Basic Ottoman rolls (double bed)

Machine types that can knit it

• Single bed (punch card) + ribber
• Single bed (electronic) + ribber
• Double bed with pushers (Passap type)
• Double-bed hand flat (V-bed)

Steps

1. Full-needle cast on, comb + weights.
2. Yarn B, front bed off, knit k rows (back bed only).
3. Yarn A, both beds, 2 rows.
4. Repeat; vary k/colour.

The full card

What it looks like

Even, closely packed horizontal tubes on one face; the other face flatter with slightly elongated stitches behind rolls; very regular, machine-crisp; rolls can graduate in size and change colour.

How it behaves

Horizontal ridges, clean; depth limited (V-bed ~4–6 rows/roll).

How it works

Cast on full needle rib; roll rows: turn one bed's cams off so only one bed knits k rows while other bed's loops hold; then 1–2 DJ rows on all needles close the roll.

Machines

Double bed (domestic + ribber, or V-bed hand-flat like Dubied, or industrial). Combs/weights; hand take-down advised. No hold on V-bed hand-flat; forcing needles possible only on domestic.

Parameters

k = 2–6 rows (domestic can go higher); DJ rows 2 (min 1); tension: domestic SJ ~5, DJ ~4 (rib one step tighter because beds are farther apart); V-bed SJ ~2 numbers looser than DJ (book's typical range 10–18). Graduated rolls: 2→4→6→4→2.

Steps

1) Full-needle cast on, comb + weights. 2) Yarn B, front bed off, knit k rows (back bed only). 3) Yarn A, both beds, 2 rows. 4) Repeat; vary k/colour.

Charting

Grid row bands labelled "BB only" vs "DJ"; needle notation: two rows of needle marks (front/back), roll rows drawn only on the knitting bed; resting bed shown with held loops.

Limits and common problems

Under take-down → unformed stitches/drops; over take-down → held stitches break; too many roll rows → failure on V-bed.

Combines with

colour changes (tie on new colour if no changer), four-feeder machines for multicolour rolls.

Pieces and assembly

Dense, firm double fabric: good for structured panels, room dividers, blankets.

Related techniques

• Double-sided Ottoman
• Ottoman with held-stitch needle placement (machine "lifted stitches")
• Ottoman Ripple Fold
• Ottoman with floats (ripples on placement bed)
• Float hook-up and latch-up embellishment