Punch cards
On some knitting machines you can work with punch cards. These cards contain a grid with holes that together form a pattern. When holding the card vertically, each horizontal row of the grid from represents one knitted row. A hole means "skip this needle", while a grid-block without a hole means "knit this needle". Using these cards, you can create jacquard designs on the domestic knitting machine.
Punch cards communicate in a language of 0's (no hole) and 1's (hole), which is binary code. Interestingly, this punch card system and binary language actually stems from another textile technique, weaving, which later also inspired the first digital computing machine and like this, much of the technology we now depend on.
How to use a punch card: step-by-step
- First, select or design your own punch card and set the punch card on the machine:
- Then, set up the machine:
How to use a punch card: video
The page How to use a punch card: Step-by-step provides the most comprehensive overview. However, if you prefer a video format, the video below provides for when you first start using a punch card on the single bed knitting machine. The video is quite long: jump to 3:30 and watch until approx. 10:00 to see the essentials.
Designing your own punch card
Two pre-designed punch cards and one blank punch card
You can use pre-made punch cards or create your own design using a blank punch card. With a special tool, you'll punch holes in the blank card. Make sure to pre-plan your design, as mistakes are easily made. Our tips for planning your design:
- Grid paper and a pencil
- Excel (scale the cells to be square)
- Adacad, an open source program for weaving. As weaving and knitting design both use binary code, you can use the program for this purpose as well. Link: https://adacad-4-1.web.app/. Steps:
- Select "add draft" on the left top, enter the amount of vertical under "warps" and the amount of horizontal rows under "weft".
- Click on the draft that appears, select "draft" at the top of the page.
- Under "loom type", on the left of the page, select "jacquard". Click on a square in your draft now and it turns black.
- Make your design. Save it by pressing the house icon --> "export as" --> the file type you want.
Reading the punch card:
