Note: in order to shorten the video, I did not show the middle diamond shape being knitted. Filming begins with the zigzag band above the diamonds, and they are selected and knitted using the same method as the zigzag band.
In this video, we will look at using and adapting the standard needle pushers that are included with an LK150 and KX350 basic knitting machine to select the patterning stitches for Fairisle. I purchased two extra needle pushers for my LK150 and adapted them by cutting out some of the teeth. This is easy to do, using a Dremel hand tool. However, I actually used a very small serrated-blade kitchen knife on one of them. That was all I had available at the time, and it worked surprisingly well.
This method is a little different than the previous ones. This time we set the carriage with both levers on the left side in backwards position, the both levers on the carriage in forward position. Leave them there throughout. To make this method work, the main color begins from the right side of the bed, and the contrast color from the left side on row 1 on the chart.
Needles are selected only one time per row. Begin with the carriage on the right side of the bed. Knit across with the main color yarn, change to contrast, and knit back to the right. It is the combination of the carriage settings, and changing colors on opposite sides of the bed that make this method work. This can be confusing at first, so begin practicing with small samples.
I hope you find this video helpful.
Irene Woods