Recently we tried an 80 stitch Tuck Chunky Pumpkin on the flat bed (Pattern by Ana Haferman) - while it was lovely - it was bigger than I hoped. :) (I prefer small pumpkins - good for gifting).
This is my variation of that pattern.
1) First mark the tuck needles on the 15 left and 15 right needles that will be used - there should be 6 needles marked. Mark where the carriage won’t rub it off when it goes by that spot.
2) Of all 30 needles, ensure EON (every other needle is in D position (all the way out) - You will ensure on one end of the bed that there are two needles side by side that are in the D position. Thread your carriage with a scrap yarn and with it on your preferred side of the machine with russell levers at neutral, knit across then hang your weight/comb. Work a couple rows then switch to your project yarn once the carriage is on the right.
We want the first project row to be an easily gathered later row so with EON still this works perfect.
3) With the carriage on the right, bring all the tuck needles into D position and change russell lever so that D position needles aren’t knit (I) (they are creating the tuck stitch). Run the carriage to the left, to the right and to the left.
4) Change russell lever so that D position needles ARE knit (II). Run the carriage from left to right.
Repeat steps 3 & 4 until row counter reads aprox 52 rows. Proceed to next step.
5) with carriage on the night hang every second stitch on the next needle and bring out to D position.
Ensure carriage is set to knit D position needles with Russel levers both set to (II).
6) run carriage from right to left
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