Flat Bed Love Cast On
As per the Singer SK280 video - WEAVING CAST ON
Written instructions as per the video quoted above 5:50 mark - Carriage on the right. Needles wanted are selected and moved completely out to the D position (all the way out). Run the carriage from right to left and back. The needles selected will be in the B position. Now using the every second needle pusher (“one stroke needle pusher”1 - push every second needle from B to completely out to the D position. Move the weaving knobs down to the weaving mark. Set the carriage stitch size according to the fiber you’re using. Take the yarn tail that is threaded and thread the carriage bringing the yarn tail to the very left across and over the extended needles in D position. Slowly move the carriage from right to left and back. Work 2-4 rows. Move the weaving brushes back UP.
If we were wanting to then work plain stockinette we would raise both side levers from down (circle icon) to up (triangle punch card icon). Work three rows then add claw weights.
OPEN CAST ON
Settings: CAM LEVER: stockinet/Cast on (upside down V) | SIDE LEVERS on stockinet (circle - down position) | RUSSELL LEVERS: 2 | STITCH DIAL/SIZE: 3 | WEAVING BRUSHES at circle setting (up-not weaving). | | INTARSIA LEVERS: 1 | TENSION GUIDE: 1 (higher the number the tighter the tension) | STITCH DIAL: 3
Move all wanted needles from A to D position. Carriage on the Right. Thread machine with a scrap yarn and tie yarn tail under machine. | Knit right to left.
Place a Ravel Cord on the sinker posts/gate pegs ONLY laid one gate peg outside the start and end working needles and bring both ends of the Ravel Cord together under the front of the machine for left hand held pull down when moving the carriage. Knit left to right. Then continue knitting a minimum four more rows with carriage on the right. (Stop before the knitting starts to bunch up.)Pull out ravel cord and knit a couple more rows stopping with carriage on the right. Add three claw weights and continue knitting back and forth.
IF WE DID THIS FOR A HEM - move the carriage from the right to the left. Cut working yarn. Knit one row of Ravel Cord by hand feeding the Ravel Cord. Open the carriage gate - hold the cord in place vertically, close the gate while holding in place move the carriage to the right.
Add project yarn and work the number of rows of the hem before the fold, work one row of looser tension then return tension for the remaining rows of the hem. Remove weights and any yarn fastened to a tie off under the machine. To hang hem (turned hem), use transfer tool to rehang the first project row. Loosen tension on row knitted of the double stitches of the hung hem.
VIDEO: Sally Butcher Machine Knitting - Cast ON Techniques Part 1 of 2 - Open Cast On
WHY: Good for hung hem, especially with ravel cord used as a quick remove ability later. Good also for when scrap is used before working something like the Lace Carriage so that correct weights can be added on the project piece.
OPEN CAST ON WITH COMB (same settings as above) - less popular
Move all wanted needles from A to D then using the 1x1 needle pusher - push every second needle back to A. Carriage is still on the right. Thread machine and tie yarn tail under machine. Knit right to left.
Hang cast on comb with weight. Lift left yarn path up and out of the way then put it back down. With pusher push A needles to the same B position as the working needles. Knit back and forth.
VIDEO: Sally Butcher Machine Knitting - Cast ON Techniques Part 1 of 2 - Open Cast On
WHY: doesn’t unravel
WEAVING TEMPORARY CAST ON (same as manual cast on)
Move all wanted needles from A to B position then using the 1x1 needle pusher - push every second needle out to D position. Carriage is still on the right. WEAVING BRUSHES INTO WORK (DOWN). Thread machine and pull yarn tail down for a nice length which is threaded into the carriage and then laid over the extended needles to the far left, and as you hold the yarn tail with your left hand allow the yarn tail to pull through your fingers as your move the carriage to the left. Move carriage from Left to Right. Knit a couple rows - enough to add claw weights and then you’re done. Can also be used as a hung hem following the same steps for that noted above.
VIDEO: Sally Butcher Machine Knitting - Cast ON Techniques Part 1 of 2 - Open Cast On
WHY: wont unravel but doesn’t have a firm edge.
