Purlbed

Short rows (partial knitting) › Loops and joins

Knitted loops & surface braids

Long narrow tabs of knitting that rise from the surface and are chained through one another. The result is raised braided cords or chain links across the fabric (criss-cross or column-wise), with plain fabric between them. Hold everything except a narrow group.

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.Part of this technique is done by hand (hooking up, chaining or closing loops); the demo shows the knitted base.
Bed chart
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH15101520253035→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←→←Front bedHold1 square = 1 stitch × 1 row · read from the bottom · Single bed, punch card, 36 needles
Needle notation, first steps
1. Rows 1–2: knit 2 rowsStocking stitchcarriage →bed2. Rows 3–14: knit 12 rowsStocking stitch · hold 24carriage →bedHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH3. Rows 15–20: knit 6 rowsStocking stitchcarriage →bed4. Rows 21–32: knit 12 rowsStocking stitch · hold 24carriage →bedHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHShowing needles L12–R12 of 36; repeat across the working area.

Steps

  1. Cast on k·(loop+gap)+gap.
  2. Hold all but the first loop+gap group, pass, hold the gap.
  3. Knit L rows on the loop.
  4. Return the next gap and loop group and continue across.
  5. Plain rows.
  6. Repeat.
  7. Chain the loops and secure.

The full card

What it looks like
Long narrow tabs of knitting that rise from the surface and are chained through one another. The result is raised braided cords or chain links across the fabric (criss-cross or column-wise), with plain fabric between them.
How it behaves
Raised loops/cords, strong surface relief.
How it works
Hold everything except a narrow group. Knit many rows on it to make a strip, which folds into a loop as the next rows join. Move to the next group across the row (return the gap and next group, then hold the previous ones). Knit plain rows between rows of loops. Off the machine, pull each loop through the previous one and tack the last loop on the back.
Machines
Single bed, hold. Weights are critical: use a hand or a small claw weight moved up often on the narrow strip only.
Parameters
loop width (5–6); loop rows (20–30); spacing (4); plain rows between loop rows (6–14); yarn fine cotton/wool, tension around 5.
Steps
1) Cast on k·(loop+gap)+gap. 2) Hold all but the first loop+gap group, pass, hold the gap. 3) Knit L rows on the loop. 4) Return the next gap and loop group and continue across. 5) Plain rows. 6) Repeat. 7) Chain the loops and secure.
Charting
A placement chart: dark blocks mark loop positions, not their rows. Annotate L rows.
Limits and common problems
Loops too short won't reach the neighbour; too few spacer rows give tight braids. Trial-and-error sizing.
Combines with
pk-edge-loop-join, ch.2 (similar loop techniques).
Pieces and assembly
Surface cords; handles; strap-like detail.

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

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