Knitting Machine Tips

Why does 0 matter?

September 17, 2024
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When I first started knitting, I couldn't understand why the vintage patterns all started with "Cast on 80 stitches (L40 / R40)".

I asked: "Why do I have to cast on in the middle of the needlebed?"

It wasn't until I started using stitch patterns did I understand these instructions.

On electronic and punchcard automatic patterning machines, BY DEFAULT stitch patterns are positioned in the middle of the needlebed.

Yes, with a few extra steps, you can position the stitch pattern exactly where you want it. But it's good to remember that the machine will CENTER any stitch pattern by default.

*This snowflake will automatically be positioned at L12 / R12*

Early on, I learned a valuable lesson about 0 on the machine.

At an in-person training session, a knitter was struggling with Tuck Lace . (Tuck lace uses needles out of work).

Having the correct needles out of work is critical to the success of knitting this stitch pattern. The knitter continued to struggle and each of her fellow students (plus the instructor) double-checked her needle setup.

It wasn't until someone realized that her number strip had shifted and even though she had the correct sequence of needles selected, they were not aligned to the "true" zero on her machine.

After shifting the needle strip to the correct position, and aligning her needle arrangement to the "true" zero, her tuck lace was beautiful!

Explore Tuck Lace in the Stitch Library

Lesson learned:
Mark your needlebed with "true zero" and don't rely on the needle strip to stay in place.