LACE CARRIAGE CAST ON (Video by Sally Butcher)
PLAIN LACE project. Thread machine and tie yarn tail under machine, feed into carriage (aligning yarn area). Side levers down. Move needles from A to B position. Tension dial on setting determined by fiber. Move carriage from RIGHT to LEFT. Lay RAVEL CORD on all needles and outside gate pegs, holding ravel cord ends down and together. Move carriage LEFT TO RIGHT and repeat. Remove Ravel cord and continue knitting until more weights can be hung. Hang claw weights in the middle and ends. Ensure working 20 rows of scrap for an even weight start. If the ribber is in place be sure not to let knitting hang between beds - instead bring forward and lay where it can be seen.
Ready lace pattern - feed card into reader so that the ends can be joined (if wanted). Align card to start on row ONE. Lock reader (left switch moved forward towards me). Read pattern into the machine with two passes of the carriage (dial is set at 6 o’clock, side levers are forward). Carriage should be on the right. Push side levers back. Release card by moving left switcb back. Place edge pins on the left and right needles (for non-pattern stitches). Reset row counter and work desired pattern.
FASHION LACE project.
Follow step ONE as listed above
2. Partly the same as step TWO above but with this specific card on regular knitting rows of pattern (dial at 6 o’clock and side levers back) and with transfer rows (dial at 9 o’clock and yarn unthreaded). Row counter will automatically ONLY count patterned rows knitted not transfer rows.
CLOSED CAST ON
E-Wrap - K Carriage (regular carriage) Cast On
Carriage on the right side. Thread machine. Extend all the wanted needles into D (fully extended) position. Put a clip on the yarn tail and place that yarn tail with about 6 inches below the bed on the far left between the first and second needles extended.
The yarn tail should be coming up from the clip between the needles, create an “E” by wrapping up to the right and around the first needle in the counter clockwise movement, repeat on needle two while also placing a stabilizing finger the the already wrapped needle. Work across until all needles are wrapped - ensure wraps aren’t overly tight yet even. Hang cast on comb (open hook version) with hook openings toward you (not the machine). Hang a claw weight on each side of the comb (two weights). Place yarn path in the carriage and close that part on the carriage. Check tensions and settings. Move the carriage slowly from right to left.
Settings: CAM LEVER: stockinet/Cast on (upside down V) | SIDE LEVERS on stockinet (circle - down position) | RUSSELL LEVERS: 2 | STITCH DIAL/SIZE: 3 | WEAVING BRUSHES at circle setting (not weaving) as using comb. | | INTARSIA LEVERS: 1 | TENSION GUIDE: 1 (higher the number the tighter the tension) | STITCH DIAL: 3
*Note: Needles do not knit with russel levers at 1. Needles are knitted back to B with Russel levers at 2. Tension Guide setting: 10cm-20cm maintained. WEAVING BRUSHES: the manual says to leave the brushes on.
OPTION:
Extend all needles wanted into the full OUT D position. E-Wrap. Hang the Brother Cast On Comb with weight. Work approximately 10-15 rows.
Using the 1x1 needle pusher - push every second needle into the full OUT D position then push the same needles all the way back into home A position. This should drop their stitch creating a “longer” scrap cast on piece.
This method was noted for a project where the project yarn was then started with the open cast on and after working three rows, the removed needles were brought back into work. Another 20-25 rows were worked and then those more recently replaced needles had their stitches one by one dropped and a manual ribbed latch back up was done. RIBBING BY HAND for a Sweater Cuff for example.
COMPLETE STEPS TO USE the “TUCK LACE” SK700 Machine Punch Card #2
HERE ARE THE COMPLETE INSTRUCTIONS to make things easier :)
I used an open cast on.
Thread machine and tie off yarn tail under machine | Carriage on the RIGHT | Dial on 5.25 (yarn) | Side levers DOWN | Stockinet (cast on) | Select 37 needles from A position and put in D position | Carriage moved from RIGHT TO LEFT | Lay Ravel Cord just behind GATE PEGS one gate peg outside of each outer needle. Hold Ravel Cord ends down and together with left hand and move carriage from LEFT to RIGHT | Repeat last step a couple times and finish with Carriage on LEFT | Remove Ravel Cord (worked knitting will unfold as cord held start) | Add claw weights | Either work more regular rows now or start the next step if you feel there’s enough weight applied
Carriage on the LEFT | Dial on Stockinet still | Side levers UP | Reader is locked - left switch DOWN “card will be ‘read’” | Move Carriage LEFT to RIGHT | Dial on TUCK | Move every other stitch to it’s neighbor. Ensure both outside needles are needles holding two stitches | Reader unlocked - left switch UP | Work as many rows as you wish | Work your preferred cast off.
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