Partial-knit loops closed by lifting (loop pile)

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 border.
2. COR; hold all but rightmost group w.
3. Knit L rows on group; pull the growing tab through to the knitter's side and hand-press or claw-weight it.
4. Return group to hold, bring next group to work, repeat to far side (carriage ends on the opposite side).
5. Rehang heel of last pre-loop row on each group's needles.
6. Knit an odd/even number of full rows so carriage returns; this pushes the bulky stitches away.
7. Stagger group positions on next loop row if desired.

The full card

What it looks like

Dense field of upright or flopping knitted tubes/tabs (loops) standing off a flat base, like pile, fringe-loops or bobble grass; can be staggered or aligned; with elastic base, a tight dense carpet of loops.

How it behaves

Loop/tab protrusions, very pronounced; length = rows, width = needles.

How it works

Hold all needles except a group of w; knit L rows on the group only (a tab); repeat across groups; then rehang the heel of the last row before the loops onto each group's needles, closing the loop base so no holes remain; knit several full rows.

Machines

Single bed with hold position (E) and carriage hold lever (Brother KH-821-type OK). Claw weights. Not feasible on V-bed hand-flats (no partial knit there); industrial machines can make similar loops.

Parameters

w = 3–6 needles; spacer = 0–2 needles between groups; L = 20–80 rows; finish with 4–6 full rows; base yarn (wool, elastic, shrinking) vs loop yarn.

Steps

1) Knit border. 2) COR; hold all but rightmost group w. 3) Knit L rows on group; pull the growing tab through to the knitter's side and hand-press or claw-weight it. 4) Return group to hold, bring next group to work, repeat to far side (carriage ends on the opposite side). 5) Rehang heel of last pre-loop row on each group's needles. 6) Knit an odd/even number of full rows so carriage returns; this pushes the bulky stitches away. 7) Stagger group positions on next loop row if desired.

Charting

Partial-knit chart: worked cells for each group drawn as a tall column of rows separated by hold (blank) cells; a curved arrow at the base shows the rehang.

Limits and common problems

Without weight on the small group, loops ride up and drop; long loops are slow; holes appear if the rehang is skipped.

Combines with

elastic base yarn (shirring elastic) for density; felting (wool base + cotton loops keeps loops crisp while base shrinks); colour per loop.

Pieces and assembly

Loop zones can be placed anywhere; keep loop-free margins for seams.

Related techniques

• Basic lifted stitch (heel hook-up)
• Selective lifts, alternating grid (honeycomb / smocking)
• Charted lift placement (blocks, diamonds, conceal-and-reveal)
• Stepped adjacent lifts (diagonal wave)
• Lifts with contrasting yarn weights/fibres
• Lift-and-shift (directional/twisting lifts)