Superba Knitting™

Tuesday

Knitting Machine Gauge Swatch: Red Double Knitting Weight Cotton Tape Yarn in Stocking Stitch

Greetings!

I want to share with you a Gauge Swatch I made on my SUPERBA S47 Double Bed knitting machine using a beautiful 100% Cotton Tape Yarn.

I purchased this yarn on a cone at Romni Wools here in Toronto and it is also available online through Stitch Diva Studios in California, sold as their Lucci Cotton Tape, in the Gallant Red colour.

Gauge Swatch Notes:
The format and information listed below is the one I use when making a Gauge Swatch or when sampling a new yarn or new stitch technique.

I have a dedicated notepad next to my machine at all times which has tear-away lined paper. This makes it easy to separate and then file my notes along with the washed and blocked Gauge Swatch, yarn sample and any other project information. I follow this format for hand knitting, machine knitting and crochet.

Having all this crucial information and samples together in one place serves to help you become organized and you can file this knitting information away and come back to it when you are ready to knit the garment or accessory you have in mind.

Like you I am a consumer and we are often inspired to buy a yarn based on how it looks and feels when wound onto a cone or in a ball or skein of yarn that we see and touch at our local yarn shop or that we see online.

When we get the yarn home and knit it up, this opinion can change very quickly as the yarn may not meet our expectation or we change our mind about the stitch techniques we want to use.

With all these factors influencing the final outcome of a knitted sample or Gauge Swatch, it's best to get into the habit of writing down exactly what you were doing when you knit the sample so that you have a record of all the machine settings that you made to achieve the swatch, you have information about the original yarn used, you have notes about what worked and did not work and then you will be able to quickly and accurately reproduce this swatch at a later date.

If, like me, you have a limited amount of free time to sit and knit at your machine in a given week, then this last part becomes crucial as to why it's important to make and keep detailed notes.

Let me now share with you the format and the information I recorded to achieve this Stocking Stitch Gauge Swatch using a beautiful 100% Cotton Double Knitting weight yarn.

I remind you that all images, text and format in this post are copyright Patrick Madden/Superba Knitting™ and that you do not copy nor reproduce this information. All rights reserved. Thank you for respecting that.

Red Italian Cotton Tape DK Yarn

Gauge Swatch in Stocking Stitch.

•1: MACHINE KNIT SWATCH NAME:

Italian Cotton DK Tape Stocking Stitch Gauge Swatch

•2. KNITTING MACHINE BRAND AND MODEL NUMBER:

SUPERBA S47 Double Bed Knitting Machine.

•3. KNITTING MACHINE GAUGE:**

• 5mm Standard Gauge.
Note: Gauge in the instance refers to the spacing of the needles on the machine bed measured in millimetres (mm).

•4: YARN INFORMATION.

• Yarn Brand Name: Italian Cotton Tape

• Yarn Weight Category: DK or Double Knitting

• Yarn Content: 100% Cotton

• Yardage: n/a for original yarn. Online a 1lb./453g cone of this same yarn has 1900 yards or 1737 metres.

• Number of Grams or Ounces: One 2lb Cone or 1.13 kg Cone.

•5. KNITTING MACHINE STITCH SIZE *NUMBER:
* PLEASE LIST A STITCH SIZE FOR EACH STITCH TECHNIQUE USED

Stocking Stitch = Stitch Size 10.

•6. KNITTING MACHINE YARN GUIDE TENSION SETTING:

Yarn Guide Tension Setting: 5

•7. KNITTING MACHINE STITCH TECHNIQUE(S) AND CARRIAGE/LOCK SETTINGS:
Please list in order all the knitting machine Stitch Techniques and the Carriage/Lock Setting for your model of knitting machine to achieve these stitches.

Stocking Stitch, worked on the Back Needle Bed.
Back Bed Carriage Settings:
• V Stitch Key selected for Stocking Stitch
• Needle Return Buttons set to neutral setting "•".
• Stitch Size Dial: 10

• Front Needle Bed Position: Flow Combs Set Opposite

• Front Bed Racking Position Set To 4.5

• Bed Space Lever Set To 4

• Gauge Swatch worked over 70 Stitches (35L-0-35R).

• I cast on using the Waste Yarn + Ravel Cord Provisional Cast On Technique then worked a Long Tail or Double e-Wrap Cast On Technique using the Cotton Tape yarn.

• I used a Medium length 100 Stitch Cast On Comb and 3 Medium Superba Weights.

