Tips

Free pass

January 3, 2023
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You just ripped out a row of knitting or you put some knitting back on the bed from the garter bar or you did a bit of shaping and now your carriage is on the opposite side of the working yarn.

Positioning the carriage is an essential skill for machine knitters.

*Free Pass: Pass the carriage with no yarn without dropping stitches*

Here are 4 ways to "free pass"; getting the carriage to the same side as the working yarn without knitting or dropping stitches.

1Remove the carriage

Sure, you could take the carriage off the machine, run to the other end and replace the carriage ... but that's a "rookie move". Take control of your machine and use the carriage settings.

2Use the hold setting

2 steps:

Put all needles in hold position
Set the carriage to hold

When you pass the carriage, the needles will not move and stitches will not drop or knit.

3Use the slip setting

With many machines, the slip setting will also allow for a free pass.

The stitches are in the hooks of the needles
The needles are in working position
The carriage is set to slip

When you pass the carriage, the needles will not move and stitches will not drop or knit.

4"Pop" the carriage (Silver Reed/ Singer/Studio machines)

Pop the carriage (silver machines). Use the release lever and raise the top section of the carriage.
The carriage will pass across without knitting or dropping stitches.