Knitting Inductions, Workshops, and Exercises
All information on this page can be found in the Knitting Machine Handbook.
For the knitting machine there are two inductions and four workshops available to attend.
| Main Induction | Knitting Machine Workshops | Advanced Induction |
|---|---|---|
| Knitting Machine Induction | DesignaKnit Workshop | Ribber Induction |
| Intarsia Workshop | ||
| Short Rowing Workshop | ||
| Tuck, Slip, and Colour Changer Workshop |
These are bookable on ORB via these links:
Qualifying on the Knitting Machine
Attending the knitting machine induction does not automatically qualify you to use the machine unsupervised. In order to qualify to you must have:
- Attended the knitting machine induction
- Completed Exercise A and had it signed off by Rosie or Agnes
Once you have qualified, you are allowed to use the machine unsupervised (by booking on ORB) and you can now attend some knitting machine workshops. Please take note of the flowchart below to see which workshops you are able to attend.
Inductions and Workshops
Knitting Machine Induction
This induction is required to use the knitting machine and covers the basic skills and techniques needed to use it.
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Content | Casting on (ewrap and weaving) |
| Fully fashioned increase/decrease | |
| Cast on/off increase/decrease | |
| Transfer tool cast off | |
| Changing colour | |
| Debugging (unpicking, rehooking dropped stitches) |
Intarsia Workshop
Intarsia is a colour work technique that eliminates floats and allows for more than 2 colours per Row.
| Duration | 1 hour |
| Prerequisites | Knitting Machine Induction |
| Content | Knitting with Intarsia |
Designaknit Workshop
Designaknit is a pattern drafting, garment design, and interactive machine control software for domestic knitting machines.
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Prerequisites | Knitting Machine Induction |
| Content | Creating a shape file (original pattern drafting) |
| Creating a stitch file from scratch (stitch designer) | |
| Creating a stitch file from an image (graphics studio) | |
| Using DesignaKnit stitch files with the Brother KH940 |
Short Rowing/Partial Knitting Workshop
Short rowing is a method that allows you to put needles ’on hold’ and knit a row without adding a new stitch onto every needle (called a short or partial row). This allows you to create interesting shapes including 3d and curved swatches (such as the heel or toe of a sock).
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Prerequisites | Knitting Machine Induction |
| Content | Increasing and decreasing in short rows |
| Creating 3d shapes |
Tuck, slip, and colour changer workshop
Tuck and slip stitches are knitting techniques that can add dimension and texture to a piece by ’tucking’ or ’slipping’ the stitches instead of knitting them. The automatic colour changer allows you to change the yarn in the carriage every even numbers of rows automatically.
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Prerequisites | Knitting Machine Induction, DesignaKnit Workshop |
| Content | How to use tuck and slip stitches |
| How to set up and use the automatic colour changer |
Ribber induction
The ribber is an attachment for the knitting machine that adds a second bed of needles, allowing you to create ribbed fabrics.
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Prerequisites | Knitting Machine Induction, at least one workshop, and at least two exercises |
| Content | What is a ribber and why do we use it? |
| Casting on | |
| Pitch and half-pitch | |
| Transferring stitches | |
| 1x1 rib | |
| 2x2 rib | |
| Racking |
Exercises
Below, you will find a list of knitting machine exercises. Each exercise is designed to follow a particular induction or workshop to help you practice what you have learnt and develop your knitting skills.
They are completely optional with two exceptions:
- Exercise A must be completed in order to qualify on the knitting machine
- You must have completed at least two of the other exercises (alongside attending at least one workshop) to attend the ribber induction
