Tip #3

Things I've learned about knitting 2 color double jacquard.....

    1.  To keep yourself from pushing an "empty" yarn button on the color changer and thus dumping your knitting on the floor (ask me how I know??), put a piece of masking tape around all the  buttons of the empty slots (see picture).

   2.  Be sure that you go far enough past the edge of your knitting!  If you find rows of "stripes" instead of "birdseye," on the back of your piece (see pix - look at 2nd row of white stitches going across the whole row), you need to rip back.  It is not a pretty sight from the front side (see pix).  It is caused by not taking the carriage far enough past the edge of the knitting.

   3.  If you need to stop knitting, be sure to stop with your carriage on the right side.  That way you do not have to wonder if you changed the yarn, etc.

   4.  If you have to rip back more than a few rows: 

  • Take the piece off the machine.  Move ribber carriage to the right and main carriage to the left.

  • Rip back to about 4 rows above where you want to begin knitting again.  End by ripping back 2 rows of the main color.

  • Place the piece in your lap and beginning on one end, carefully rehang the main color stitches onto the main bed. (see pix)

  • Without pulling on the stitches, gently push the piece down behind the ribber bed.

  • Move the ribber up into the position that about 1" away from the main bed.  Hang the contrast color stitches onto the ribber needles.

  • Gently raise the ribber on up into position for knitting.  Rip back 4 rows.  Rip back one more row left to right.  This should be your contrast yarn.  Check that all stitches are caught on needles on both beds.  Be sure that you all the jacquard setting on.  Rehang all your weights.

  • Set the pattern to one row below the row where you want to begin knitting.  The memo window should show #2 (contrast color).  Run the main carriage across to set the pattern. The memo window should now show #1 (main color).  

  • Look at the ribber stitches to the left of -0- .  Some needles have only a contrast color stitch.  The alternate needles have main color stitches AND a contrast color loop.  The needles with the "loops" MUST knit off when you go back across, otherwise, you are in the wrong place in the pattern.