One-side wedge / curve / spiral

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. Cast on W and knit base rows in A. Carriage on side S.
2. Change to B. Engage hold.
3. From the edge opposite S, move n_hold needles to hold every pass until all are held. Carriage ends on S.
4. Release hold. Knit 2 plain rows in A.
5. Repeat k times.

The full card

What it looks like

A strip that curves like an arc, fan or spiral. Wedge-shaped bands radiate from the inner (short) edge, so stripes look like sun rays or a folding fan. The inner edge is short and straight-ish; the outer edge is long and polygonal-to-smooth.

How it behaves

Curve in plane, or a helix/spiral if continued. Horizontal stripes fan out.

How it works

Hold needles progressively from one edge until only a few are working (or none). Return all needles with 1–2 plain rows. Repeat on the same side, so each repeat adds one wedge at the opposite edge.

Machines

Single bed, hold. Move the weights up every wedge or hold the work down by hand. Claw weights help on the build-up side.

Parameters

W = 20–60 needles; n_hold per pass = 1–4 (1 gives a smooth, large curve; 4 gives faceted, short wedges); wedge colour B vs base colour A; repeats k (the angle per wedge depends on W and the rate, so test-swatch it); tension 5–7 on 3-ply/4-ply or 2/15–2/16NM wool.

Steps

1) Cast on W and knit base rows in A. Carriage on side S. 2) Change to B. Engage hold. 3) From the edge opposite S, move n_hold needles to hold every pass until all are held. Carriage ends on S. 4) Release hold. Knit 2 plain rows in A. 5) Repeat k times.

Charting

Each wedge is a shaded right triangle in the course-of-yarn grid, with its height = W / n_hold passes. The colour shade marks the yarn. Arrows show the carriage side.

Limits and common problems

Floats are tiny (holding every row means no wrap is needed). The work twists off the needles if the weights aren't moved up.

Combines with

pk-alternating-chevron (to straighten), stripes, elastic or shrink yarn (exaggerates the spiral).

Pieces and assembly

Good for arcs, collars, peplum-like flares, spiral tubes and curved trims. The short edge can be gathered or seamed to a straight edge.

Related techniques

• Alternating wedges, stripes & chevrons
• Centre bulge / dome
• Flared / ruffled edges
• Inset godet / pocket-flap triangle
• Peaks / pyramids (single and arrays)
• Partial-knit hold mechanics