2018 Dec 18 - Ribber Combinations

54-cylinder-with-36-ribber-every-2nd-ribber-needle-3k1p-72-stitches_32524309708_o.jpg

My vintage Legare 400 came with a 54 and a 72 slot cylinder and a single 36 slot ribber dial.

Obviously when the regular (vintage) approach was to use a ribber with half the slots of the used cylinder, the 36 slot ribber goes with the 72 slot cylinder - HOWEVER - you can ALSO use that same 36 slot ribber dial with the 54 slot cylinder.

Are you as mathematically confused as I am with this? (It’s ok - an easier approach is simply to align the parts and see the common slot alignments - OR review the ribber/cylinder reference chart(s) that sometimes were printed in the manuals)

There was a time I used to worry about exactly which combinations matched mathematically with regards to cylinders and ribbers. Too much thinking!

The photo above shows that indeed they function together. When using a 1x1 rib pattern it mathematically works. However when we go to the 1x3 (1 ribber/3 cylinder) setup you will find that 3 does not divide evenly into 54 - which is OK. Fudge it. I won’t tell and your sock owner won’t know unless they peer way too closely to the sock.

:)

July 27/20 EDIT: See the images below to further demonstrate that you can make any combination (Mock rib or regular) you really don’t have to be mathematically 100% divisible on your sock if there is a needle or two not in the right combination unless you choose to look for it. Click on each image to see a larger version.

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