If you love textures in knitting, racking is one great way to bring depth and complexity to a simple or novelty rib. On the first approach, some racked patterns can look daunting. But if you're an intermediate machine knitter, you already have all or most of the skills!

In this course, we will:

  • Dive into the principles of racking. You'll learn why racked stitches have that unique look. Racking can be accomplished on any flat knitting machine with two needle beds, so long as the machine has racking capabilities. This workshop is primarily for knitters who use Passap, Superba, Kniterate, Dubied, and Japanese-style machines with a ribber. (Contact me, if unsure.)
  • Work through the four categories of racking samples that demonstrate the core principles of racked stitch patterns.
  • Explore how to modify these structures.

You will gain the knowledge and confidence to develop your own creative racked designs.



The Racking Workshop is not a sweater-making course. When you work through the samples and complete this training, you will have gained an understanding of how racking affects the yarn path in machine knitting and how textures are built when racking is combined with the standard knitting operations.

If you prefer to follow published knitting patterns and are not interested in the technical elements of this technique, the Racking Workshop may not be for you. The focus of this course is on the core principles of racking, so you learn to develop your own creative stitch patterns. Through prerecorded videos, downloadable worksheets, templates, and files, the strategies for stitch size, tension, and takedown or weights are presented. Yarn choice is discussed.

The class is not recommended for beginners. You must be comfortable with your machine and know how to set the basic operations on each bed. Please read the prerequisites below.






Prerequisites

To get the most from this workshop, you must:

  • Be able to do a double bed cast-on.
  • Know how to transfer stitches after cast-on (with transfer tools, a transfer carriage, or programming). Stitch arrangements and a strategy for setup are provided; you need to know how to move the stitches. (This, when necessary, is the only hand manipulation required on the hand machines.)
  • Know how to knit, tuck, and miss (slip) needles on each bed. Know which button to press, lever to flip, dial to turn, or symbol to select for each operation on your machine.
  • Be able to select needles on at least one bed using a punchcard, pushers, high- and low-butt needles, or programming.


Yarns

To complete the course assignments you must have yarns of average weight for full needle rib (knitting all front and rear bed needles) on your machine.

Wool is best when you're getting started because most wool is a little stretchy. Once you're comfortable with the technique, cotton, silk, and linen will be amazing! The various yarn properties and how they affect swatch development will be covered.

Relatively smooth yarns are preferred as opposed to fluffy yarns, like mohair, where the racking may not be as visible.


Topics


The Principles of Racking

  • Introduction to Racking
  • Machines and Terminology
  • The Sequential Order of Needles

Racked Swatches and Design

  • Getting Started with Racked Stitch Patterns
  • First Swatches — Mock Crochet Variations
  • Racked Embossed Rib
  • Racked Ripples
  • Horizontal Herringbone
  • Vertical Herringbone Variations
  • Questions and Answers
  • Kniterate Users
  • Resources


Some of the swatches from

The Racking Workshop


Hello!

Olgalyn here, and I'm happy to introduce The Racking Workshop, a course for learning the fundamentals and possibilities of racked rib stitch patterns.

When I taught at Parsons School of Design, the racking week was a favorite part of the Machine Knitting 2 course. Many very fancy stitches could be knitted, based on skills the students had gained earlier in the semester.

This course dives into the essentials of successful racking: understanding stitch setup and knowing when and where to do the racking. If you want to develop creative racked rib patterns, you must know how the stitches and racking work together to produce the stunning textures.

With limited lecture-demo time at Parsons and many topics to cover, we couldn't go into the more advanced racking structures. But with the Racking Workshop's on-demand videos and study guides, you will have the tools to explore the basics through the advanced racked patterns. Take as much time at your machine as you need. I'm virtually there to guide you!


Here's what's included, when you enroll

  • 14 concise, on-demand videos (over 60 minutes total)
  • Downloadable worksheets (patterns) for 7 different racked stitches, representing the 4 major categories plus a few variations
  • A downloadable study guide (in 2 parts)
  • Up to 4 additional guides and templates (depending on your machine)
  • 9 downloadable (.json) files (Kniterate users only)





Your Questions Answered


How long will I have access to the videos, study guides, and other downloads? 

Enrolling gives you course access for the life of the program. This offering is not a membership, so there is no monthly fee. You can return to the lessons at any time and review them as needed. You will also have access to any updates and additions.


What if I'm unhappy with the course? 

If you are struggling to understand a certain concept or knit a particular sample swatch, ask your question in the comments. You can even provide a picture, if needed. You will receive help.

If you find you are unable to make any progress with this course, contact me within 14 days of purchase to receive a full refund.


Is this the same as the "Fun with Racking" class you taught at Vogue Virtual Knitting Live? 

No, this course is different. Though a couple of the basic racking designs are the same, this course presents several more advanced racking patterns and more detailed explanations of the techniques.


I am a machine knitter and hope to work professionally one day. I would love to take this class, but I can't afford it at this time. Do you offer scholarships?

A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Please contact me for details.


Aren't videos for knitting these stitch patterns available for free on the internet?

Instructions for a couple classic racked patterns can indeed be found publicly on the web. Most of the stitch patterns included in the Racking Workshop, however, aren’t available elsewhere online — and the real value of the workshop goes beyond step-by-step instructions for stitch patterns.

The Racking Workshop provides a foundation on how racking works with the various stitches and needle arrangements. And it provides strategies for achieving viable racked rib patterns when advancing beyond the basics.

If you are considering value, a university-level presentation on racking might have time to cover an introduction plus two or three racking patterns. Prorated, that single class session could cost up to four times more than the Racking Workshop. This course covers more material with the prerecorded videos, study guides, and worksheets. The focus is on clarity, a plan of action, and application at an intermediate/advanced level.

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