Peaks / pyramids (single and arrays)

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. Carriage on L. Hold everything except the peak group.
2. Hold 1 needle on the carriage side each pass until 2 remain.
3. Return 1 needle on the carriage side each pass until p are working.
4. Return the neighbours and the next group; continue across.
5. Release hold and knit plain.

The full card

What it looks like

Pointed 3D triangles or small pyramids standing out of the fabric, like teeth or spikes. Each has a crease line down its centre. Staggered arrays make a wave or dragon-scale surface. Steamed flat they look like triangular tabs.

How it behaves

Pointed relief; strong if large.

How it works

Hold the edges and isolate a centre group. Hold 1 needle per pass on the carriage side, alternating sides, down to 2 needles. Then return 1 per pass on the carriage side back to full width. Material piles up in the middle and pops out. An array is knitted one peak at a time across the row, starting at the carriage end. On the last pass of each peak, return the gap needles and the next peak's needles. On the next pass, hold the finished peak and the gap.

Machines

Single bed, hold. Wrapping is optional; closing eyelets improves the look.

Parameters

peak width p (6–20); rows per step (1 gives a compact peak; more rows give an elongated peak); needles per step (more gives a squatter peak); spacing; stagger offset per band; peak colour (inserting a contrast yarn makes isolation easier, because the first contrast needle is in the peak itself and the float rule is relaxed).

Steps

1) Carriage on L. Hold everything except the peak group. 2) Hold 1 needle on the carriage side each pass until 2 remain. 3) Return 1 needle on the carriage side each pass until p are working. 4) Return the neighbours and the next group; continue across. 5) Release hold and knit plain.

Charting

A diamond-ish symmetric shrink/grow block per peak. Carriage arrows on each row. For arrays, a staircase of peak blocks along the row with arrows showing the traverse direction.

Limits and common problems

You cannot knit all peaks simultaneously, because floats would cross the held peaks. With same-yarn peaks you must respect the last/first-needle rule.

Combines with

stripes (mohair stripes bloom), punch-card patterning in the peak or ground, pk-godet.

Pieces and assembly

Surface relief within a piece. Large peaks can act as corners or tips of objects.

Related techniques

• One-side wedge / curve / spiral
• Alternating wedges, stripes & chevrons
• Centre bulge / dome
• Flared / ruffled edges
• Inset godet / pocket-flap triangle
• Partial-knit hold mechanics