Alternating wedges, stripes & chevrons

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)

Steps

1. Shape from the left: hold g needles every r rows, alternating A/B per step. Wrap the end held needle.
2. Return needles in groups of g, with the yarn colour matching the loops being returned.
3. Knit plain rows in A, using an odd count to move the carriage.
4. Shape from the right.
5. Repeat.

The full card

What it looks like

An overall straight strip with zigzag or chevron colour bands. Diagonal stripe blocks change direction. You may see an S-curved wavy strip if several wedges are stacked per side before switching.

How it behaves

Mostly flat. Gently wavy if the alternation is grouped (k wedges left, then k right).

How it works

Same as the one-side wedge, but swap the shaping side. To switch sides, add one extra plain pass, making the plain section an odd number of rows. Stripe variants change yarn on each group step (always with the carriage on the same side), or knit the wedges in B and the plain rows in A.

Machines

Single bed. Colour changes are manual (or use a single-bed colour changer if the carriage ends at the changer side). Yarn B may need cutting when the shaping side flips.

Parameters

group size g = 2–8 needles; rows per step r = 2–4 (4 makes larger, bolder stripes); wedges per side before switching k = 1–7; colours 2–3.

Steps

1) Shape from the left: hold g needles every r rows, alternating A/B per step. Wrap the end held needle. 2) Return needles in groups of g, with the yarn colour matching the loops being returned. 3) Knit plain rows in A, using an odd count to move the carriage. 4) Shape from the right. 5) Repeat.

Charting

Stair-stepped bands in alternating shades. Mark a "C" at each wrapped turn and an arrow per row.

Limits and common problems

A colour mismatch on returned needles shows as a speckled step. Forgetting the odd plain row puts the carriage on the wrong side and leaves a float.

Combines with

pk-one-side-wedge, pk-intarsia-blocks.

Pieces and assembly

Straight panels with built-in graphic diagonals. Good for stripes on keys, awnings and similar.

Related techniques

• One-side wedge / curve / spiral
• Centre bulge / dome
• Flared / ruffled edges
• Inset godet / pocket-flap triangle
• Peaks / pyramids (single and arrays)
• Partial-knit hold mechanics