Machine Knitting - Punchcard Information

This video explains a bit about what punchcards do, how they came about, and how they work on the two main brands of Japanese flatbed knitting machine - Silver Reed and Brother. Both brands have been marketed under a variety of badges over the years, and depending on location, but here I am talking about the Silver Reed type which uses the drum patterning method, and Brother which uses a timing belt.

The video focusses mostly on the 24 stitch repeat standard gauge card (and chunky on the Brother), but will apply equally to the fine gauge 30 stitch repeat, and 12 stitch Silver Reed chunky machine SK155. To some extent, it will be useful for the rather rare 18 stitch cards used on the HK160/MK70 machines.

The video doesn’t explain how to pattern knit. For the Silver Reed machines, that is covered in a separate video.