bed, and the punchcard unlocked at ‘1’ when the carriage is on the LEFT after the ‘set’ row is worked from RIGHT TO LEFT. 

 

Tuck stitch worked in two colours, two row stripes face and reverse. 


Notice how the lilac stitch pattern is more ‘lozenge’ shaped than in the earlier tuck sample. This is caused by starting on a single row of colour (as described above) and then working the two row stripes over an even needle selection pattern. This staggers the two rows of main colour (blue) across the needle selection change.
  




 

Fair-isle worked with the card rotating normally and with the card locked after each repeat, and 2 rows of plain knit in the ‘background’ colour worked in before unlocking the card and resuming fair-isle settings.

 




Try variations using 3 and 4 colours, locking the card, interspersing plain knit rows, lace holes, ladders, ripples etc., with other standard and your own card designs.
 



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