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I would like to see more support for double bed jacquard knitting. I see that there is a menu item, which translates the PNG for odd rows knit plain even rows in pattern. However I do not see controls for the appearance on the ribber side (in the knitter ayab version this appears as “knitting mode” with options for singlebed, ribber: classic, ribber: middle colors twice, ribber: heart of Pluto, ribber: circular). This menu system helps me to understand when I should change colors and there is no similar guidance in the web app nor are there instructions for color changes or yarn management.
Upon further testing and a bit of research, I do not think the eknitter MC-Rib mode works correctly. I have diligently followed the original Brother instructions as stated in the KRC-900 manual and the KR-850 manual, cross-referenced with the Ribber Techniques book, and also tried AYAB instructions – none of these give a correct result. All the results are a striped where they should be solid. I think the problem is that MC-Rib is only inserting space to account for the ribber pass, and it is not accounting for both foreground and background color passes on the main bed.
And, now, a successful test. I had to generate my own pattern file that is represents both foreground and background yarns, and with colors inverted on the even row, for example: Pass 1 (original file row 1 color 1) Pass 2 (original file row 1 color 2) Pass 3 (row 2 color 2) Pass 4 (row 2 color 1) Pass 5 (row 3 color 1) Pass 6 (row 3 color 2) Pass 7 (row 4 color 2) Pass 8 (row 4 color 1) etc. Each old odd row becomes two new rows, the second of which is inverted, and also each old even row becomes two new rows, the first of which is inverted. I will send you an example of what worked.
I see no way to add a picture here, so I will link to a picture I posted to instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTY1CgtkQCA/?igsh=NW81Z2I5eHZ6N3pz
In the image you’ll see the original file at left, the file I created to knit DBJ, the file as loaded into the web app with repeats to represent my working needles, and my successful sample (which knits out mirrored L-R, and would need to be adjusted if one wanted to knit readable text, which I do).
I also prefer to make my own patterns with different colours. I can’t remember what the Ayab programme did, but I think you have to start the first row from the right to select the needles and change the colour on the left. You knit two rows in the same colour and so on.
Yes, that’s what AYAB does, except their jacquard algorithm works. The current eknitter jacquard algorithm does not work no matter when you select the needles or change colors. A pattern must be generated that represents two passes per row, alternating as described above between the foreground and background colors.
Right now, eKnitter includes the original Brother MC mode, as described in the Brother manual, giving everyone a familiar starting point for double bed Jacquard knitting.
At the same time, we are already darfting on extended double bed Jacquard features for our WebApp. Your existing ayab-eKnitter desktop software still works — nothing is gone.
The Idea Board helps us better understand your perspective — what kind of Jacquard you like to knit, what projects would love to knit with eKnitter WebApp, and which features would really support your flow while knitting.
There are many ways to knit double bed Jacquard, but not all of them are equally useful in everyday knitting. Some techniques are very special, rarely used, or create more confusion than real benefit.
I’ll retry when I am back at my machine with the procedure from the Brother manual MC mode, and let you know my progress. I am glad to know that you are developing further features for the app. I did understand that the older software is still available, and that nothing is gone. I am currently learning Jacquard so I do not have existing preferences – my expectations were set from the functionality and support in AYAB. Perhaps some day I will have a sense of flow while knitting Jacquard but not yet.
I tested more thoroughly today and following the same sequence of steps as worked with the older software I was not able to have success. I would love to connect with someone who has successfully knit DBJ with the new software.