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Tutorial on Kniterate

Creating a Birdseye Jacquard Knit

Creating the Jacquard Image

  • Design the image for the jacquard.
  • Scale the image to 1 pixel = 1 stitch.
  • Maximum width: 252 pixels (= stitches)
  • Account for vertical distortion of about 120%. Test it by knitting a test! It's never the same!
  • Save the image as .png or .jpg.

Orininal image

Left, sample image of the map on the square flood.

Right, image distorted to 120% in height before processing on Dithermark. For an image 200 pixels/stitches wide, one must make an image 240 pixels/stitches high. Each drawing, wool changes this percentage. As with manual knitting, a sample is essential to try to obtain the best ratio.

The number of pixels/mesh is final at this stage.

How to Dither an Image

  1. Import the already scaled image to www.dithermark.com.
  2. Choose the number of colors (2 to 4 max).
  3. Modify the color palette.
  4. Select a dithering algorithm.
  5. Export as PNG (not .jpg).

Tip 1: Use the "Image" tab to adjust settings. Only use "Filters (pre-dither)" settings.

Tip 2: Apply settings to multiple images using "Batch convert Image files."

Original image

  1. You can modified pixels by using GIMP, and ajust the colors number. Export in png. Photoshop is not as good as GIMP.

Tip 3: be sure all colors apears in the last row. It prepares the transfert from rear to front easely.

Programming on editor.kniterate.design

Since then, they've change the editor : https://www.customist.com/

Menu

Part 1: - Move work - Select - Edit - Edit by line - Add image

Part 2: - Stitch Types

Part 3: - numbers of the carriage (now you can change the color of the whool!)

Tip: Click the mouse button to move the image on the screen.

Create a New File

2

  • Rename/save the file: Unlock the padlock.
  • If you duplicate, the editor saves the current file first.

3

Tip: Name your file with significante informations (Ribs, technics, size…)

Sizing Your Work

4

  1. In LAYER, the CANVAS appears by default.
  2. Hover to see icons (Pencil/Eye/Trash).
  3. Click the PENCIL.
  4. Enter the number of stitches in SHAPE (width x height).
  5. Click anywhere on the window to validate your choices.

Casting On Stitches

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Waste + Cast-on.
  2. Select the location.
  3. Select Pick selection.
  4. Select row 1 with the selection tool (right-click, set selection/course wise).
  5. The cast-on rows appear at the bottom.

5

Adjust

  • Waste yarn: YARN 2 (PLA thread)
  • Body yarns: Use carriages, e.g., 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Check IS JACQUARD
  • In interlock, write: stitch 4 (tension applied to thread 2 in PLA)

Creating a Double Jacquard

  1. In LAYER, click on + and select Birdseye Jacquard.
  2. Click Location/Pick selection, select the 4th yellow row above the waste yarn: select the darkest row.
  3. Click the black window to upload the .png image.
  4. If there's an error, check that the pixel format and number of colors match the CANVAS image.
  5. Yarn order: Add '3 4 5 6'

Assign each color to a yarn guide

  • Yarn 3 / Yarn 4 / Yarn 5 / Yarn 6

Important:

  • For 2-color jacquard: Check Invert colors.
  • For 3 or 4-color jacquard: Check Full needle if you want to have a crisscross knit.

Tip: Birdseye Backs in Jacquard Knitting

Editing Block Parameters (Optional)

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Edit option columns.
  2. Adjust parameters for the entire block.
  3. Fill in stitch 4 for thread tension in the image. (my settings for my whool!)

2

Finishing the Jacquard

2

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Front <> rear transfers.
  2. Select the last rows (top), ensuring all colors are present.
  3. You should get 2 staggered rows of arrows so all stitches are transferred to the front bed.

Option 1: Finishing the Knit with Waste yarn

  • Ensure there are 10-30 rows of waste yarn 2.
  • Fill in Interlock: "Stitch 4".
  • Add 1 row in main yarn, and with Free Edit, change the tension to 10 or more. You can cast off more easily with a hook (latch needle) by hand.

Option 2: Finishing the Knit with purl in main yarn

This is the option I chose to create a jersey roll in the main yarn. Ensure there are about 30 rows of main yarn 3, 4, 5 or 6.

Changing last row Parameters

2

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Free Edit.
  2. To facilitate binding off with a crochet hook, change the tension to 10 on the front bed and choose the same yarn color as the cast-on.

Dropping Stitches

2

  • In Free Edit, delete the last 2 rows and place DROP stitches on the front bed alternately.

References:

Improving Straight Edges

  • In SETTINGS/COMPILAR OPTION, reduce carriage spacing to 1 and 1.5.

Starting the Knit

  • Export Knit to a .kc file (place on the SD card, replace the file systematically).
  • Check: Yarn guides are placed at the start of the row.

Creating a Stitch Image Knit

Creating a Double Jacquard

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Stitch image.
  2. Select your 2-color image.
  3. Assign front/back stitch types.

Adding Rows

  • Add 1 row of jersey stitch on the front bed at the bottom and top of the work.

Adding Transfers

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Front <> rear transfers.
  2. Select all rows and apply.
  3. Fill option: roller 0 stitch 0 speed 120.

5

Casting On Stitches

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Waste + Cast-on.
  2. Select the location.
  3. Select Pick selection.
  4. Select row 1 with the selection tool (right-click, set selection/course wise).
  5. The cast-on rows appear at the bottom.
  6. Add in Interlock options: Stitch 4.

Adding End Stitches

  1. To quickly add rows, go to the last row before you edit and right-click on a single stitch. A drop-down menu appears, and you can insert rows. This method is very useful for executing orders easily. A layer appears, and you can edit its settings.
  2. Add about 30 rows.

5

Changing Previous Block Parameters

With our wast yarn, We need a tension 4. If it's not the good tension, change the Block Parameter (or by using FreeEdit)

  1. In LAYER, click + and select Free Edit.
  2. To facilitate binding off with a crochet hook, change the tension to 10 on the front bed and choose the same yarn color as the cast-on.

Finishing the Knit with Waste Yarn

  • Ensure there are 10-30 rows of waste yarn 2 with tension 4.

Dropping Stitches

  • In Free Edit, delete the last 2 rows and place DROP stitches on the front bed alternately with tension up to 10.

5

References: - 3 Ways of Finishing Your Knit - Alternative Bind-offs

Improving Straight Edges

5

  • In SETTINGS/COMPILAR OPTION, reduce carriage spacing to 1 and 1.5.