Lace
This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.
The machine knitting lace carriage is a specialized accessory designed for knitting machines to automate the creation of openwork patterns, commonly referred to as lace. It significantly speeds up the process of transferring stitches, which would otherwise be a time-consuming hand-manipulated task[1][2].
How the Lace Carriage Works[edit]
The primary function of the lace carriage is to automatically transfer stitches from one needle to an adjacent needle, leaving the original needle empty. This empty needle forms an eyelet, which is the characteristic feature of lace fabric. The carriage typically works in conjunction with a punchcard or electronic patterning system to determine which stitches are transferred and in what sequence, creating intricate patterns[1].
When using a lace carriage, the machine often requires multiple passes:
- One pass to select needles for transfer.
- Subsequent passes to execute the stitch transfers.
- A final pass with the main carriage to knit the row, incorporating the newly formed eyelets.
Machine Compatibility[edit]
Lace carriages are specific to certain knitting machine brands and gauges.
- Brother Lace Carriage: Brother standard gauge machines, such as the Brother KH-881 or Brother KH-970, offered a separate lace carriage designed to automatically transfer stitches for eyelets and lace patterns[1]. Fine lace is a specific technique available with Brother standard gauge machines when using their lace carriage[1].
- Silver Reed/Singer/Studio Lace Carriage: Silver Reed, Singer, and Studio machines also have dedicated lace carriages to perform simple eyelet transfers and more complex lace patterns[1].
Types of Lace Patterns[edit]
The lace carriage can create a wide variety of lace patterns by automating stitch transfers. These include:
- Simple Eyelet Transfers: Basic patterns involving single stitch transfers to create rows or columns of eyelets[1].
- Fine Lace: A technique that produces delicate, textured lace fabrics, particularly noted for Brother standard gauge machines with their lace carriage[1].
- Multiple Stitch Transfers: Techniques that involve transferring more than one stitch at a time or transferring stitches in different directions to create more complex openwork designs, similar to hand knitting's k2tog (knit two together)[1].
- Double Eyelet Lace: Patterns that intentionally create two eyelets side-by-side by breaking conventional transfer rules[1].
- Zig-Zag Lace: Graphic eyelet patterns that form zig-zag lines, which can be varied extensively[1].
- Shortrow Shaping with the Lace Carriage: Special techniques are required to perform shortrow shaping when the lace carriage is in use, as the standard method of pulling needles to holding position may not be compatible[1].
Related Techniques (Lace Look)[edit]
While the lace carriage specifically refers to automatic stitch transfers, other machine knitting techniques can create a lace-like appearance:
- Tuck Lace: This technique uses tuck stitches combined with needles out of work to create openwork fabrics without requiring stitch transfers. It can be worked on any knitting machine[1].
- Thread Lace: Also known as punch lace, this technique uses a thick yarn and a very fine yarn to create openwork fabrics, often overlooked but easy to create[1].
Tips for Using the Lace Carriage[edit]
- Weight: Lace knitting often benefits from adequate weight to help the stitches drop correctly and prevent dropped stitches[1].
- Preventing Dropped Stitches: Specific tips and techniques exist to help prevent dropped stitches, especially at the edges, when knitting lace with the carriage[1].