Racking Adds Texture to Simple and Novelty Rib Fabrics
If you ever wondered if there was a straightforward way to add texture to your ribbed fabrics, racking may be what you're looking for. Perhaps "straightforward" is not the word to use, because racking, as you may already know, produces zigzags!
But it's not just for zigzags. Racking can produce a range of textures on a double bed knitting machine or with a main knitting bed and ribber. Even if you’ve never used racking as a design element, you’ve probably used the racking handle on your machine before. When you knit full needle rib for one project and 1x1 rib for another, you’ve used your racking handle to place the needles in correct alignment for each.
I'm excited to introduce the Racking Workshop to you! The presentation and materials were presented live last fall in a pilot version of the course. With feedback from the original enrollees, a new recording, and a few edits, I'm happy to announce that the course is now open for enrollment.
The most basic definition of racking is shifting one bed of needles sideways. That shift (or rack) can be made in either direction between rows of knitting. When the racking and the knitting are repeated in a regular pattern over a series of rows, they produce spectacular results. A simple or complex rib transforms into an intricate surface.
Of course, knowing when to rack is a big part of the technique. Beyond that, I believe it’s important to understand the core principles of racking, so you can work creatively with this technique to develop your own stitch patterns. Through this series of videos and guides, you will gain an understanding of how racking alters the structure of ribs. And you’ll learn that deep texture can be loads of fun to knit!
This Racking Workshop is for intermediate and advanced machine knitters with a double bed knitting machine or a main bed and ribber, primarily for knitters who use Passap, Superba, Kniterate, Dubied, and Japanese-style machines with a ribber. If you’re ready for a deep dive into racking and the joy that comes with mastering a new technique, the Racking Workshop is for you.
~ Olgalyn