You can create your own jacquards from your designs in the Kniterate design application.
You start by creating a new design. In the application, you have a window called Pattern view. In this window, you can design a pattern with the drawing tools, import images, and create birdseye jacquards from your designs.
To determine how the jacquard looks on the back, you will have the option to knit on a single bed as well as double beds with jacquards:
- A single jersey jacquard design will have float backing
- A double jersey jacquard design will have a birdseye backing
You can view both the front and back of your design in Pattern view. When you are only using one bed (single jersey), the backside will appear black.
After importing an image and finalizing your design, decide the type of jacquard you want to make.
There are 2 options you can choose from when working with 2-colour to create a jacquard:
- Float backing – Colors not knitted on the front bed run on the back bed, generating floats. This can be done with a Fair-isle design pattern for example. Floats can't be longer than 6 stitches, as that could result in dropped stitches. Only one needle bed is used.
- Reversible backing – The pattern on the front is mirroring the one on the back. When color 1 knits on the front bed, color 2 knits on the back bed and vice versa. Both needle beds are used.
When knitting with 3-colour, 4-colour, or 5-colour jacquards, all yarns will knit on the back bed when not knitting on the front bed, creating a birdseye appearance on the back. There are 2 backing options you can choose from when working with multiple colors to create a jacquard:
- Lightweight birdseye backing – your jacquard will have a lightweight birdseye backing in your sample. Less yarn is used. The thickness of the fabric is uneven.
- All-over birdseye backing – your jacquard will have an all-over birdseye backing in your sample. Creating a more homogenous fabric.
Select your preferred backing and save your design by giving it a name.
Note: When knitting a jacquard with multiple colors, you might end up with a knit that has some openings on the edge. Please follow the instructions from this article to correct it