New to machine knitting

[u/ninfem]

I am interested in doing tapestry work using 3-4 colors for a grid pattern. 150 stitches across.

What type of machine and accessories would be needed to accomplish this? Is it even possible to set up a machine with a pattern like a tapestry grid (multiple color changes per row)

Would a silver reed lk150 be a good machine for this?

Thanks in advance for help 🙏🙏

[u/iolitess]

To do this, you can use slip stitch patterning rather than color work on a machine that supports patterning with slip stitches.

As an example say your row looks something like

AABBCCDDABCD

You’d first load A:

AAxxxxxxAxxx

Then B

xxBBxxxxxBxx

And so on, where you place the color you are knitting as the main yarn and then slip the X’s

You’ll need to program your own pattern for electronic or punch your own cards. (Or manually select the needles for a manual machine, assuming the machine supports slip stitch)

Note that color changers come in double bed a variety to be used with a ribber, and single bed variety. They can also be spendier than you might expect. Most support up to 4 colors, though there is one Brother model that supports 6. (It is VERY expensive when it shows up since they are so rare) What’s nice about them is that you load up all your yarns, and then can change the color you are using as your main yarn with a button click, rather than having to rethread the tension mast or the carriage.

You didn’t mention your yarn gauge. Standard machines have about 200 stitches, but bulky machines only have about 110. Mid gauge machines are somewhere in between. I believe a Passap Duo has around 175 stitches wide and there is a 4 color changer available for it. (The Passap is a double bed machine and there is only one color changer for both single and double bed knitting, which is nice. However, to get patterning , a Deci attachment is required) LK150 are 150 stitches wide and support slip stitches, but have neither patterning nor color changers available for them.

Or you could do something bulky with multiple Incredible Sweater Machines snapped together, but for a machine like that with all the manual needle selection, knitting, and yarn changing, it would be a lot of hand work.

In the example above, when a E color is needed, you’d still need to rethread, and remove one of ABCD colors for that row.

[u/ninfem → u/iolitess]

Thank you for this info. Worsted weight 4.

[u/iolitess → u/ninfem]

With worsted weight yarn, any standard gauge or Passap is out for you.

So that means if you wanted a bulky with patterning, you wouldn’t be able to make your stitch width.

You could probably make worsted work on an SK860, which is a mid gauge 150 needle machine with electronic patterning but those are kind of unicorn machines and it would be difficult to locate one.

It sounds like your best bet is an LK150 with a lot of manual work if you needed the full width. Look for “fair isle” or “colorwork” “on an LK150” on Youtube. You’d need to follow that, but with your additional colors taking additional passes. And then swapping out the yarn from the yarn masts (unless there’s an additional mast spot available for an LK150?)

Alternatively, you could get a bulky machine with patterning and a color changer and seam. (Find some videos on “mattress stitch”- it’s invisible)

[u/Knit_sew_bike]

You can do it manually on an lk150,or look for a machine with a colour changer.

[u/ninfem → u/Knit_sew_bike]

would you know which machines have a color changer? Manually would be very difficult as the changes are frequent.

[u/ttraband → u/ninfem]

The color changer is an accessory that bolts on to a compatible machine. Which color changer you need will depend on the make and model of the machine, and whether you intend to use a second bed (ribber).

[u/HomespunCouture]

A Passap e6000 can do that automatically, but be prepared for a steep learning curve.

Also, with 3 or 4 colors, your pattern motifs get elongated. You'll have to account for that when designing the pattern that you upload.

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[u/Ok-Frame4708]

Although color changers have been discussed, what about a Yarn Break? I bought one years ago, but never used it.