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Other techniques

Tuck Stitch

Tuck stitch is a knitting technique that can add dimension and texture as well as interesting coloured patterns by 'tucking' stitches instead of knitting them.

Compared to other techniques, such as fairisle, tucked swatches are often viewed from the reverse (or purl) side as this tcan have more visual interest.

The way that it work is that when a new row is knit, the tucked stitches are'tucked' onto the needle along with the stitch currently there (from the row below), instead of being knit. This elongates the previous rows stitch as it is held on the needle, with the tucked stitch behind it. In the diagram below, the centre stitch on the black row is the tucked stitch and the one below is the previous, held stitch.

Important things to note:

  • You cannot have two tuck stitches directly next to each other
  • There is a limit to how many tucked stitches you can have on top of each other as the held stitch must be stretch to cover all tucked stitches, which will bunch the fabric (though this bunching can also be used purposefully to create texture).

Platting

Platting is when two different yarn colours are knit together. One appears on one side whilst the second appears on the other. This can be done in stockinet or tuck stitch.

Thread the platting yarn feeder as follows:

  1. Move the carriage to one end of the needle bed until the rear of the yarn feeder is visible and open the yarn feeder gate
  1. Put the platting yarn into the yarn feeder and insert a latch tool (or old needle) from the rear and catch the platting yarn. Pull it down beind the yarn feeder and wrap around the post to hold it in place.

  1. Put the main yarn into the yarn feeder as normal and also wrap around the post.

  2. Knit as normal.

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