• I also used two Claw Weights on the edge stitches. Yes, these are the ones that came with my japanese SINGER knitting machine. The Knitting Police don't mind!

• 8.: SWATCH GAUGE: Very important!
Stitch and Row Gauge: the average number of Stitches and Rows one achieves in your finished knit fabric measured over an industry standard of 4" square or 10cm square.

• Gauge Swatch After Washing/Drying:
23 Stitches x 36 Rows

• How was the Gauge Swatch cleaned?
The Gauge of this particular swatch was achieved after washing the swatch in a regular cycle, cold wash using a top loading washing machine. The swatch was then put in the dryer along with a load of regular laundry using the permanent press cycle until completely dry.

This is how the finished garment will be cleaned, this is how you treat the Gauge Swatch.

The Gauge Swatch was then blocked to shape using blocking wires and steamed using the Cotton setting on my standard household iron.

•9. ADDITIONAL KNITTING MACHINE SWATCH NOTES:

While I would have preferred a slightly tighter tension, the recipient did not want the resulting hand of the fabric to be too coarse to the touch nor too tight as to overheat when wearing, so she chose this gauge. It feels really nice and it’s a beautiful red and the finished Cardigan has been worn and laundered numerous times and holds up extremely well to food and beverage stains and being laundered.

Here are two photos of my washed and blocked Gauge Swatch in action during the blocking of the Garment this swatch was used to calculate. It is very important to have your Gauge Swatch on hand for comparison, especially when blocking. It's good to compare the fabric and stitch size of the swatch to that of your garment pieces and it's crucial to a successful garment.

Always make a Gauge Swatch. Always. Anyone who advises you otherwise is misleading you and your project will not turn out as desired.

Lastly, here is a photo of the completed garment that this Gauge Swatch was used to create, worn by my knitting pal and good friend Liz. This pattern was made to her size and specifications regarding Sleeve Length, Neckline Depth and Design Ease. I think it turned out well and most importantly, she does!

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Machine Knitting Swatch Database Group on Ravelry.com
If you are a member of the excellent online knitting website Ravelry, I invite you to join the Machine Knitting Swatch Database group that I moderate and contribute your own Gauge Swatch information to share with other knitters from around the world.

This group is for home knitting machine brands of all makes and models. This information will serve to help promote machine knitting and also to help establish and build a free database of knitting machine information. Join us!

______________________________________________________________________

I hope you found the information and photos presented today helpful. I encourage you to get organized, set aside some time in your busy day to at the very least sample and make a record of your work and use this information to prepare to make something on your Superba, Singer, White or Phildar french knitting machine.

I wish you happy knitting.

Patrick Madden
Superba Knitting
Toronto, Ontario CANADA

Sunday

Knitting Machine Single Bed Tuck Stitch Not Forming

Greetings!

Today I wish to share with you a Question that was posted on the Superba Knitting Group® on Ravelry regarding Tuck Stitch not forming properly and the answer I suggested.

About Ravelry & the Ravelry Superba Knitting Group:
For those of you who have not joined Ravelry, we have an active group discussion forum dedicated to all models of SUPERBA, SINGER, WHITE and PHILDAR knitting machines.

• What makes Ravelry a preferred website is the ability to post photos, videos and link to yarns and patterns within the Ravelry database and not worry about file size limitations. Other knitting machine internet forums, while still useful, are becoming tired and dated as you cannot share crucial information, most importantly photos, when you write your question or answer a question.

Ravelry is the world's largest and best social media website for textile enthusiasts who hand knit, machine knit, crochet, spin, weave and love all needle arts. Do join us.

For those of you not on Ravelry or who do not have the time to read all the discussion forum posts, I am posting some replies I have made to questions about various machine models here on my website.

I hope you find this information of help.

This week's original question was about problems knitting Tuck Stitch by the owner of a SINGER MEMO II electronic model knitting machine. This is the same machine as the SUPERBA S47, WHITE 1502 and PHILDAR D115 electronic pressure pad models.

Below is the original question and my answer.

QUESTION:
"I cannot get tuck stitch to work. I know it must be me as the other stitches work. All the carriage settings are correct, but all I get is one row of zig zag loops then the carriage jams on the second row. I am using Sirdar 4 ply on tension 7. Any suggestions anyone?"

ANSWER:
Here is a tuck stitch pattern from the SINGER MEMO II Instruction Book.

Please note that there are two switch symbols outlined in Red and Green that you must pay attention to when programming a stitch.

