PurlbedTuck and slip › Tuck
Tuck stitch
The purl side (often used as the right side) shows a raised honeycomb, bubbles or "star" textures where tucked loops pile up. The knit side shows stitches pulled into V or diagonal formations, with a lacy, puckered look over the tuck columns.
- Single bed
- Needle selection
Machine types that can knit it
Demo swatch
Drawn for: Single bed, punch cardApproximate preview worked out from the bed chart, not a photo.
The full card
- What it looks like
- The purl side (often used as the right side) shows a raised honeycomb, bubbles or "star" textures where tucked loops pile up. The knit side shows stitches pulled into V or diagonal formations, with a lacy, puckered look over the tuck columns. The fabric is wider and shorter than stockinette at the same needle count.
- How it behaves
- Thick, spongy, and wider than stockinette. Rows are compressed, so more rows are needed per cm. Partly reversible. It uses more yarn.
- How it works
- Both TUCK buttons in, change knob K.C. Punched = needle at D = knits normally. Blank = needle at B = tucks: the tuck cam raises it only partway, so the new yarn is caught in the hook without the old loop being cast off. Loops accumulate until a knitting row clears them.
- Machines
- KH-821 yes. No ribber. Claw weights at both edges are essential (manual). Pressing one TUCK button tucks in one direction only [unverified for KH-820 specifically; general Brother behaviour].
- Parameters
- Max 4 consecutive tuck rows on one needle (some fine yarns tolerate fewer). Tension: normal to +1. Move weights up regularly. 1. Knit plain; preselect row 1 with the card locked (as for Fair Isle). 2. Release the lock, press both TUCK buttons. 3. Knit 4 rows, then hang claw weights at each edge. 4. Continue, moving the weights up regularly. 5. Bring an end needle to D by hand if it fails to select (edge drop prevention). - Horizontally, no two adjacent blanks: every blank must have punched neighbours on both sides. Some machines tolerate pairs, but avoid them on the KH-821. [verified multiple] - Vertically, no more than 4 blanks stacked in a column, then a punched row (knit-off). - Fully punched rows every few rows help clear loops. - Keep the 1–2 edge needles knitting.
- Charting
- ■ = punched = knit; □ = blank = tuck (draw the tuck symbol, e.g. a "∪" or "T", in blanks when publishing a stitch chart). Note "TUCK both buttons" on the card margin.
- Limits and common problems
- Too many stacked tucks overfill the hook, causing dropped stitches, tangling and loops popping off. Without edge weights the end needles drop. Adjacent blank pairs fail to knit off. Thick yarn plus tight tension jams the carriage.
- Combines with
- two-colour tuck (stripes), knitweave (tuck + weaving, alessandrina), elongation (on machines that have it).
Written in our own words from machine manuals, knitting references and swatching. Knit a test swatch before a whole piece.