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“How To’s”

Here is a list of “How To’s” to help you from time to time with your machine knitting. Some new “How To’s” will be added periodically. The newest (added) “How To” will be at the top.

HT003 How to Make Popcorns

Popcorns are made on an odd number of needles, usually 3 or 5.

  1. Set the carriage to hold. Carriage needs to be on the right. Popcorn is to be made on needles 4, 5 and 6.
  2. Pull all needles to the left of needle #5 to hold (on the left).
  3. Knit 1 row. Turn the row counter off. If the popcorn is knitted in a second color, now is the time to change colors.
  4. Pull all the needles to the right of needle #5 to hold (on the right). Needle #5 is the only needle in work. Knit 2 rows.
  5. Push 1 needle into work opposite the carriage, then knit 1 row. REPEAT once. You now have 3 stitches in work. Knit 2 rows.
  6. Pull 1 needle into hold opposite the carriage, then knit 1 row. REPEAT once. You will have 1 needle in work. Knit 2 rows.
  7. Pick up the stitches from the 1st row of the popcorn and hang them on the 3 needles (1 is in work in the center and 1 on each side is in hold). This makes the backside very neat and the popcorn stands out better.
  8. If you are using a 2nd color, now is the time to break the yarn and re-thread the main color.
  9. Push the needles opposite the carriage into work (all needles to the left of the popcorn). Knit 1 row. Reset the row counter. Push all the rest of the needles into work and continue to knit.
  10. If you are making more than one popcorn in one row, they must be worked one at a time. After one popcorn is finished, push the needles on the left side to the center stitch of the next popcorn.
  11. Knit 1 row. Pull all the needles on the right of the center stitch into hold. One needle is in work. Continue the same as the popcorn above. Repeat for as many popcorns as you need.
HT002 How to Make a Basic Cable

Most cables a 2, 4 or 6 stitches. Use 2 transfer tools with the same number of prongs that equal the number of stitches in the cable. Example: stitch cable you should use 2 3-prong tools.

  1. Remove half the stitches onto the first transfer tool.
  2. Now remove the rest of the stitches onto the second tool.
  3. Re-hang the stitches from the right side needles onto the left side needles.
  4. Re-hang the stitches from the left side needles onto the right side needles.
  5. The stitches are now twisted. Pull the needles to ‘E’ position if possible. This will make the next row knit much easier.
  6. Twist the stitches the same direction each time unless instructed otherwise.

There are many variations of the cable. This is just the “basics”. There are many, many different cable to knit. Don’t be afraid to try some of them. Cables add a nice texture to the knit and timeless style.

HT001 How to Wrap the Edges of a Single Motif
  1. Reserve 2 lengths of the main color yarn. Knit 1 row of the pattern.
  2. Next to the carriage, lay the reserve yarn in the hook of the background needle next to the first needle selected in pattern and over the first needle selected in pattern.
  3. Place a clothespin on the tail of the yarn for weight.
  4. Knit 1 row and repeat for the opposite side of the design.
  5. As the pattern moves in and out, so must the needle you wrap.
  6. You will always be wraping the needle next to the carriage.