• First and foremost is the Selection Stop switch, outlined in Red. This switch controls the electronic programmer to either stop the stitch pattern from advancing or to run the stitch pattern as programmed, row-by-row.

• When set to the upper setting which is the triangle symbol, the electronics will begin advancing through the stitch pattern you programmed row-by-row.

• When set to the lower setting which is the small circle symbol, the electronics will stop advancing the stitch pattern. This is where you want to set the Selection Stop Switch when programming any stitch pattern, including Tuck and Slip stitches.

• Once you have programmed your stitch pattern and pressed the Function button for the last time, pattern row 1 will be indicated on the LED display with a small triangle below it, and the machine is instantly ready to commence knitting the stitch pattern.

• When you are ready to work your Tuck Stitch, you then slide this switch upward to the slanted triangle symbol.

NOTE: After completing row 1, the Cursor will hit one of the Cursor Stops and send an instant signal to the electronics to advance to the next row in the stitch pattern, and this new row pattern signal is sent through the Cursor to the magnets under the carriage to select the needles for this next row.

• The next crucial step during programming your stitch pattern is to have the "REVERSER" Switch at the correct setting for Tuck Stitch.

For single colour textured stitch techniques like Tuck and Slip you must ensure the "Reverser" switch, outlined below in green, is set to the upper position, which is a blank square symbol.

This next photo shows the setting on your model's electronic programmer. Other models have this switch too, only in a different location (see examples towards the end of this post).

This Reverser setting, when knitting a single colour textured stitch technique like Tuck and Slip Stitch results in that all the blank pattern squares will be worked in Stocking Stitch. Any square that is filled in will cause those stitches or needles to Tuck or Slip. So ensure the Reverser is moved upward before beginning to knit.

When the Reverser is set properly and when you have set the appropriate Stitch Size and Bed Space settings, your machine should form both Single Bed Tuck Stitches on the back needle bed . . .

• Also, if you wish to incorporate front bed knit stitches to create a Tuck Rib effect, you would still set the Reverser to the upper setting. When you commence knitting with the back and front carriages connected and the front needle bed positioned opposite to the back bed, the Back Carriage will select and Tuck the back bed stitches according to the stitch pattern you programmed while the Front Carriage selects and knits the selected needles in Stocking Stitch, creating the potential for many other stitch effects. Do try experimenting with these variations some time.

NOTE ABOUT THE REVERSER SETTING:
Some stitch techniques use both the upper and lower setting of the Reverser switch to achieve different stitch effects. This includes Single Bed Fair Isle and Weave Effect stitches. Below is a sample of two stitches worked in Weave Effect from the Pressure Pad model instruction book. Note that pattern A has the Reverser switch in the lower position, and pattern B has the Reverser in the upper position. You must be diligent in verifying the settings are correct before working your first row and the machine should knit the design properly.

All SUPERBA electronic model knitting machines allow you to change the Reverser settings at will; you don't need to reprogram the stitch design. Any changes are instantaneous.

Here are some photos of the various programme cards for three electronic models of SUPERBA that I used to create this simple Tuck Lace Stitch.

This SUPERBA Tuck Lace is worked on an "every other" needle set up on the Back Bed only, and the programme cards are filled in on every other square and the height of the dark squares is two rows, meaning the machine will tuck for two rows then shift to the alternate needles and tuck for two more rows, creating these lacy diamond stitches which look very pretty in a hand dyed yarn. The stitch pattern setting is 4 stitches wide x 4 rows high. The yarn is PRISM Lace Wool®.

• To achieve this using the 16 stitch x 16 row Pressure Pad model machines, here is my hand drawn programme card for my Pressure Pad model, which includes a crude drawing of the Reverser switch and it's position, to remind myself of the correct setting, which is easy to overlook.

• Here is the same stitch pattern for the electronic Light Scanning Selection Box models . . .

• Here is the same stitch pattern for owners of the System 624 pressure pad model machines . . .

This makes for a very nice, open lace style stitch done using the Tuck setting on your SUPERBA.

ALSO NOTE:
For those of you with Double Bed model SUPERBA knitting machines, you have to adjust the Bed Space setting when working textured stitches like Tuck, Slip or Weave Effect to allow these bulkier, textured stitches to slip down between both needle beds. This adjustment should also be done for knitting thicker yarns in Stocking Stitch and double bed rib stitches.

I hope you find this information helpful and this solves the problem of the machine not forming the Tuck stitches properly.

See you again soon and happy knitting.

Patrick Madden.
Toronto, Ontario CANADA
www. superbaknitting.com