Lifts with contrasting yarn weights/fibres

Machine types that can knit it

• Single bed, punch card
• Single bed, electronic
• Single bed, no patterning
• Single bed (punch card) + ribber
• Single bed (electronic) + ribber
• Double bed with pushers (Passap type)
• Double-bed hand flat (V-bed)

Steps

1. Stripe yarns per ratio.
2. Lift each yarn's last row in fixed groups.
3. Slightly tighter tension densifies heavy yarn and strengthens push-out.

The full card

What it looks like

Horizontal garter-like or rib-like ridges even before lifting; heavier yarn rows stand proud toward the purl side; with lifts, denser zones are pushed outward.

How it behaves

Fine horizontal ridging plus lift relief; tactile more than visual.

How it works

Alternating stripes of heavy and fine yarn: heavy rows bulge to purl side, fine rows recede. Balance by knitting fewer heavy rows and more fine rows; a shrinking/elastic fine yarn (polyamide) contracts further so e.g. 6 elastic rows ≈ 2 heavy rows in height.

Machines

Single bed; may need different tension per yarn (e.g. fine elastic 4, 4-ply 7).

Parameters

heavy:fine row ratio 1:1 to 1:3; tension per yarn; 3 yarns possible with constant lift positions (groups of 3, gap 10).

Steps

1) Stripe yarns per ratio. 2) Lift each yarn's last row in fixed groups. 3) Slightly tighter tension densifies heavy yarn and strengthens push-out.

Charting

Stripe bands with yarn-weight legend (thick/thin line icon) and tension per band.

Limits and common problems

Equal row counts with very different yarns give uneven length; subtle visually—verify by touch.

Combines with

All lift cards; see ch.4 (pleats) for weight-contrast ridges.

Pieces and assembly

Different shrink rates per yarn → measure after washing/steaming.

Related techniques

• Basic lifted stitch (heel hook-up)
• Selective lifts, alternating grid (honeycomb / smocking)
• Charted lift placement (blocks, diamonds, conceal-and-reveal)
• Stepped adjacent lifts (diagonal wave)
• Lift-and-shift (directional/twisting lifts)
• Full-row lift (horizontal tuck/roll)