Purlbed

Short rows (partial knitting) › Loops and joins

Edge loops for joining pieces

Pieces joined by a visible chain of interlocking knitted loops along the seams, like a zip, lacing or chain stitch. Patchwork-style modular panels. Make loops only on the edge group (one side, both sides, and/or near cast-on/cast-off for horizontal joins). Spacer rows separate the loops.

Machine types that can knit it

Demo swatch

Drawn for: Single bed, punch card
Approximate preview worked out from the bed chart, not a photo.The join itself is made when the pieces are put together; the demo shows the loops along the edge.
Bed chart
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH15101520253035→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←Front bedHold1 square = 1 stitch × 1 row · read from the bottom · Single bed, punch card, 36 needles
Needle notation, first steps
1. Rows 1–6: knit 6 rowsStocking stitch · hold 32carriage →bedHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH2. Rows 7–10: knit 4 rowsStocking stitchcarriage →bed3. Rows 11–16: knit 6 rowsStocking stitch · hold 32carriage →bedHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH4. Rows 17–20: knit 4 rowsStocking stitchcarriage →bedShowing needles L12–R12 of 36; repeat across the working area.

Steps

  1. Cast on W + loop width.
  2. Hold all but the edge group. Knit L rows.
  3. Knit plain spacer rows.
  4. Repeat along the length.
  5. Make the partner piece with loops on the opposite edge.
  6. Braid the loops together.

The full card

What it looks like
Pieces joined by a visible chain of interlocking knitted loops along the seams, like a zip, lacing or chain stitch. Patchwork-style modular panels.
How it behaves
Raised seam chain.
How it works
Make loops only on the edge group (one side, both sides, and/or near cast-on/cast-off for horizontal joins). Spacer rows separate the loops. Make the same count on the mating piece. Interlock alternately: piece A loop through piece B loop, and so on. Secure the end.
Machines
Single bed, hold.
Parameters
loop width (≈6), loop rows (≈20; longer gives a looser join), spacer rows (6–8); the mating pieces must share yarn weight and tension, or recalculate via a gauge swatch.
Steps
1) Cast on W + loop width. 2) Hold all but the edge group. Knit L rows. 3) Knit plain spacer rows. 4) Repeat along the length. 5) Make the partner piece with loops on the opposite edge. 6) Braid the loops together.
Charting
A border placement chart; dark cells = loop sites on the edges.
Limits and common problems
Different gauges misalign loops. Count rows exactly.
Combines with
every piece-based plan.
Pieces and assembly
A primary joining method. It is a seamless, reversible, removable join for modules (e.g. key-by-key panels, sides of a box form).

Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.

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