Partial-knit hold mechanics

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. Knit a few base rows and hang weights.
2. Engage hold.
3. Each pass: push n_hold needles to hold, on the side opposite the carriage unless a self-wrap is wanted.
4. Knit.
5. Return the needles by the chosen method.
6. Disengage hold for plain rows.

The full card

What it looks like

Not visible on its own. It shows up as stepped diagonal edges, rows of tiny eyelets on a diagonal (unwrapped turns), or smooth sloped seams (wrapped turns).

How it behaves

Enables every shape below. Flat by itself.

How it works

Set the carriage to hold. Needles pushed to the hold position (Brother E, Silver Reed D) are bypassed but keep their loops. Needles in normal work (B) knit. To bring needles back, either push them to the upper working position (Brother D / Silver Reed C), so the next pass knits them, or release the hold setting so one pass knits everything. The safer alternative is to lift each loop back onto its hook with a transfer tool.

Machines

Single bed is fine (KH-821: hold cam button "H" on the carriage). Needs a ribber? No. Punch card: if a card or colour pattern is running, rehang the stitches manually instead of pushing needles to UWP. Pushing to UWP can drop stitches or disturb selection. V-bed/Dubied: no hold; only a crude workaround by transferring to the disabled bed. High risk of drops; avoid.

Parameters

n_hold per pass (1–8); rows between moves (1–4+); side (L/R/both/centre); return method (UWP push | release hold | manual rehang).

Steps

1) Knit a few base rows and hang weights. 2) Engage hold. 3) Each pass: push n_hold needles to hold, on the side opposite the carriage unless a self-wrap is wanted. 4) Knit. 5) Return the needles by the chosen method. 6) Disengage hold for plain rows.

Charting

Use a course-of-yarn grid: x = needle, y = carriage pass. Shade the cells the yarn travels over on each pass; leave held needles blank. Mark carriage direction per pass with an arrow beside the row. Mark a wrapped needle with a "C"/"⊃" hook symbol in the cell next to the turn. Needle diagram: | | | | for working needles and a raised tick or "↑E" for held needles.

Limits and common problems

Long floats from a wrong carriage side. Dropped stitches when a needle is returned to UWP while a pattern card is active. The fabric bunches when weights aren't moved up under the build-up side. Wrapped needles can get bulky after many wraps.

Combines with

every card here; stripes; punch-card patterning inside held regions; ch.2 lifted stitches; ch.4 pleats.

Pieces and assembly

Shapes a piece's outline without cutting, e.g. curved edges, fans, shoulder-style slopes. Can taper a piece to a point.

Related techniques

• Wrapping & float discipline
• One-side wedge / curve / spiral
• Alternating wedges, stripes & chevrons
• Centre bulge / dome
• Flared / ruffled edges
• Inset godet / pocket-flap triangle