It's important to add a START module to your design. This does not affect any of the settings of your panel. The start module knits in all yarns that you are using in your piece, so they are right where the machine needs them to be, and it knits a few centimeters of waste yarn. This waste yarn will be caught by the rollers before your piece starts knitting, to make sure your piece is under constant tension when knitted. If it is not under tension, the stitches can pile up and drop from the needles or cause clumps.
Add the start after you finished your design. Adding it before you have finished your design limits the use of modules.
The start module is a draw thread start. This means there is a single yarn (smooth, strong nylon is recommended) that attaches the waste yarn to your knitted piece. To detach simply pull out the draw thread.
- In the Stitches panel, click Actions-> Add start stitches.
- A menu will pop up, where you can select the feeder you want to use for the cast-on row, the draw thread, and the waste yarn.
Cast-on yarn
The cast-on row is the very first row of your knitting. Make sure to choose a feeder that works well for your design. For example, if you are knitting mostly with yarn feeder 3, then select yarn feeder 3 for the cast-on row. This way the start of the knit blends in with the rest of the knitting.
Draw thread
The draw thread is knitted one single row between the waste yarn and the cast-on row. We recommend using the first feeder for your draw thread. Select yarn feeder 1 for your draw thread.
Waste yarn
The waste yarn can be any feeder you prefer, except the one you are using for your draw thread. You could place a cheaper yarn on feeder 6 for example, to only use for the waste yarn sections. If you are using all feeders in your design, pick any feeder you like, feeder 2 for example.
- Click continue and the start will be added to your design automatically. You may want to change the stitch size of the newly added stitches depending on your yarn.
Start module in Stitches view
Start module in Pattern view